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Bad Monkey (TV series)

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Bad Monkey
Genre
Based onBad Monkey
by Carl Hiaasen
Developed byBill Lawrence
Starring
Music byWaz & Jamie Jackson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Cinematography
  • John Brawley
  • Michael Watson
Editors
  • Les Butler
  • Perri Frank
  • Evan J. Warner
Running time39–57 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkApple TV+
ReleaseAugust 14, 2024 (2024-08-14) –
present (present)

Bad Monkey, is an American black comedy crime drama television series developed and executive produced by Bill Lawrence.[1] A co-production between Warner Bros. Television, Two Soups Productions and Doozer Productions, it is based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Carl Hiaasen. The series is led by Vince Vaughn, L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, and Jodie Turner-Smith. Bad Monkey premiered on August 14, 2024, on Apple TV+.

Premise

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Andrew Yancy is a former police detective who has been reduced to conducting restaurant inspections in South Florida. A severed arm found by a tourist pulls Yancy into a world of greed and corruption that decimates the land and environment in both Florida and The Bahamas.

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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  • John Ortiz[a] as Rogelio, a police detective and Yancy's best friend[8]
  • Charlotte Lawrence as Caitlin, a model, recovering addict, and Eve's stepdaughter[3]
  • Todd Allen Durkin as Sheriff Sonny Summers, a witless local cop and boss of Yancy
  • Nina Grollman as Madeline, a naive young woman, former girlfriend to Charles Phinney
  • Tom Nowicki as Captain Fitzpatrick / Narrator
  • Lauren Buglioli as Heather, a popular meteorologist in Miami, known for her "Heather with the Weather" segment
  • Victor Turpin as Montenegro, Rogelio's husband, Yancy's lawyer and close friend[9]
  • David St. Louis as Egg, a native of Andros, muscle for Nick Stripling
  • Gizel Jiménez as Mel Campesino, Rosa's sister, later known as "Hurricane Mel"
  • Reese Antoinette as Dawnie, Neville's ex-girlfriend
  • Ashley Nicole Black as Johnna Russell, an agent with the Oklahoma State Bureau, pursuing Bonnie
  • Gonzalo Menendez as Mendez, a corrupt cop in Miami
  • Scott Glenn as Jim Yancy, Andrew Yancy's father
  • Bob Clendenin as K.J. Claspers, a pilot who works for the Striplings
  • Alex MacNicoll as Cody, a former student of Bonnie's with whom she had a sexual relationship

In addition, Crystal the Monkey co-stars as Driggs.

Guest

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  • Zach Braff as Israel "Izzy" O'Peele, Nick's best friend and business partner

