‘Bad Monkey’ Finale: Vince Vaughn and Bill Lawrence on the Death of [SPOILER] and If Season 2 Would Adapt ‘Razor Girl’

As a proud Floridian myself, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of connection to Bill Lawrence and his passion for Tom Petty. Growing up with the same roots, I understand the nostalgia and love for a musical legend who hails from our sunshine state. It’s heartwarming to see such a personal touch in the finale of “Bad Monkey,” making it feel more authentic and Florida-centric.

WARNING: This interview reveals details from “We’re in the Memory-Making Business,” the latest episode of “Bad Monkey” currently available on AppleTV+. Proceed with caution if you haven’t finished watching it yet.

The conclusion has been reached for the initial season of AppleTV+’s show “Bad Monkey,” the humorous crime series set in the Florida Keys, which is adapted from Carl Hiaasen’s novel. Although several characters met their end (Farewell, Dragon Queen! Farewell, Nick! Adieu, Eve!), the good side ultimately emerged victorious.

Detective-turned-health inspector Andrew Yancy (played by Vince Vaughn), one of the winners, appeared to find tranquility, despite his ongoing suspension and unfulfilled romantic aspirations with Dr. Rosa Campesino (Natalie Martinez), as he gazed out over the ocean in the season finale moments.

In this summary of the season finale, executive producer Bill Lawrence and lead actor Vince Vaughn spoke (individually but together) with EbMaster about striking the perfect comedic balance within the show, the level of involvement Hiaasen had in script alterations from his book, and speculation surrounding whether “Razor Girl,” a potential sequel to “Bad Monkey” as per Carl Hiaasen’s next work, is indeed on the horizon.

Getting a first season of any show to the finish line is a lot of work. But now that all the “Bad Monkey” episodes have aired, how are you feeling, Bill?

Bill Lawrence: I’ll be careful not to come off as arrogant. I’ve had my fair share of setbacks, victories, and defeats. And I’m such a fan of Carl Hiaasen’s work. I started reading his novels when I was fifteen, and in many ways, he inspired me to become a storyteller because I wasn’t the type who read traditional literature.

In essence, I approached my preferred author with an idea: “Could I pen five additional chapters for your novel, transforming it into a television series? You aren’t fond of Hollywood…” His intriguing response was, “Consider this – my books are filled with an array of peculiar, eccentric characters. They embody a feeling more than they follow a strict narrative.” I found the conclusion particularly reinforced this emotional tone, especially when it hopped between various locations. This left me feeling both relieved and hopeful at the prospect of further development.

This isn’t your first television role, Vince, but how did it feel being in Andrew Yancy’s shoes for these 10 episodes?

Vince Vaughn: It was a fantastic experience! The story is unlike many others, with a delightful, uncommon vibe that’s hard to find nowadays. I’ve known Bill for more than two decades, and our bond goes back to our poker games where we laughed more than we played seriously. Bill always made me chuckle, even in those early days. As time passed, I became a fan of his work. When he approached me with the Carl Hiaasen book, I was thrilled! The character Yancy seemed like an old-school trickster embarking on a journey. Despite the challenging circumstances, he remains determined to continue. There seems to be some force driving him forward, and he keeps pushing ahead, even when it might not seem like the wisest choice for his own wellbeing.

Narrators don’t always work in shows, but this one is an example of when it does. Was that a big talking point to use when shaping the show?

Lawrence: The topic generated a lot of discussion, and I appreciate that some reporters, such as yourself, acknowledged it as a strength. However, people might ask, “Why is voiceover necessary? Why is narration required?” Our reasoning was unique. Voiceovers are often used for explanation, and we could have likely managed without it. But after Matt Tarses, the other lead writer, and I finished writing the scripts and reviewing the cuts, we realized that there wasn’t enough of Carl’s content in them.

We stole as much of his dialogue as we could, and some of the things that really make me laugh about his books are just the one-line, descriptive things of what’s going on. So [Matt] started to go, “What if it was all supposed to feel like a fishing story, and that local fish captain really is a local guy [played by Tom Nowicki], and he couldn’t believe he was doing this.” We went back through Carl’s book and highlighted our favorites, and just put them in the voiceover. One of the reasons the show works is it feels more like reading one of Carl’s books than it would have otherwise.

Vince, talk about the comedy tone in the show. Did you have a say in that — or did that come from the scripts or the book?

Vaughn: I intentionally aimed to incorporate an element into the book that complemented Bill’s vision as the showrunner, understanding the importance of tone. This isn’t just a rollercoaster of excitement, but a tone that requires skill to balance serious crime with light-hearted moments and humor. It makes for a more engaging experience when the audience knows there’s potential danger, yet they can still laugh and relax. The thrill of uncertainty combined with entertainment is truly enjoyable.

There were also some finale choices that differed from the book. When you changed some things like Eve (Meredith Hagner) choking on a baby carrot and falling to her death, was that something you talked about with Carl?

Lawrence: Carl granted me a great deal of freedom in my work. He’s quite straightforward, and he essentially eliminated Nick [Rob Delaney] and Eve in his book. It was almost casual how he portrayed her drowning her husband, followed by her own death in a boat accident. What I find most fascinating is that the complex plots in Carl’s books don’t end as you might anticipate. I shared with him my interest in exploring magic and the Obeah religion or the spirit of nature, and he seemed intrigued and allowed me to pursue it.

