Bill Lawrence on Casting Vince Vaughn in New ‘Bad Monkey’ Show

Veteran television creator and producer Bill Lawrence has found his next boss: Vince Vaughn.

Lawrence, 55, best known for creating and producing shows like “Scrubs,” “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking,” cast Vaughn in his latest show, the dark comedy-drama “Bad Monkey.” , which premieres Wednesday, August 14, on Apple TV+.

Based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name, the series follows Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), a former Florida police detective who has been demoted to inspecting restaurants until he is drawn into a mystery when a tourist finds an arm cut.

“In the book, this character is big and imposing and has the ability to be menacing and sarcastic and edgy — and kind and likable at the same time,” Lawrence told The Post.

“And people root for him, and he goes out in his own way. It’s like it was written about Vince. I knew he was perfect for it. We were walking around Florida when we first got there, and everyone who sees it recognizes it because it’s huge; he is 6 foot 5. They all approach him as if they’ve been best friends for years. And it goes right back to them like that.”

Lawrence said he assumed Vaughn already knew one of his fans from the way he spoke to the person. But when he asked, it turned out they were strangers.

“That vibe is exactly who (Vaughn’s character Andrew Yancy) is,” he said.

Vaughn isn’t the only unconventional leading man in a Lawrence show. He joins the ranks of Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, Jason Segel and Zach Braff.

Lawrence said she does this on purpose because she grew up watching shows like “Falcon Crest” or “Dallas,” where “everybody and every family looked as perfect as if they were carved out of stone “.

Lawrence added: “I’ve always loved the everyman or everywoman world. And I think if people can look at the characters and say, ‘that could be me,’ it’s going to be easier for the audience to put themselves in their shoes and empathize and be invested.”

“Bad Monkey” also marks the acting debut for Lawrence’s daughter, singer Charlotte Lawrence, 24.

Lawrence said she knew she could be labeled a “nepo baby,” which is the term used to describe actors who have showbiz parents.

“I couldn’t do nepotism in music, but I could work with her in acting,” Lawrence joked.

He said he was trying to cast a girl in her 20s with a “rock star vibe” and many of the women who auditioned were his daughter’s friends. Charlotte secretly went behind him and eavesdropped: “And he said, ‘If it’s nasty, don’t show it to my father.’ But it was good,” Lawrence recalled.

“But before I hired her, I said, ‘I know you’ve been on social media a lot. You will definitely get this “nepo baby” thing. And she says, “I’ve dealt with that before.” “

Lawrence went on to say that she doesn’t think the label is a big deal as long as the person “approaches it honestly” and admits, “I got to be around people and mentors and in rooms that I never could have been in. if it weren’t for (my parents). This is a step forward.”

Lawrence said of Charlotte: “And so, she’s handled it so ably already in her life. What a gift to get to work with my child. I’m biased, but I think she’s wonderful on the show.”