Gopher a boogie

For the first time ever, a product connected with a film actually looks better in real life than on the big screen. Admittedly, the Original Caddyshack Dancing Gopher ($19.99 at Kohl’s) did not exactly require a great deal of craftsmanship to better the horribly unrealistic cinematic gopher. This conversation piece is about 16 inches tall with an odd-feeling pelt splotched with the requisite rodent/small-mammal colors.

Does anybody know why Americans are so enthralled by dancing/singing stuffed animals? Or by Caddyshack? Or by golf?

Included on the back of the box is a 12-question Caddyshack quiz featuring questions such as "Carl Spackler (Bill Murray) caddied for what famous world leader? a) The Dalai Lama b) The Pope c) Mikhail Gorbachev (answer: a)."

If you get nine or more right you can call yourself a Golf Zen Master. Best of all, the manufacturers obtained the rights to "I’m Alright," the Kenny Loggins song used in Caddyshack. Maybe the Dancing Gopher will lead to a Santanalike revival of Loggins’ washed-up career.

Tom A’Hearn pays attention here every other week. E-mail letters@metrotimes.com