In our revised version of the book, Carl modeled the Dragon Queen character after a genuine person who appears significantly older and is portrayed as a convincing fraud from the outset. We had a brief conversation with him about this alteration. To enrich the narrative, we transformed the role previously played by Jodie Turner-Smith, aiming to craft a redemption arc for that character.

In the book and reality, Eve is portrayed as such a sociopath that her death off-screen is acceptable. However, in a movie or TV series, viewers would prefer to witness her demise. Yet, our narrative has been crafted around our protagonist learning to let go and not suffer due to his pursuit of justice. Consequently, we must write the tale where he lets her escape into the sunset and experiences loss.

I was rooting for Yancy and Rosa (Natalie Martinez) to live happily after, but in the finale she’s not ready for a commitment and leaves. Is Yancy OK with, that given he’s mentioned how people tend to leave him?

Vaughn: Sometimes we find ourselves supporting our loved ones, offering the right words and encouragement, yet neglecting our own progress. In the end, we might realize that we haven’t made as much progress in certain aspects of our lives as we could have. It’s intriguing how such situations can lead to a greater level of self-awareness than where we initially started.

In Carl’s book, Rosa found herself drawn to a man who wasn’t suitable for her. By the end, she decided, “It’s time for me to move on from this job, this environment, and pursue my own path.

Vince, in the finale when you’re in the water holding onto the rope attached to Eve’s runaway yacht, even if there are stunt people for some of that, you were also clearly doing some of that stunt. What’s a day like that for you?

Vaughn: I’m quite skilled in those areas, and I enjoy the more hands-on tasks. While you prefer to be well-prepared, I find excitement in tackling the diverse aspects of it. Some parts were physically engaging, while others required conversation – both were enjoyable. The show offers a nice mix that keeps things interesting for me.

When we see Yancy reading Richard Russo’s “Nobody’s Fool” novel in the finale, were those character details in Carl’s book or one of your touches?

Lawrence: I was the one, and I’m quite fond of Richard Russo’s work. However, it was Carl who found Bonnie (Michelle Monaghan) with a Richard Russo book, and it was Carl who made Yancy reluctantly read books because Bonnie was someone who did that to him. We certainly shared those aspects in a very enjoyable manner.

Whether from those books or from his father Jim (Scott Glenn), Yancy’s regularly dropping pearls of wisdom throughout the season. What do you think that says about him?

Vaughn: He follows a unique set of principles shaped by his life experiences, and his father is quite knowledgeable about life. I believe he’s constantly growing through this process. In some aspects, he seems wise or insightful, while in others, he’s still learning. One remarkable trait about him is his strong sense of justice, fairness, and understanding of right from wrong.

Bill, the fact that Rogelio (John Ortiz) and Monty (Victor Turpin) were partners in work but also in a romantic relationship is something I almost missed in the show. Was that intentional?

Lawrence: Perhaps you didn’t catch it because their relationship was subtly portrayed as a couple. However, there’s a scene in the season where Yancy tells Rogelio, “When you left your wife…” This seems to puzzle some viewers. We included this aspect intentionally because one of the unique aspects of The Keys is that it had the first openly gay police chief elected in any city. Matt and I modeled this character after someone we knew who was married with children, but later in life realized he didn’t want to continue living that way.

There’s a lot of Tom Petty music in the finale. Is that a Bill Lawrence thing or…?

Lawrence: Most people don’t realize this, but as a Florida native with deep roots in the area, I’m a huge Tom Petty fan. Being a music enthusiast, each episode of “Cougar Town” was titled after a Tom Petty song. When considering a unique musical element for this project, we thought, “Why not use only Tom Petty songs?” The first one is an original Tom Petty track, and the rest are covers by different bands. This will be my first soundtrack album.

Yancy says in the finale that bad people always get what’s coming to them. Did the bad people truly get taken care of?

Lawrence: I want to hold onto the hope that evil people aren’t content, and you understand this from your Hollywood experience: I yearn to believe that beneath their facade, they are not content. Even though people often say, “Bill, your shows differ significantly from Carl’s work,” I respond, “What we share is a surprising optimism, despite the fact that our perspectives on darkness vary. We both feel that goodness tends to triumph in the end, and that people receive their due consequences.” What has always appealed to me about Carl’s books is it’s uncommon for the villains to escape into the sunset with a smile on their faces at the end.

Vaughn: The situation is intriguing since it mirrors a moral story, and indeed, there are repercussions to consider. Yet, Yancy’s personal journey, development, and newfound self-awareness cast a veil over this, which isn’t yet fully resolved. He seems to be making progress in a positive direction, but it’s not as if everything is perfect. Instead, there are still challenges ahead.

I know there’s at least one other Hiaasen book with Andrew Yancy, “Razor Girl.” Are you up for more if that book is next for a series?

Vaughn: We’ve certainly discussed getting involved with this, and I found it appealing because [“Bad Monkey”] stands well on its own yet could be exciting to explore the character further in the next Carl book.

Lawrence: This is an Easter egg for you. People have asked me if I’m such a Carl Hiaasen fan, what made me pick “Bad Monkey” over “Skinny Dip” or “Tourist Season” or “Native Tongue” books? The reason I picked it is because it’s one of the only books he wrote a sequel to, “Razor Girl.” And Rosa is in it and Yancy is in it and the characters that are still alive are in it.

The trick for me is it’s very hard with a Carl Hiaasen novel to let any streamer know that it’s an ongoing series, because you want to end the mystery. But for me to go. “Yeah, there’s another best-selling book with the same character in the same world — so I’ll just make sure I hint at the end that there’s another adventure to go through.”

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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2024-10-10 03:47