Crystal The Monkey Of 'Animal Practice' Is Fall TV's Biggest Star

Crystal the Monkey -- whose TV and movie credits include the "Night at the Museum" sequel, "We Bought a Zoo," "The Hangover II," "Dr. Doolittle" and "Community" (yep, she's Annie's Boobs!) -- is now the biggest headline-maker of NBC's new fall schedule, starring in "Animal Practice."

Her presence at Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour even won applause from the usually tough crowd of critics and afterwards, I got to hang out with Crystal while interviewing her trainer Tom Gunderson. (We go way back -- check out this old interview with them.)

Crystal's the star, obviously, but Gunderson is the man behind the monkey, going wherever she goes to make sure that she's well taken care of and hits all of her marks. (Remember the ridiculous smoking monkey controversy with "The Hangover II"? Gunderson was there to ensure that no cigarettes were lit and no monkeys inhaled.)

So when I walked into the TCA cocktail party and reunited with that cute little capuchin face-to-face, after first meeting her during press for the "Night At the Museum" sequel, I was excited to get some "Animal Practice" scoop from Gunderson as well.

On the new NBC comedy, Crystal plays Dr. Rizzo, the simian sidekick to Justin Kirk's veterinarian lead character, Dr. George Coleman. The show takes place in a rather unconventional animal hospital, so obviously Crystal isn't the only furry celebrity on set, but Gunderson said she's fine with most of her animal kingdom costars -- except one.

In a scene featured in the show's trailers (see the 2:28 mark at the bottom of this post), Crystal is seen in an adorable plastic visor, taking bets on a turtle race in the back room.

Gunderson said that one of the turtles really rubbed her the wrong way because it was determined to veer off course and walk right toward her. He didn't mention any power plays with the cats, dogs or tiger from the pilot, but he did also note that he had the idea for one of Dr. Rizzo's more endearing character quirks: He suggested they make her a gambling addict since he knows how good Crystal is at working with props.

As for her time stealing prop pens and shiny objects on "Community," fans of Annie's Boobs don't need to worry -- Gunderson pointed out that the "Animal Practice" set at Paramount will be just a few doors down from where "Community" shoots, so he'd be more than happy to pop by if they wanted her back.

"Animal Practice" premieres Wed., Sept. 26, 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

For more on NBC's new 2012-2013 shows, check out the slideshow below:

• 1600 Penn

  Benjamin Stockham as Xander, Martha MacIsaac as Becca (seated), Bill Pullman as President Dale Gilchrist (seated), Amara Miller as Marigold, Josh Gad as Skip, Jenna Elfman as Emily Gilchrist (seated), Andre Holland as Marshall Malloy

• 1600 Penn

  Amara Miller as Marigold; Jenna Elfman as First Lady Emily Gilchrist; Bill Pullman as President Dale Gilchrist; Martha MacIsaac as Becca; Josh Gad as Skip; Benjamin Stockham as Xander

• Animal Practice

  Crystal as Dr. Zaius, Justin Kirk as Dr. George Coleman

• Animal Practice

  Justin Kirk as Dr. George Coleman, Bobby Lee as Dr. Yamamoto, Tyler Labine as Dr. Doug Jackson, Crystal as Dr. Zaius

• Go On

  Allison Miller as Carrie, Khary Payton as Don, Suzy Nakamura as Yolanda, Matthew Perry as Ryan, Laura Benanti as Lauren, Julie White as Anne

• Go On

  Matthew Perry as Ryan King

• Revolution

  Tracy Spiridakos as Charlie, Anna Lise Phillips as Maggie , Zak Orth as Aaron

• Revolution

  JD Pardo as Nate, Tracy Spiridakos as Charlie, Zak Orth as Aaron, Anna Lise Phillips as Maggie

• Revolution

  Billy Burke as Miles

• Revolution

  Anna Lise Phillips as Maggie, Graham Rogers as Danny, Tim Guiee as Ben, David Lyons as Bass Monroe, Billy Burke as Miles, Tracy Spiridakos as Charlie, Andrea Roth as Rachel, Maria Howell as Grace, JD Pardo as Nate, Zak Orth as Aaron, Giancarlo Esposito as Lt. Neville

• The New Normal

  Ellen Barkin as Jane, Andrew Rannells as Bryan, Georgia King as Goldie, Bebe Wood as Shania, Justin Bartha as David

• The New Normal

  Bebe Wood as Shania; Andrew Rannells as Bryan; Justin Bartha as David; Georgia King as Goldie

• The New Normal

  Andrew Rannells as Bryan, Ellen Barkin as Jane, Nene Leakes as Rocky

• Save Me

  Anne Heche as Beth

• Save Me

  Anne Heche as Beth Waring

• Save Me

  Heather Burns as Jenna, Alexandra Breckenridge as Carly, Michael Landes as Tom Waring, Anne Heche as Beth Waring, Madison Davenport as Emily Waring, Lamman Rucker as John

• Chicago Fire

  Teri Reeves as Hallie, David Eigenberg as Christopher Hermann, Charlie Barnett as Peter Mills, Lauren German as Leslie Shay, Monica Raymund as Gabriella Dawson, Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Jesse Spencer as Matthew Casey, Eamonn Walker as Battalion Chief Walter Boden and Merle Dandridge as Kay Fitori

• Do No Harm

  Steven Pasquale as Dr. Jeffery Kohl/Ian Price

• Do No Harm

  Steven Pasquale as Dr. Jeffery Kohl/Ian Price

• Do No Harm

  Steven Pasquale as Dr. Jeffery Kohl/Ian Price

• Infamous

  Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto

• Infamous

  Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto

• Infamous

  Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto, Victor Garber as Robert Bowers

• Infamous

  Victor Garber as Robert Bowers, Meagan Good as Joanna Locasto, Katherine LaNasa as Sofia Bowers, Tate Donovan as Edward Bowers, Laz Alonso as Will Moreno

• Next Caller

  Dane Cook as Cam Dunne, Wole Parks as Keith Calhoun, Jeffrey Tambor as Jefferson Mingus, Joy Osmanski as Winnie Hyde, Colette Wolfe as Stella Hoobler

• Next Caller

  Dane Cook as Cam Dunne, Joy Osmanski as Winnie Hyde, Collette Wolfe as Stella Hoobler

• Next Caller

  Jeffrey Tambor as Jefferson Mingus

• Guys With Kids

  Anthony Anderson as Gary, Tempestt Bledsoe as Marny

• Guys With Kids

  Anthony Anderson as Gary, Jesse Bradford as Chris, Zach Cregger as Nick

• Guys With Kids

  Jamie Lynn Sigler as Emily, Zach Cregger as Nick, Tempestt Bledsoe as Marny, Anthony Anderson as Gary, Sara Rue as Sheila, Jesse Bradford as Chris

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/crystal-the-monkey-animal-practice_n_1700459.html

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