'Joe vs. Carole' didn't have tigers on set. But they did have stand-ins.

"No tigers were used in the filming, they're all CGI."
 By 
Shannon Connellan
 on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Kate McKinnon and Kyle MacLachlan in 'Joe vs. Carole.'
Watch Next

You'd think the biggest star of a fictionalised series based on Netflix's Tiger King would be... tigers. But with all the risks of being, y'know, eaten, the makers of Peacock's new series Joe vs. Carole found a suitable stand-in.

In the show, Kate McKinnon takes on the role of Carole Baskin up against her real life rival John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic, while Kyle Maclachlan stars as Carole's husband, Howard.

The Twin Peaks star told Stephen Colbert on Thursday there were no actual tigers on set — but they had to have something.

"We didn't actually have tigers," said Maclachlan. "No tigers were used in the filming, they're all CGI. But instead, in the place of tigers, we had great danes. Ferocious, mean, vicious great danes."

"Well, you know," Colbert replied, "my executive producer Tom Purcell once famously said when we were trying to get a wildcat into our show to do something he said, 'Look, anything that could eat the actors is going to be expensive.'"

"I was very grateful not to have a tiger on the site for that very reason," replied Maclachlan.

Joe vs. Carole is streaming now on Peacock.

Want more?

A photo portrait of a journalist with blonde hair and a band t-shirt.
Shannon Connellan
UK Editor

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!