HBO revealed the teaser trailer for Chimp Crazy, a four-part documentary series from the director of ‘Tiger King’. Director Eric Goode returns to explore the crazy world of exotic animal lovers, this time with a subject of ‘chimp moms’.
Release Date
Directed by Eric Goode, the first episode of ‘Chimp Crazy’ premieres on HBO August 18, 2024 (10:00 p.m-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with the following three episodes airing weekly after. Each episodes will be availabe to stream on MAX following the release date.
Synopsis
Former nurse-turned-exotic animal broker Tonia Haddix, who refers to herself as the “Dolly Parton of chimps,” spends her days caring for animals in captivity. However, her limitless love for one chimpanzee in particular spins into a wild cat-and-mouse game with authorities and an animal rights group. Through Tonia’s and other “chimp mom” experiences, Chimp Crazy reveals the singular bonds that form between owners and their highly intelligent great ape pets. The series exposes the risks humans take when they try to raise these animals as members of their family, as well as the risks to the welfare of the animals themselves.
At turns hilarious and tragic, while unfolding with the pace and suspense of a thriller, Chimp Crazy explores the captivating, often unfathomable, and secretive world of raising chimpanzees and also examines the colorful and complicated cast of characters that inhabit it. Tonia cares for seven captive chimps bred as talent for commercials, photo shoots, and movies. She has a special affection for Tonka, a 32-year-old retired Hollywood chimp – who she claims to love more than her own children. Events take an unexpected turn when Tonka goes missing and Tonia is faced with a lawsuit brought by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She responds by placing Tonka and herself at the epicenter of a years-long saga involving her family, authorities, an undercover clown, and actor Alan Cumming, who starred alongside Tonka in the 1997 film “Buddy.”
Flashing back to other dramatic stories of chimps living in captivity, Chimp Crazy broaches thorny issues around private primate ownership and the folly of imposing human traits onto captive apes who have no agency over where or how they live.
Official Trailer
Watch the official teaser trailer for ‘Chimp Crazy’.
Episode Descriptions
Episode One: “Monkey Love”
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 (10:00 p.m-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Former nurse-turned-exotic animal broker Tonia Haddix fights to retain custody of her “kids” – seven chimpanzees at the Missouri Primate Foundation (MPF). Other chimp moms are introduced, including one who raised a baby chimpanzee alongside her own infant daughter.
Episode Two: “Gone Ape”
Debut date: SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 (10:00 p.m-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
PETA launches an investigation after a former Hollywood chimp named Tonka goes missing. It’s a high-stakes legal battle, particularly in light of a brutal attack that happened years earlier when another chimp nearly killed a Connecticut woman.
Episode Three: “Head Shot”
Debut date: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 (10:00 p.m-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Actor Alan Cumming, who also has a special relationship with Tonka, adds $10,000 to a reward for Tonka’s whereabouts, and the film crew faces an ethical dilemma as parallels are drawn to a previous PETA case that took a dangerous turn in Oregon.
Episode Four: “Fantasy Island”
Debut date: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 (10:00 p.m-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Tonka’s fate becomes clearer while Tonia struggles to let go and dreams of one day opening her own island sanctuary where she can live among chimpanzees.
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