Monk (2002–2009)

Adrian Monk is a brilliant San Francisco detective, whose obsessive compulsive disorder just happens to get in the way.

Creator:

Andy Breckman

Stars:

Tony Shalhoub, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 16 wins & 38 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Tony Shalhoub	...	Adrian Monk (125 episodes, 2002-2009)
Jason Gray-Stanford	...	Lt. Randall Disher (125 episodes, 2002-2009)
Ted Levine	...	Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (125 episodes, 2002-2009)
Traylor Howard	...	Natalie Teeger (87 episodes, 2005-2009)

Storyline

Former police detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) has suffered from intensified obsessive- compulsive disorder and a variety of phobias since the murder of his wife, Trudy, in 1997. Despite his photographic memory and his amazing ability to piece tiny clues together, he is now on psychiatric leave from the San Francisco Police Department. Aided by his friend and practical nurse, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), Monk works as a freelance detective/consultant, hoping to convince his former boss, Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), to allow him to return to the force. Stottlemeyer wavers between admiration for Monk and annoyance at his eccentricities. Moreover, he harbors serious doubts about the wisdom of allowing Monk to carry a gun. Stottlemeyer's second-in-command, Lieutenant Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford), also has his doubts about Monk but seems to be developing a reluctant admiration for the "defective detective."

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Plot Keywords:

detective | obsessive compulsive disorder | murder | multiple actors for one character | san francisco california | 

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Taglines:

The Defective Detective.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Crime

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

USA Network

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 July 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Detective Monk

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mandeville Films, ABC Studios, Get It Straight Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

47 min 60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

All episode titles begin with "Mr. Monk..." except for the season eight episode, "Happy Birthday, Mr. Monk."

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Goofs

In the city of San Francisco, there is no police rank of 'Detective'. The title is 'Inspector'.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Natalie: I'm calling the Captain.

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Connections

Referenced in After Lately: The Intervention (2011)

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Soundtracks

(Theme)
Performed by Jeff Beal
(all season one episodes)

User Reviews

Monk Mania Is Upon Us

Here's a cable television that, by word of mouth, is really gaining in popularity..... and it's easy to see why. It scores a bullseye by combining interesting crime stories with humor. When you have that combination and it works, you have a winner.

Monk's comedy, despite what the producers say, is really making fun of people who have compulsive-obsessive disorders (OCD)., but not in a mean-spirited manner. Adrian Monk (Tony Schaloub) and his many phobias are what make us laugh. That's what makes this show unique and sets it apart from every other "whodunnit" show, from Sherlock Holmes to Det. Robert Goren on Law And Order: Criminal Intent.

Shalhoub excels in his comedy, in large part, to his body movements, his reactions to situations and to his deadpan deliveries of hilarious lines. He is a master at all of it, and always entertaining.

I did have trouble, unlike most people, with his sidekick, "Sharona," played by Bitty Schram. I'm sorry but I found her extremely annoying with her OMG's every other sentence and her horrible nasal New Jersey accent. I was glad to hear she left the show midway through the following season but, as others have pointed out: the shows have gone downhill since she left. However good Scrham was in her role, (and she was effective) the show getting weaker by the fourth year is due to the writers, not the appearance of "Natalie Teeger."

The two other main characters and good and bad, too. Levine is good as the no-nonsense, gruff and tough police captain. He looks the part and acts it, but Gray-Stanford is ludicrous as his main detective. He's portrayed as someone totally stupid and immature, and no lieutenant would act like him. He's an insult to the viewers' intelligence. Oddly, he was pictured much more realistically the first season of the show but by the second season he was made into a goof-ball.

Story-wise, each episode is entirely different so it never gets stale. Most shows feature surprising twists and clever plots. That's the idea of the show - odd cases that nobody but the extremely observant Monk could figure out. All his phobias wound up costing him his badge, but he's so smart, the police have to call him in to solve the difficult mysteries.

It's beautifully filmed and occasionally you get a travelogue-type glance at the San Francisco scenery. This show is picking up new viewers each week because it's addicting. Once you've seen a show or two, you have to see more....and it rarely disappoints. After watching this, I purchased the first and third seasons. The first season is outstanding, particularly the opening episode. I'm now looking forward to viewing the third season.