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [10]Prod.
code
1"The Floating-Human-Body-Parts Capital of America"Marcos SiegaTeleplay by : Bill LawrenceAugust 14, 2024 (2024-08-14)T82.10301
A severed arm is discovered by a fishing boat off the coast of the Florida Keys. Ex-detective Andrew Yancy, suspended for having assaulted the husband of his lover, is tasked to deliver the arm to the Miami morgue. The arm is identified by Dr. Rosa Campesino as having belonged to Nick Stripling and is returned to his wife Eve. Eve's step-daughter Caitlin believes she killed her father for his money. At a bar, Yancy witnesses Charles Phinney, the first mate of the boat where the arm was found, being shot dead. On Andros Island, resident Neville Stafford consults with the local Obeah, Gracie, known as the "Dragon Queen", to put a curse on the developers seeking to replace his home with a resort. Christopher, the man developing the resort and Eve's new boyfriend, is revealed to have been the one who shot Phinney.
2"A Hundred Bucks Says You Won't"Erica DuntonAdam Sztykiel & Ellie KnausAugust 14, 2024 (2024-08-14)T82.10302
Much to his chagrin, Yancy is given a new job as a restaurant inspector. A conversation with Caitlin leads Yancy to investigate Eve's home alongside an equally suspicious Rosa where the two discover bone fragments in the shower drain. After having his home demolished, Neville, believing that Gracie's curse has failed, leaves the island to see his half-sister. Yancy learns that his lover Bonnie is actually a fugitive from Oklahoma; having fled after having sex with one of her underage students. Gracie confides to her grandmother, Ya-Ya, that the situation between Neville and Christopher will soon drag many people in.
3"Nobody Said He Was Alvin Einstein"Erica DuntonMatt TarsesAugust 21, 2024 (2024-08-21)T82.10303
Yancy and Rosa interrogate Phinney's girlfriend Madeline, learning that her boyfriend was paid to reel the arm in. Investigating Nick's former workplace, the two visit Dr. Israel O'Peele, who explains his time working with Nick to scam Medicare. Yancy later returns to Israel's apartment only to find the latter dead from a gunshot. Neville returns to Andros and confronts Gracie for her curse failing before parting with his monkey Driggs as a show of faith. Neville then steals a USB drive containing info on the resort project. Caitlin confronts Eve, accusing her of murdering her father only to be stopped by Christopher, who is revealed to actually be a one-armed Nick.
4"Nothing's Wrong With It, I Just Don't Need It Anymore"Marcos SiegaAnnie MebaneAugust 28, 2024 (2024-08-28)T82.10304
Flashbacks reveal how Nick and Eve first met. When the FBI caught wind of his Medicare scam, Nick faked his death by willingly having Israel amputate his arm and bribing Phinney into "reeling" it in. When Phinney and Israel risked exposing the deception, Nick, under orders from Eve, had them killed. Additionally, it is explained how Yancy lost his detective job in Miami in an attempt to expose the corrupt Officer Mendez, and how he met Bonnie and the reasons for assaulting her husband. In the present, Mendez, now a detective, learns from Israel's neighbor that she witnessed Yancy leaving her neighbor's apartment the day he was killed. Meanwhile, Yancy, after realizing that Nick possibly faked his death, is knocked unconscious by Nick himself.
5"That Damn Arm Is Back"Marcos SiegaBrian C BrownSeptember 4, 2024 (2024-09-04)T82.10305
After surviving his attempted murder, Yancy recovers Nick's misplaced cell phone. Yancy and Rosa learn that Yancy is now a wanted suspect for Israel's murder, forcing them to hide out with Rosa's family. Neville attempts to hand the USB drive to city hall, but is betrayed. Having been cut off from her funds by her husband, Bonnie returns to Key West where she encounters Cody, the student she slept with. After digging up Nick's arm, Yancy takes one of the fingers, and manages to unlock Nick's phone. He and Rosa deduce which airport the Striplings will be flying out of. Despite failing to catch them as the plane takes off, Yancy calls Eve, revealing that Nick failed to kill him.
6"Yo, Would You Tell Ms. Chase I Still Love Her Like Crazy"Liz FriedlanderMilla Bell-HartSeptember 11, 2024 (2024-09-11)T82.10306
Returning home from the airstrip to find Bonnie and Cody, Yancy sends them to his father's place for them to lie low. He then meets up with his partner Rogelio to discuss things only to discover that Ro set him up to be arrested by a vengeful Mendez. While investigating the hangar for proof of Yancy's innocence, Rosa finds Neville in the Stripling's plane, having stowed away to escape the wrath of the Stripling's bodyguard Egg. Feeling guilty for betraying his friend, Ro interrogates Israel's neighbor, learning that Mendez had ordered her to leave out the fact that she had also witnessed Nick at her apartment the day the doctor was killed, exonerating Yancy. After threatening the Striplings when they make her a worthless offer for land she had inherited, Gracie is abducted by an unknown figure.
7"A Total Cat Person"Liz FriedlanderAshley Nicole BlackSeptember 18, 2024 (2024-09-18)T82.10307
Flashbacks explain how Gracie became the "Dragon Queen" after having her heart broken. In the present, the Striplings are revealed to have abducted Gracie. Eve points out how they are both willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want, convincing Gracie to take the Stripling's offer. When Ya-Ya learns from one of Gracie's friends that the land was never legally signed over to her, she confronts her granddaughter, who tearfully admits that she does not believe in her magic and leaves. After providing the sheriff with evidence provided by Neville regarding the Striplings, Yancy earns his detective job back but is told that the FBI are not extraditing Nick any time soon. After being given a speech by Yancy, Bonnie is arrested and extradited back to Oklahoma.
8"The Russian Mob Is Very Active in Key West"Colin BuckseyMichael C. MartinSeptember 25, 2024 (2024-09-25)T82.10308
Despite her arrest, Bonnie is released after Cody's parents drop the charges against her. Returning to Florida, she burns down a spec home next to Yancy's place in order to be arrested for arson. Yancy and Rosa hatch a plan with Caitlin to get Nick and Eve back on US soil by having Rosa pose as a buyer for some resort property. As Yancy and Rosa toast their success with Neville and his girlfriend Dawnie, the Striplings visit the bar Yancy and Rosa went to earlier that day where they find a photo of them with their pilot, Claspers.
9"You Really Don't Want to Kill This Scrumptious Little Puppy"Sam JonesMatt TarsesOctober 2, 2024 (2024-10-02)T82.10309
Eve invites Rosa over under the guise of discussing business before revealing that she saw the incriminating photo, leading to her being held by Egg. Gracie tells Yancy and Neville about Rosa's situation, leading Yancy to head off to the Stripling's mansion. He is instead confronted by Nick who tries to shoot him. As Yancy tries to remind Nick about Caitlin, Neville sneaks up from behind and stabs Nick in the back with a fishing rod. Rosa escapes by shooting Egg in the leg, and reunites with Yancy and Neville, who informs the two that they need to get off the island. Despite Rosa's pleas for him to leave with her, Yancy stays behind to see things through. While trying to find help for Nick, Eve runs into Gracie. Having reembraced her Dragon Queen persona after some soul-searching, Gracie viciously warns Eve that she will get what's coming to her.
10"We're in the Memory-Making Business"Colin BuckseyBill Lawrence & Matt TarsesOctober 9, 2024 (2024-10-09)T82.10310
Despite her threats, Gracie is killed after Eve impales her on a fallen tree branch. Having been left paralyzed due to his injuries, Nick, no longer of use to Eve, is thrown into a lake by her where he drowns. As Eve is making her getaway in her yacht, Yancy dives in and grabs hold of the rope but ultimately decides to let her go. Nick's body is recovered by Neville, who pickpockets Nick's watch in order to sell it for money to rebuild his home. While hiding in Portugal, Eve falls to her death after choking on a carrot. After receiving a final call from Bonnie, who escaped prison, Yancy and Rosa agree to end things so Rosa can find herself. Ya-Ya returns Driggs to Neville and begins training Dawnie's younger sister Lulu to become the next queen. Despite wanting to settle down for a while, Yancy becomes intrigued when Rogelio approaches him about something in his car.

