Allison Tolman has admitted that she didn’t give “Downward Dog” much benefit of the doubt when she first learned about the project.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tolman revealed how she reacted when she received a script for a show that is narrated by a dog. “I got a list of different things to look at from my agents, and one of things on the list was the talking dog show, and I was like, ‘Oh, boy. Yikes,’” she recalled. “But then I read the script, and it was clearly smart and funny.”

After reading the initial script, Tolman said that she was “still somewhat confused about why this smart, funny show had a talking dog in it.” But after she watched the shorts it’s based on, the “Fargo” alum said that she “immediately understood the appeal” of having a talking dog on the show.

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“Tone is really important in this show — maybe the most important element,” Tolman said. “Once I’d watched the shorts and I had an idea of this highly-naturalistic, indie, subtle style, I thought this is really interesting to me, and that’s why I decided to speak with the guys and proceed.”

“Downward Dog” is a story of a struggling millennial, Nan (Tolman), told from the point of view of her lonely and philosophical dog, Martin (voiced by series co-creator Samm Hodges). A session at dog obedience school makes them realize that even at their worst, they may be the best thing for each other.

Although “Downward Dog” features a talking dog, Tolman pointed out that the new ABC series is not silly or gimmicky. “Samm always says it’s not like we have a dog that likes to skateboard — which is what you think of when you think of a talking-dog show,” the Golden Globe-nominated actress said. “[It] was essential for me, too, that it wasn’t this over-the-top dog like, ‘I love bones!’ and it wasn’t one of those cartoon-y dog voices. It’s a very human character without doing human activities.”

“I think it’s a talking-dog show that’s not about a talking dog,” Tolman said (via The Hollywood Reporter) of the new sitcom during its panel at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in January.

“I felt like ‘Downward Dog’ is funny but it’s dramatic,” TV Guide quoted Tolman as saying. “Our show is like a sort of like a little indie movie. It’s not a joke a page or a joke a minute. It’s somber and sad and bittersweet.”

Executive producer John Hoberg echoed Tolman’s description, noting that their goal was to make a comedy for broadcast TV with the sensibility of an FX or Amazon half-hour series.

“It may just be the most courageous thing ABC has ever done,” Lucas Neff — who plays Nan’s ex-boyfriend, Jason, on the show — joked during the panel, noting that “Downward Dog” is the first broadcast TV series ever invited to screen at Sundance.

“Downward Dog,” which also stars Barry Rothbart and Kirby Howell-Baptiste, premieres tonight at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ABC.

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