In his NPR interview, "Astrophysicist Chronicles Battle over Pluto," Dr. Tyson believe that Pluto is America's favorite planet because Americans associate Pluto with the Disney character of the same name.
Pluto, also refered to as Pluto the Pup, is a cartoon dog created in 1930 at Walt Disney Productions. He is a yellow-orange color, medium-sized, short-haired dog with black ears. Pluto is not anthropomorphic. Pluto appeared in 24 Mickey Mouse films before receiving his own series in 1937.
Tyson deals with how after the planet Pluto was "demoted" and not longerconsidered a planet, he pointed out that people were particularly mad.