Production

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In December 2018, Bill Lawrence's Doozer Productions signed an eight-figure five-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.[11] In August 2021, the two studios announced the development of Bad Monkey, a 10-episode drama series based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Carl Hiaasen, with Vince Vaughn starring and Apple TV+ distributing.[2] In December 2021, Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Meredith Hagner joined the cast.[5] In January 2022, Ana Villafañe, Rob Delaney, Ahmed Elhaj, Arturo Luis Soria, and Alex Moffat were added to the cast.[4][7] In March 2022, Natalie Martinez was cast as a series regular to replace Villafañe because, according to Deadline Hollywood, "the character had been written older than Villafañe's age, leading to the decision to replace her."[6] In April, L. Scott Caldwell and Charlotte Lawrence were reported to star, with Ronald Peet taking over Elhaj's role.[3] In June, it was announced John Ortiz had been cast to replace Soria in the series.[8]

Filming began in February 2022, in the Florida Keys and Miami, Florida.[12][13] Filming locations included Duval Street, Key West.[14]

Release

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Bad Monkey premiered on August 14, 2024, on Apple TV+, with the first two episodes available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis until October 9, 2024.[15]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating with an average rating of 7.1/10, based on 70 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "A vibrant riff on the P.I. serials of television's yesteryear, Bad Monkey is a breezy good time that fully leverages Vince Vaughn's motormouth charms."[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 74 out of 100 based on 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17]

Notes

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  1. ^ Ortiz is credited as "Special Guest Star" but is a recurring cast member.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Bad Monkey". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (August 9, 2021). "Vince Vaughn To Headline Bad Monkey Apple TV+ Drama Series From Bill Lawrence". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Otterson, Joe (April 1, 2022). "Bill Lawrence Apple Series Bad Monkey Adds Three New Cast Members (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Petski, Denise (January 11, 2022). "Bad Monkey: Ana Villafañe, Rob Delaney Among Cast To Join Vince Vaughn In Bill Lawrence's Apple TV+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Petski, Denise (December 2, 2021). "Bad Monkey: Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith & Meredith Hagner Join Vince Vaughn In Bill Lawrence's Apple TV+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (March 17, 2022). "Natalie Martinez Joins Apple TV+ Series Bad Monkey In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Porter, Rick (January 28, 2022). "SNL Regular Alex Moffat Joins Apple's Bad Monkey (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Andreeva, Nellie (June 16, 2022). "John Ortiz Joins Apple TV+ Drama Series Bad Monkey In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Petski, Denise (May 20, 2024). "Vince Vaughn & Bill Lawrence's 'Bad Monkey' Gets Premiere Date At Apple TV+; First Photos". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Shows A-Z - bad monkey on apple tv plus". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 4, 2018). "Bill Lawrence's Doozer Inks Big New Overall Deal With Warner Bros. TV, Sells Brent Morin Comedy To NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  12. ^ ""Bad Monkey" Series/Apple TV+" (PDF). Production Weekly. No. 1261. August 26, 2021. p. ?? (link now dead). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Bad Monkey (Series) | In Development/Pre-Production". Film & Television Industry Alliance. January 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022. Shoot Date: February 07, 2022 Locations: Miami, FL, United States
  14. ^ @tikihousekw (March 9, 2022). "You never know what or who you will see at the Tiki House". Retrieved March 18, 2022 – via Instagram.
  15. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (May 20, 2024). "Bad Monkey First Look: Vince Vaughn Stars in Bill Lawrence's Latest Comedy for Apple TV+ — Get Premiere Date". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "Bad Monkey: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  17. ^ "Bad Monkey: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
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