Lassie (TV series): Difference between revisions

''Lassie'' is a long-running television series that originally aired from 1954 to 1973, and featured the exploits of heroic collie dog [[Lassie]]. It is one of the archetypal [[Heroic Pet Story]] series, inspiring many later imitations and parodies. In the series, Lassie was the pet of Jeff Miller (Tommy Rettig), and in later seasons Timmy Martin (Jon Provost), of "[[Common Knowledge|What's that, Lassie? Timmy's fallen down a well?]]" fame -- although a well was one of the few things Timmy ''didn't'' [[Beam Me Up, Scotty|fall down in the course of the series]].

 

 

Six different dogs portrayed Lassie over the course of the series; all were owned and trained by professional trainer Rudd Weatherwax, and the five successors were descended from the original, whose off-screen name was Pal. Pal was the original Lassie, who had starred in the 1943 film ''Lassie Come Home'' (based on a novel by Eric Knight) and six sequels; when the film series ended, Weatherwax acquired the Lassie trademark (in lieu of unpaid wages, according to one account), and the television series resulted. All six dogs were actually male; male collies were thought to be more visually impressive, and less subject to seasonal shedding issues.

 

* [[An Aesop]]: Frequently prefaced with the words "You see, Timmy..."

* [[Animals Lack Attributes]]: Lassie is a female dog (note the root of the name is ''Lass'' not ''Lad'') played by males with their belly hair coiffed very carefully to cover up the naughty bits.

** Unbelievably, Lassie even had puppies one season. Don't ask.

* [[Caught in a Snare]]: A black-and-white episode has young Timmy caught in a snare intended for a loose wildcat, which sees him hanging like grapes on a bough. Lassie arrives to kick the wildcat's tuchus.

* [[Character Title]]

* [[Crosscast Role]]: Lassie, as described above.

* [[Heartwarming Orphan]]: Timmy.