JUST FINISHED WATCHING: MONK (2002–2009)

The series follows Adrian Monk, a brilliant former San Francisco detective, who now consults the police as a private consultant while battling with an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

TRIVIA: On March 13, 2023, Tony Shaloub announced during an interview that there will be a reunion movie and shooting is scheduled to begin in May 2023. It will address Monk's life after the pandemic. Monk in Quarantine (Mr Monk Shelters in Place) was a timely, caring and utterly hilarious short, showing a snapshot of Monk coping with the pandemic, and his friends trying to cope with his plague-averse hygiene excesses. (Still available on YouTube.)

The first basic cable series to be nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Comedy.

For the first five seasons, Monk's preferred brand of bottled water was Sierra Springs (a real-life brand of bottled water), and his refusal to drink any other water was an important plot point in several episodes. In season six, ostensibly due to a contract termination between Sierra Springs and USA Network, the brand of water was changed to the fictional "Summit Creek".

Tony Shalhoub's wife, Brooke Adams, appeared five times, playing a different character four times.

• Mr. Monk and the Airplane (2002) (#1.16) as a flight attendant named Leigh Harrison.

• Mr. Monk and the Kid (2005) (#3.16) as Mrs. Abigail Carlyle.

• Mr. Monk Visits a Farm (2007) (#5.14) as Sheriff Marge Butterfield.

• Mr. Monk's 100th Case (2008) (#7.7) as Leigh Harrison again.

• Mr. Monk and the Badge (2009) (#8.14) as Edith Capriani the crazy cat woman.

Tony Shalhoub auditioned for the role of Kramer on Seinfeld (1989), and Michael Richards was considered for the title role on this show. Richards passed, and Shalhoub took the role. Richards won three Emmys for playing Kramer, while Shalhoub also won three Emmys for playing Monk. Jason Alexander starred in Mr. Monk and the Other Detective (2005) (#4.1).

In the first two seasons, Adrian Monk's deceased wife, Trudy Monk, was portrayed by Stellina Rusich. In later episodes, in pictures and flashbacks, Trudy was played by Melora Hardin, best known as Jan Levinson from The Office (2005).

The Police station where Captain Leland Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Randall Disher work, as well as several crimes throughout the series, are said to be located on Vinton Street in San Francisco. However, the real Vinton is in Madison, New Jersey, where Series Creator Andy Breckman lives. The market Mr. Monk and the Buried Treasure (2007) (#6.6), was called Vinton Street Market, but that was not its actual name.

MY VERDICT: I am a huge fan of this series and was so happy when it came to Netflix and I could watch it all the way through again and this time with my boyfriend who watched it for the first time. It’s well-written, fantastically acted, funny, heart-warming and in some places a little silly.

Whether you’re team Sharona or team Natalie, I’m sure everyone will find something to love about this wonderful show.

WATCH THIS HERE…

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