Jennifer Aniston Gives Up Spotlight

Jennifer Aniston lets her Marley and Me dog Clyde shine during the Tribeca Cinema Series screening of her comedy held Wednesday at Tribeca Cinemas Gallery in NYC.

While she’s off hitting the talk-show circuit, Clyde is being feted with congratulatory barks when he takes the screen during the V.I.P. (Very Important Pooch) event attended by celebs including Denis Leary and Beth Ostrosky Stern and their dogs. (Abigail Breslin stops by the cocktail party sans pup.)

Clyde’s trainer, Mathilde DeCagny, says working with Jennifer was a dream.

“Jen was loving, and very attentive,” she tells me. “She’s such a normal, sweet, fun person. There’s no ego, there’s no complication. All she wants to do is be professional and do it right. I never thought she would be that easy and outgoing. We loved her.”

Other pampered pets – like Denis’ dog Daphne – are pleased to be in the company of the movie star pooch.

“She’s flipped out that we brought her where there are other dogs, because she likes to think of herself as special,” Denis tells me. He’s keeping a tight grip on Daphne thanks to help from wife Ann.

The comedian has no regrets for 2008 – even though he inflamed parents with particularly vile comments he made about autism in his book Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid. “I would’ve voted for Obama about ten more times if I could have,” he tells me. “That’s about it.”

This holiday season the Rescue Me star jokes that he will gift his three dogs with cars and designer clothing in exchange for the affection they give him.

“Dogs love you no matter what you smell like, no matter how tired you are, or where you just came from,” Denis says. “No matter what mood you’re in or what’s going on, they always love you. You can’t pay a human being to do that – maybe for an hour, but not much longer than that.”

Mrs. Stern moves along with bulldog Bianca Romijn-Stamos-O’Connell, who recently came home with a pink toe when she brought her along to a manicure appointment. “Howard wasn’t too happy about that,” Beth says.

What’s her dog’s idea of a perfect night?

“Lying in her bed between Howard and me,” she tells me. “She’s so happy right between the two of us.”

For the holiday season, Beth tells me the best pet gift is “lots of love.”

Certainly Jennifer would agree.

Marley and Me is in theaters December 25.

And, pick up the OK! on newsstands now for more on Jennifer Aniston and an At Home with Clyde, the dog featured in Marley and Me. Jennifer Aniston/“Obsessed With Angie” is the cover line.

Looking for a great gift this holiday season? Both Denis Leary and Beth Ostrosky Stern agree that pets make great gifts. Visit your local shelter to give one a home.