Vince Vaughn in Bad Monkey, Challenge All-Stars, True Crime Streaming, Expeditions on Discovery

Evil Monkey

For pure – or rather impure – escapism, there is nothing better than Bill Lawrence’s (Ted Lasso) hilarious adaptation of Carl Hiaasen's novel full of sun-drenched intrigue that begins with a severed arm being fished out of the sea with a raised middle finger. Vince Vaughn sets the perfectly sarcastic tone for this twisted caper that stretches from the Florida Keys to the Bahamas as disgraced detective Andrew Yancy unravels a tangled web of deceit and murderous corruption. The women in Yancy's life, all of whom seem to be having a blast, include Natalie Martinez as a medical examiner who laughs at his jokes (who wouldn't?) and Michelle Monaghan as a seductive femme fatale with a sinister past. And yes, there's a mischievous monkey who figures into the wacky plot. (Read the full review.)

The challenge

The groundbreaking reality competition celebrates its 40th season with great success, bringing together 40 players from four “eras” representing each decade. The roster includes several winners and fan favorites who will enter the game by competing in an Era Invitational competition that eliminates the weakest links in each group, allowing the best to show whether the veterans or relative newcomers have what it takes to make it to the end.

American Murder: Laci Peterson

A three-part true-crime docuseries puts the victim front and center as director Skye Borgman revisits the shocking 2002 murder of Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant with her first child when she disappeared. Her mother, Sharon Rocha, is available for a rare interview, as are three of Laci's childhood friends, and recall the seemingly wrong marriage. The series also features interviews with investigators, journalists, lawyers and jurors from the trial that convicted her husband, Scott Peterson, who continues to maintain his innocence two decades later.

The worst ex ever

From the producers of The worst roommate evera four-part series, tells the cautionary tales of dangerously obsessive exes who find terrifying ways to make their former partners' lives miserable (and possibly deadly). Murder plots and merciless custody battles play a role in these sadly true stories.

Expedition X

The intrepid Josh Gates returns for an eighth season of bizarre exploration, welcoming paranormal researcher Heather Amaro to a team that includes scientist Phil Torres. Their first stop: the suspected haunted Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. Followed by the fifth season premiere of Expedition Bigfoot (10/9c), where researchers continue their hunt for the elusive mythical creature along the coast of Northern California.

WEDNESDAY TV AT A GLANCE:

• Cult Massacre: A Day in Jonestown (8/7c, National Geographic): Following its streaming premiere on Hulu earlier this summer, all three episodes make their cable debut in a docuseries that revisits the horrific mass suicide and murders at Jim Jones' “utopian” estate in Guyana in 1978.
• America's Got Talent (8/7c, NBC): Find out which two acts from Tuesday's show will advance to the semifinals.
• Who wants to be a millionaire? (8/7c, ABC): ON Scrubs At the reunion, Zach Braff and Donald Faison are in the hot seat, followed by Ike Barinholtz and his father Alan, who answer questions for a good cause.
• Good bones (9/8c, HGTV): In a three-week mini-season, Mina Starsiak Hawk and mother Karen E. Laine pursue separate renovation projects: Mina renovates a lake house north of Indianapolis and Karen takes over an aging beach bungalow in Wilmington, North Carolina.
• Rhythm Masters: A Mickey Hart Experience (9/8c, ESPN): An unusual documentary combines sports and music as Grateful Dead legend Mickey Hart interviews famous sports stars, inspiring an original score that reflects the connection between rhythm and athletic performance. Contributors include Bill Walton, Joe Montana, Laila Ali, Phil Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Sheryl Swoopes, Mario Andretti, Jack Nicklaus and climber Alex Honnold.

STREAMING:

• Star Wars: The Adventures of Young Jedi (Streaming on Disney+): In 11 episodes of the second season of the animated series, young Jedi study the Force and embark on new adventures. Some episodes will also air on Disney Jr.
• Daughters (Streaming on Netflix): A moving documentary eight years in the making shows young daughters preparing to be reunited with their imprisoned fathers at a father-daughter dance.
• Women in Blue (Streaming on Apple TV+): When a new victim of the serial killer “Undresser” is discovered in Mexico City, the experienced male investigators wonder if it could be a copycat, as they don't want to admit that they caught the wrong man. The “Women in Blue” know better. Also on Apple TV+: new episodes of Sunny And Time Bandits.