'Monk' has always been one of my most watched shows when needing comfort, to relax after a hard day, a good laugh or a way to spend a lazy weekend.
"Mr Monk and the T.V. Star" is another winner from Season 2, one of the better ones from that season and almost one of the best and funniest of the earlier seasons. The "why" and "who" aspects of the mystery are not hard to figure out and the whole thing with the lie detector was quite unlikely, even the calmest person ever would break a sweat and have their pulse changing when being tested.
However, the mystery is a lot of fun and diverting. Some of it is obvious, but the time frame and how the murder was done was a clever explanation, how Monk solves the crime and comes to his conclusions are a huge part of the fun (always was though one of the show's charms) and how he has to overcome everybody doubting him when falling for the television star's charming exterior.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching. It is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
Both Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford are very amusing, with Stottlemeyer's loyalty and frustration towards Monk a lot of fun to watch and Disher's quirks and goofiness never coming over as annoying. The supporting cast are strong, with a charming and devious Billy Burke and a hilarious Sarah Silverman.
It's not just the cast though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft, of which some of the funniest writing of the whole show is in this episode. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast are always, it's always interesting seeing episodes showing behind the scenes of films/TV shows and the inside jokes are a delight, as is the ongoing debate about the theme song.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now.
Overall, great and very funny episode and almost one of the best. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Mr Monk and the T.V. Star" is another winner from Season 2, one of the better ones from that season and almost one of the best and funniest of the earlier seasons. The "why" and "who" aspects of the mystery are not hard to figure out and the whole thing with the lie detector was quite unlikely, even the calmest person ever would break a sweat and have their pulse changing when being tested.
However, the mystery is a lot of fun and diverting. Some of it is obvious, but the time frame and how the murder was done was a clever explanation, how Monk solves the crime and comes to his conclusions are a huge part of the fun (always was though one of the show's charms) and how he has to overcome everybody doubting him when falling for the television star's charming exterior.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching. It is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
Both Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford are very amusing, with Stottlemeyer's loyalty and frustration towards Monk a lot of fun to watch and Disher's quirks and goofiness never coming over as annoying. The supporting cast are strong, with a charming and devious Billy Burke and a hilarious Sarah Silverman.
It's not just the cast though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft, of which some of the funniest writing of the whole show is in this episode. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast are always, it's always interesting seeing episodes showing behind the scenes of films/TV shows and the inside jokes are a delight, as is the ongoing debate about the theme song.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now.
Overall, great and very funny episode and almost one of the best. 9/10 Bethany Cox