Tom Selleck’sMagnum, P.I.was one of the most beloved shows of its time, and those who wish it could return - generic remake notwithstanding - will be delighted to know thatApple TV+ finally has the perfect replacement 36 years after the crime show ended. Selleck’s Thomas Magnumwas one of theiconic TV characters that defined the 80s, and while it would take quite some doing for the show’s modern-day equivalent to leave the same size legacy, that doesn’t stop it from being a great spiritual successor.
The very fact thatMagnum, P.I.ran for 8 seasonsis just one piece of evidence that it was continually received very well. It may not be the greatest show in the world by today’s standards, but some of thebest procedural TV showsof all time arguably wouldn’t exist without Tom Selleck’s impressive stint as Thomas Magnum. That being said, the level of influence is perhaps more pronounced in some projects than others, butone of Apple TV+’s most recent projects pays tribute brilliantly- whether intentionally or otherwise.
Andrew Yancy is like a modern-day Thomas Magnum (but darker)
Vince Vaughn leads theBad Monkeycastas Andrew Yancy, a disgraced cop who is trying to work his way back to actual police work by filling in as a restaurant inspector.Magnum’s status as a private investigator also places his character in a police-adjacent role, beginning his comparison to Yancy. The fact that it wouldn’t be a surprise to discover that both men shop at the same tropical shirt store doesn’t hurt the parallels either.
While Selleck’s show covered numerous cases per season,Bad Monkeyseason 1 is a serialized dramedy following a singular, slow-burning plot.
WhileBad Monkeyis shot and set in FloridaandMagnum, P.I.takes place in Hawaii, the palm trees and copious amounts of sunshine also create a similar aesthetic between both shows. The biggest differences come from the shows' respective formats. While Selleck’s show covered numerous cases per season,Bad Monkeyseason 1 is a serialized dramedy following a singular, slow-burning plot.The Apple TV+ show is much darker too, and the comedy is intentional rather than largely being a side effect of the cheesiness like inMagnum, P.I.
Andrew Yancy is primed to add to his caseload
Bad Monkeyseason 1 adapts Carl Hiassen’s 2013 novel of the same name, which has now been exhausted. With the case complete,Yancy will need to move onto a new adventureto prove to the audience that his success wasn’t just a fluke. This was something that Selleck’s character did all the time. If greenlit,Bad Monkeyseason 2 will cover the events ofRazor Girl, Hiassen’s only Yancy sequel. So,Bad Monkey’s main character will get the chance to follow in the footsteps of Selleck’sMagnum, P.I.persona and turn his hand to a new crime-based challenge.
Due to the shortage of source material,Bad Monkeyis very unlikely to run for anywhere near as many seasons asMagnum, P.I.
Bad Monkey
Cast
A former Miami detective turned health inspector, Andrew Yancy, discovers a severed arm while working in the Florida Keys. Determined to solve the mystery and reclaim his former position, he navigates through a web of quirky locals and corruption, all while dealing with a troublesome monkey.
