Joe vs. Carole

{{Infobox television

| image = Joe vs. Carole poster.png

| genre = Drama

| creator = Etan Frankel

| based_on = {{Based_on|Joe Exotic: Tiger King|Robert Moor|Matthew Shaer|Eric Benson}}

| director = {{Plainlist|

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

John Cameron Mitchell
Kate McKinnon
Kyle MacLachlan
Dean Winters
Brian Van Holt
William Fichtner
Nat Wolff
Sam Keeley
Lex Mayson
Joel Marsh Garland
Marlo Kelly
Aliandra Calabrese
Kenneth Radley

}}

| composer =

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 8

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Kate McKinnon
Etan Frankel
Hernan Lopez
Marshall Lewy
Aaron Hart
Alex Katsnelson

}}

| cinematography =

| editor =

| runtime = 46-54 min.

| location = {{Plainlist|

}}

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| network = Peacock

| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

}}

Joe vs. Carole is an American drama television limited series created by Etan Frankel. It stars John Cameron Mitchell, Kate McKinnon, Kyle MacLachlan, Dean Winters, Brian Van Holt, William Fichtner, Nat Wolff, Sam Keeley, Lex Mayson, Joel Marsh Garland, Marlo Kelly, Kenneth Radley and Aliandra Calabrese. The series began streaming on Peacock on March 3, 2022.

The series is based on the second season of Wondery's Over My Dead Body podcast, entitled Joe Exotic: Tiger King (before being retitled to Joe vs. Carole), which follows the criminal case of Joe Exotic, a zookeeper who has been convicted of murder-for-hire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/03/tiger-king-kate-mckinnon-carole-baskin-casting|title=Yes, Kate McKinnon Is Set to Play Tiger King's Carole Baskin|last=Desta|first=Yohana|website=Vanity Fair|language=en|date=March 27, 2020|access-date=November 4, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/kate-mckinnon-stars-as-carole-baskin-in-tiger-king-series.html|title=Hey, All You Cool Cats and Kittens, Kate McKinnon Is Playing Carole Baskin|last=Murphy|first=Chris|date=March 27, 2020|website=Vulture|language=en-us|access-date=November 4, 2021}} The series received mixed to negative reviews upon release.

Cast

=Main=

John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic
Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin
Kyle MacLachlan as Howard Baskin
Dean Winters as Jeff Lowe
Brian Van Holt as John Reinke
William Fichtner as Rick Kirkham
Nat Wolff as Travis Maldonado
Sam Keeley as John Finlay
Lex Mayson as Kelci 'Saff' Saffery
Joel Marsh Garland as James Garretson
Marlo Kelly as Jamie Murdock
Aliandra Calabrese as Lauren Lowe
Kenneth Radley as Allen Glover

=Recurring=

Jack Scott as Joshua Dial
Will McNeill as Tyler
David Wenham as Don Lewis
Jenna Owen as Amber
Nic English as Brian Rhyne
Benedict Hardie as Agent Thomas
Shareena Clanton as Valerie
Alexandra Jensen as Chealsi
Anthony Sharpe as Erik Cowie
Damien Garvey as Doc Antle
Caroline Brazier as Elizabeth Huntley
Angie Milliken as Crystal

Episodes

{{Episode table

|background=#FF45D1

|overall=

|title=

|director=

|directorR=

|writer=

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|airdate=

|episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Unwanted Animals

|DirectedBy = Justin Tipping

|WrittenBy = Etan Frankel

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Sanctuary

|DirectedBy = Justin Tipping

|WrittenBy = Laura Jacqmin

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Don

|DirectedBy = Justin Tipping

|WrittenBy = Alex Katsnelson

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = A Gun-Toting, Animal Loving, Mullet Wearing Mother… Star

|DirectedBy = Justin Tipping

|WrittenBy = Keli Goff

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = The Tiger King

|DirectedBy = Natalie Bailey

|WrittenBy = Corina Maritescu

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = A Fairy Tale

|DirectedBy = Natalie Bailey

|WrittenBy = Donnetta Lavinia Grays

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = The Florida Problem

|DirectedBy = Natalie Bailey

|WrittenBy = Laura Jacqmin

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Survival of the Fittest

|DirectedBy = Justin Tipping

|WrittenBy = Etan Frankel

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|3|3}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = #FF45D1

