Hank the Cowdog

Matthew McConaughey voicing a self-important cattle dog who fancies himself Head of Ranch Security on a Texas Panhandle ranch. That sentence alone should tell you whether this is for you. Based on John R. Erickson's beloved book series, this adaptation was directed by Jeff Nichols and features a ridiculous cast for what is technically a kids' show: Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Jordan, Joel Edgerton, Michael Shannon, and Scoot McNairy. The 5-part story arc follows Hank and his timid sidekick Drover as they get lost in the Dark Unchanted Forest, which naturally Hank insists on calling the Dark Uncharted Forest because he is nothing if not confident in his own intelligence. McConaughey is having the time of his life in this role. His Hank is pompous, oblivious, and endlessly lovable in that way only a dog who takes himself too seriously can be. With a 4.6-star rating from over 4,300 reviews, this has become a family favorite. Kids love the adventure, adults love the voice cast and the humor that operates on multiple levels. It is short -- just 7 episodes total -- and listeners have been loudly requesting more ever since. H-E-B sponsored the original run, which gives the whole thing a charmingly Texan sensibility.