Allison Tolman Explains Her Twisted Route From ‘Fargo’ to ‘Downward Dog’

TCA 2017: “I wanted to wait and find my show,” actress tells reporters

Getty Images

It’s a long way from an Emmy-winning miniseries to a talking-dog comedy, but for Allison Tolman, it makes total sense.

The actress says that her decision to move from an acclaimed turn as Deputy Molly Solverson on “Fargo” to the lovelorn dog owner Nan in ABC’s upcoming comedy “Downward Dog” was all part of her desire to move on in her career.

“The first wave of things [after ‘Fargo’] was me deciding that I wanted to be a leading lady,” Tolman told reporters at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, California, on Tuesday. “I wanted to wait and find my show.

“We kind of went through a lot of shows like that: Play in the ensemble or [play] the best friend,” she added. “Really good projects and good offers, but I ultimately just felt like I wanted to hold out and … be part of something that was my baby.”

While “Downward Dog” — in which an anxiety-prone canine (voiced by co-creator Samm Hodges) tells of his relationship with his romantically challenged owner — might seem a stretch, Tolman sees the connection.

“‘Fargo’ was a really dramatic show that was funny,” she said. “Our show is a funny show that’s dramatic … It’s like this little indie movie.”

Whether it will connect with viewers is another story. ABC released premiere dates Tuesday for many of its midseason shows, but left “Downward Dog” off the list. Network executives said they will wait til summer to premiere the show, a step that usually signals limited faith in a project.

Comments