>> yes, i think so. >> blacky! stay. >> oh, blacky. >> reporter: the interview began to fall apart.s bored of both of us. >> go and slobber on martin's jacket. >> my entire arm is drenched. >> reporter: the suit is italian. probably ruined. scorsese forgave her. the air cleared. he explained what really happened this award season. >> we all know about rin tin tin. we all know about lassie. all those beautiful dogs. heroes. but blacky has to play a really tough character. [ dog growls ] i think what happened here, especially this golden collar situation, the golden collar awards, is that because the part she played, which she played brilliantly, she was overlooked because of being the anti-hero. ♪ >> reporter: it was a tough year for canine best actor. what with uggie in "the artist." in "hugo" blacky plays a police dog to sasha barren cohen's policeman. similar head tilts and expressions. >> she doesn't like to talk about sasha that much. she had to carry him a lot in the picture, know what i mean? >> reporter: i'm nick watt for "nightline" in london. >>> thank you for watching abc

blackie has to play a tough character.e played, she played bril yanltly. she was overlooked. because of being the anti-hero. ♪ >> reporter: it was a tough year for canine bst actor, what with uggie in "the artist." scorsese admires uggie's work. >> there's a dog called fleek. looks a little bit like uggie. she gets upset when i mention. the dog is brilliant, particularly the last sequence of the film. >> reporter: you're well known for developing close relationships with human actors. is blackie now in that stable? >> thii think so. i mean, you have robert playing "taxi driver" and "raging bull." daniel day lewis in "gangs of new york." this is in that line, that approach. >> reporter: i think he's been serious. in "hugo" blackie plays a police dog. similarly angular features. they developed similar head tilts and expressions. >> she doesn't like to talk about sascha much. he had to carry him a lot in the picture. >> reporter: there are two other dogs in "hugo" also overlooked. >> no way will they do what you want. nothing

this is blackie. >> jimmy: that's what happens, you look alike. >> you know what happened -- nice little dog, jack russell terrier. >> jimmy: uggie from the silent film "the artist." >> i know, it's very sweet and everything, i know, i know, i know. does tricks, saved his master's life and our dog is like a ferocious guard dog and terrorizes kids and i think you could see why it may have been snubbed when -- appreciate the acting of this dog, not since jack benny has the under playing of this dog and then the muzzle that came out in 3-d, it's genius. but i'm not kidding you. [ applause ] >> i swear. >> jimmy: you actually wrote a letter. >> we wrote a letter. >> jimmy: to the "l.a. times" op-ed. >> they call it the golan collar. the first annual golden collar awards and that's one of the reasons i'm annoyed quite honestly. >> jimmy: maybe it'll be the last. >> maybe. >> jimmy: the first time you've directed a dog in a film. >> yes, yes. >> jimmy: and did you like it? compared to directing don rickles

blackie, on "hugo." on set, martin scorsese started calling him citizen canine. >> he's a hack.he's no good. normally, i've worked with rats in my movies. >> reporter: perhaps the biggest buzz this year is all about uggie, the jack russell from "the artist." former oscar nominee, james cromwell, is one of uggie's co-stars. >> there's a scene where i bring george back and i drop him on the bed. and i look down at the dog. and the dog sort of looks up at me. and i sort of indicate to the dog, what do you think we should do? he goes, i got it. okay. >> reporter: last night, the golden collar went to uggie. >> he's like the brad pitt of dogs. all the right ingredients in there. >> reporter: he's now a top dog in hollywood, even though, like brad pitt -- >> bow. >> reporter: -- he's never won an oscar. i'm david wright, for "nightline," in hollywood.

. >> it's that i feel because of the character that blacky was, he was aggressive. >> dogs don't qualifytual oscars, but at the golden collar awards, reality tv dogs, sitcom dogs, there were six categories. >> that's my buddy there. congratulations on your golden collar award. you're here with another golden collar winner. could you have ever imagined that dogs would steal the spotlight? >> they are kind of people in their own right. >> i'm a huge dog guy as you well know. i'm not surprised. so the oscars are getting underway in less than an hour. billy crystal, a highly-anticipated act tonight. eddie murphy was supposed to host. that didn't work out. but does a host make or break the show? >> absolutely. you need someone who is going to keep the energy up. keep the laughs flowing. billy crystal has a little experience. he's been doing this for so many years. he's going to be an incredible job. >> i think there's little doubt. i think he'll win a whole new audience tonight. a younger generation who doesn't know who he is stay right where you are. less than an hour away from the academy a

. >> reporter: like blackie from "hugo." >> she laid it on the line and went under water for her effortss uggy who walked away with the top honors this year. no mantelpiece for him, though. he'll likely just bury the bling in a backyard. right next to his favorite bone. >> thank you so much. >> reporter: for "cbs this morning saturday," i'm lee cowan in hollywood. >> the telecast of the academy awards tomorrow night is one of the best-skept secrkept secrets. great to have you with us, marisa. good morning. >> morning. >> there just hasn't been that much buzz this year, frankly. why? >> well, yeah. so there's secrecy and there's lack of buzz. and i think it's lack of buzz. i mean, the oscars are always shrouded in secrecy. the producers want to have some surprises, some surprise guests walking on for the viewers. but this year, you know, as we know, billy crystal was something of a last-minute addition. and so i think there's just a not whole lot to say this year. and, you know, there's a rumor that eddie murphy could show up. of course, that's been shot down. so i think it's the last-min