One of Jimmy Buffett’s friends Carl Hiaasen has a new show on Apple TV called “Bad Monkey” which is set in Key West and has included a scene with Buffett’s Shrimp Boat Sound Studios. Carl co-wrote the song “Fish Porn” on the final album released by Jimmy Buffett. He also wrote the novel for the movie “Hoot” which included music by Jimmy along with a role as a science teacher.
From CBS News: Carl Hiaasen on “Bad Monkey” becoming a TV series
Asked to describe himself – A crank? A crusader? – novelist Carl Hiaasen replied, “Cranky? Maybe not a crank. No, I think when you write satire, which is what I do, satire always comes from a place of anger, a sense of injustice about things. Satire has a target.”
The cranky, crusading Carl Hiaasen has channeled that anger into more than 30 books. And now, one of his snarkiest satires, his 2013 novel “Bad Monkey,” has been turned into a series on Apple TV+
“Sunday Morning” caught up with the 71-year-old Hiaasen in the Florida Keys, where “Bad Monkey” was being filmed. “It’s a little surreal,” he said on location, ” ’cause you’re sitting in a room all by yourself and write it, alone. And you come here and they have, like, 105 people on the set.”
One theme in all of Hiaasen’s writing is New Florida vs. Old Florida, development vs. nature. Not just bad monkeys, but bad neighbors.
Broadly speaking, “Bad Monkey” is based on Hiaasen’s own life in Florida. “Everywhere I went as a kid, hunting and fishing and catching critters and all that stuff, is all paved over; it’s all concrete now,” he said. “But I saw it happening from a very young age, six or seven years old. And I was pissed off then, and am still pissed!”
Hiaasen even co-wrote a song last year with his good friend and fishing buddy, the late Jimmy Buffett:
“Fish Porn,” with lyrics by Jimmy Buffett, Carl Hiaasen and Mac McAnally:
Whatever genre Carl Hiaasen is working in, you can always expect a funny ending.
“I got a letter one time from a reader who said, ‘I love your books about Florida. And I’m moving there anyway!'” he laughed.
To watch a trailer for “Bad Monkey” click on the video player below:
For more info:
- carlhiaasen.com
- “Bad Monkey” is now streaming on Apple TV+