}}

Production

= Development =

In March 2020, following the commercial success of the Netflix series Tiger King, development started on a limited series adaptation of Carole Baskin's life, headed by Universal Content Productions, with Kate McKinnon executive producing and portraying Baskin, and is based on Joe Exotic: Tiger King, later retitled to Joe vs Carole, which is the second season of Wondery's Over My Dead Body podcast.{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title='Joe Exotic' UCP Limited Series Starring Kate McKinnon As Carole Baskin Becomes Hot Commodity With Success Of Netflix's 'Tiger King'|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/joe-exotic-ucp-limited-series-kate-mckinnon-star-carole-baskin-hot-commodity-success-tiger-king-netflix-1202894920/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 27, 2020|access-date=January 13, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Joe vs Carole |url=https://wondery.com/shows/joe-exotic/ |website=Wonderly |access-date=6 March 2022}} The series was expected to air on NBC, Peacock, and USA Network.{{Cite web|last=Drysdale|first=Jennifer|title=Carole Baskin Series Starring Kate McKinnon Gets Series Order at NBC|url=https://www.etonline.com/carole-baskin-series-starring-kate-mckinnon-gets-straight-to-series-order-at-nbc-151957|work=Entertainment Tonight|date=August 25, 2020|access-date=January 13, 2021}}https://web.archive.org/web/20221001024904/https://www.tvtv.us/ga/atlanta/luUSA-GA67017-X Archived listings, switch to Wednesday for October 5, 2022 listing In May 2021, it was announced that the series would instead be streaming exclusively on Peacock.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/joe-exotic-series-starring-kate-mckinnon-stream-exclusively-peacock-1234755332/|title='Joe Exotic' Series Starring Kate McKinnon To Stream Exclusively On Peacock, NBCU Reverses Cross-Platform Plan|last=White|first=Peter|date=May 13, 2021|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=June 24, 2021}} The series was created by Etan Frankel, who also served as writer and executive producer, while Justin Tipping directed the first four episodes, including the pilot. It was also announced that Natalie Bailey would direct episodes five, six, and seven.

On January 21, 2022, the show's title was announced, and its March 3, 2022 release date was revealed in the first trailer.{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Dory |title=Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin Are at War in Kate McKinnon's New Tiger King Series — First Look |url=https://people.com/tv/joe-exotic-and-carole-baskin-are-at-war-in-kate-mckinnons-new-tiger-king-series/ |website=People |access-date=January 21, 2022 |date=January 21, 2022}} The show later made its linear premiere on the latter network in October 2022.

= Casting =

In June 2021, Dean Winters, John Cameron Mitchell, Brian Van Holt, Sam Keeley, Nat Wolff, and Dennis Quaid were cast to portray Jeff Lowe, Joe Exotic, John Reinke, John Finlay, Travis Maldonado, and Rick Kirkham, respectively.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/joe-exotic-peacock-series-cast-dean-winters-jeff-lowe-1235004351/ |title='Joe Exotic' Peacock Series Casts Dean Winters as Jeff Lowe |website=Variety |first=Joe |last=Otterson |date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=June 24, 2021}} In July 2021, William Fichtner replaced Quaid in the role of Kirkham.{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/joe-exotic-dennis-quaid-william-fichtner-rick-kirkham-1235010013/ |title=Peacock's 'Joe Exotic' Series Replaces Dennis Quaid With William Fichtner as Rick Kirkham |first=Mónica Marie |last=Zorrilla |website=Variety |date=July 1, 2021 |access-date=July 1, 2021}} In the same month, Kyle MacLachlan, Lex Mayson, Joel Marsh Garland, Marlo Kelly, and Aliandra Calabrese joined the series, to portray Howard Baskin, Kelci "Saff" Saffery, James Garretson, Jamie Murdock, and Lauren Lowe respectively.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/joe-exotic-kyle-maclachlan-howard-baskin-peacock-limited-series-1234786853/ |title='Joe Exotic': Kyle MacLachlan To Play Howard Baskin In Peacock Limited Series |first=Denise |last=Petski |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 6, 2021 |access-date=July 6, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/joe-exotic-marlo-kelly-kate-mckinnon-john-cameron-mitchell-peacock-limited-series-1234797533/ |title='Joe Exotic': Marlo Kelly Joins Kate McKinnon & John Cameron Mitchell In Peacock Limited Series |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Denise |last=Petski |date=July 21, 2021 |access-date=July 24, 2021}} In September 2021, Will McNeill, Jack Scott, Jenna Owen, Nic English, Benedict Hardie, Shareena Clanton, Alexandra Jensen, and Anthony Sharpe were revealed to have been added to the supporting cast during production, to portray Tyler, Joshua Dial, Amber, Brian Rhyne, Agent Thomas, Susan, Chealsi, and Erik Cowie, respectively.

= Filming =

By September 2021, filming occurred in areas around Queensland, Australia, including Screen Queensland Studios, which doubled for Oklahoma and Florida.{{cite web |url=https://www.if.com.au/strong-australian-presence-in-nbcuniversals-joe-exotic-series/ |title=Strong Australian presence in NBCUniversal's 'Joe Exotic' series |website=IF Magazine |first=Sean |last=Slatter |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=November 3, 2021}} In October 2021, due to filming commitments with Joe vs. Carole, McKinnon was precluded from appearing in the first seven episodes of season 47 of Saturday Night Live.{{cite web|title=Why Part-Time Kate McKinnon Is Still An 'Important' Part Of 'SNL' As She Films New Show|url =https://hollywoodlife.com/2021/10/09/kate-mckinnon-part-time-saturday-night-live-details-revealed/|first1 =Jessica| last1= Wang| first2 =Russ| last2= Weakland|website=Hollywood Life|date=October 9, 2021|access-date=January 21, 2022}}

Critical response

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 33% based on 27 critic reviews, with an average rating of 5.40/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Kate McKinnon and John Cameron Mitchell do an admirable job of bringing these larger-than-life figures back down to earth, but Joe vs. Carole feels like a pale retread of an already overdone tale."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/joe_vs_carole/s01 |title=Joe vs. Carole: Season 1 (2022) |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=May 22, 2022}} Metacritic assigned the series a weighted average score of 53 out of 100 based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed to average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/joe-vs-carole |title=Joe vs Carole|website=Metacritic|access-date=March 11, 2021}}