Kyle MacLachlan talks Joe vs. Carole and Howard Baskin

by W. Andrew Powell
Kate McKinnon and Kyle MacLachlan in Joe vs. Carole

In the history of feuds, the clash between Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic is legendary. Whatever you know about the story though, the new mini-series Joe vs. Carole brings new layers to the impossible tale, and you won’t believe Kate McKinnon and Kyle MacLachlan as Carole and Howard Baskin.

John Cameron Mitchell stars as Joe, the wild, weird, and unstable performer that paints a sheep to look like a tiger when the show must go on. Rather than care for his sick tiger, he jumps through hoops, at any cost, to entertain the crowd.

And on the other end of the spectrum is Carole Baskin and her husband Kyle, working to shut down illegal and reckless animal shows when they discover Joe and his trail of trouble.

Sitting down to speak to the thoughtful actor, MacLachlan was happy to see the way the mini-series brought nuance to the story of Carole and Howard. He also found it very easy to relate to Howard.

“You know, he’s a mix of a kind of uptight, sort of nerd, highly intellectual, but sensitive, emotional, playful type of person, and we didn’t see any of that in the documentary.”

“He has tremendous empathy and he’s very understanding, and I like to think that I’m similar when things come my way or something happens to try to feel first and then react from that. But, instead of like a knee jerk reaction, or a negative reaction, it’s like, ‘let’s just get a feel for what’s happening here before we before we overreact.'”

MacLachlan also really appreciated working with Kate McKinnon, who also executive produced the series.

“She’s amazing… I think Kate in life is quite shy and quiet and reserved; a little introverted. Kate as a character is ferocious and like a force of nature. So we got along like a house of fire. She was wonderful. She’s very inventive.”

“She’s willing to go in any direction that the scene goes. She’s fearless… when we’re not doing the scene, she’s quiet and contained, but when you’re in the scene, anything is possible. You can go any direction emotionally, physically. You just don’t know. And it made for some really, I just think some fantastic work. I think she does an amazing job in this.”

Watch the full interview with Kyle MacLachlan below and watch Joe vs. Carole in Canada on Showcase starting March 23 at 9:00 PM. The series streams on Peacock in the U.S.

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