MONK: New Season Starts Tonight 1/21/05

DMark · #1 01-21-2005, 03:48 PM

I love this show and glad to see the new season starts tonight...although I guess technically it is the second half of the season that started awhile back. Whatever - new episodes start tonight.

We'll see how Monk goes about getting his new assistant now that Sharona has been fired (or moved away, according to the story line).

I bet the kid who played Sharona's son was royally pissed when she got fired for asking for more money. "Gee, thanks lady. You're fired, so guess who else gets the boot!"

Rhythmdvl · #2 01-21-2005, 06:07 PM

Just set up the VCR to tape the Monk-a-thon (we also want to catch SciFi Friday). We missed the end of last season, but caught previews re Monk looking for a replacement. Sharona is really gone?! Egad! We were hoping that it was just a teaser trailer to get us involved in the premier. I'll catch how it is explained in the context of the show later on – but can you clue us in as to what happened behind the scenes?

Monk without Sharona?!

DMark · #3 01-21-2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhythmdvl

– but can you clue us in as to what happened behind the scenes?

Monk without Sharona?!

Only what I read in the Hollywood trade mags...Bitty Schram who played Sharona figured with the success of the show, how could they possibly turn down her request for more money? Guess she decided to play hardball and, well, things didn't quite go as she expected. I heard this made negotiations with the rest of the cast a lot easier.

From all reports, the new assistant will look similar, but have a few quirks of her own...and I believe I read the new assistant is a bartender?! Will have to see if that rumor is true...

Rhythmdvl · #4 01-21-2005, 06:18 PM

Hmm... from MSNBC

Quote:

While both USA and Schram’s management characterized Schram’s exit as a change in creative direction, there were rumblings in recent weeks that some members of the series’ supporting cast ... attempted to renegotiate the terms of their contract..

Seems the door's not fully closed, nor a replacement fully found. Maybe she'll be back?

If not, can I suggest bringing Niecy Nash/ Varla Davis back?

Rhythm

Cervaise · #5 01-21-2005, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhythmdvl

Monk without Sharona?!

I already miss her. I'll check out the revamped show, but I feel no remorse in saying I'll be keeping it on a very short leash.

devilsknew · #6 01-21-2005, 07:24 PM

I don't even really want to watch it, now that Sharona's gone. It just won't feel right...that story line and Monk and Sharona's interaction had some emotion and a past. Can't fool myself enough into going for the new asst. Greed ruins another show again! I swear I'm going to boycott Monk if Sharona doesn't find her way back.

Leaper · #7 01-21-2005, 07:32 PM

These comments provide an interesting dilemma for TV show producers. When a character becomes that important/popular, how SHOULD fan reactions like these enter into hardball negotiations? Was Bitty Schram's thought that she could push anyone around she wanted for more money actually sensible, in this light?

MovieMogul · #8 01-21-2005, 07:48 PM

Bitty Schram was talented and well-suited for the part, but I'm skeptical if she's so genuinely irreplacable. Let's face it--the show's called Monk. The dynamic between the two was very good, but the lynchpin to the show is Shaloub, and I enjoy his scenes with Levine as much (if not more so) than with the dearly departed.

And I believe Traylor Howard is scheduled to be her "permanent" replacement.

kunilou · #9 01-21-2005, 08:30 PM

Actually it wasn't just Bitty Schramm. You'll notice that both Stottlemeyer and Disher were mysteriously absent in a couple of episodes near the end of last season. As I understand it, the three supporting players decided to stand together in asking for more money. The producers responded by writing each of them out of episodes.

TV is hardball.

Merhouse · #10 01-21-2005, 10:42 PM

I also couldn't imagine how Monk (Adrian, not the show) would survive without Sharona, but I've gotta say, looks like both he and the show will survive rather well.

This of course, is just my opinion. I could be wrong

Yookeroo · #11 01-21-2005, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArchiveGuy

Bitty Schram was talented and well-suited for the part, but I'm skeptical if she's so genuinely irreplacable. Let's face it--the show's called Monk. The dynamic between the two was very good, but the lynchpin to the show is Shaloub, and I enjoy his scenes with Levine as much (if not more so) than with the dearly departed.

All true. I think the show was in a bit of a decline...maybe the change will give it a boost. Probably not (I think it's the Monk character that's about played out), but it's worth a shot.

Cervaise · #12 01-22-2005, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cervaise

I feel no remorse in saying I'll be keeping it on a very short leash.

I got halfway through the episode and had to turn it off. I thought it was awful.

Othersider · #13 01-22-2005, 05:17 AM

I didn't mind it. It didn't take me as long to figure out the plot, but I still considered it good entertainment. When I saw him reading the instructions on the fire extinguisher, I knew he was going to try and pace it off. That was rather amusing.

Green Bean · #14 01-22-2005, 07:20 AM

I went into it with very negative expectations. I absolutely loved Sharona. I remember Traylor Howard from that excerable flop of a sitcom called Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place. And her name is "Traylor." Trailer? I guess it's not her fault, but it gave me another, admittedly petty, reason to dread her joining the cast.

But I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed the new character and the episode. Since the new assistant is not a nurse and not as sympathetic to Monk's mental issues as Sharona, there's great potential there for Monk to be forced to change and/or try some new things. Also, the fact that they both lost a spouse will add a new dimension to their relationship.

Plus, her name is Teeger. My favorite family friends are Teegers. Teegers are cool.

Hamlet · #15 01-22-2005, 07:21 AM

I'm obviously in the minority, but I never liked Sharona. I found her more annoying than intriguing, more plain than interesting, and more closed off than emotionally compelling.

I like the new assistant much, much more. I like the fact that she too has suffered the loss of a spouse and I'm hoping that will start Monk on the way to somehow getting back to normal. This first episode clearly went for more comedy, but I was fine with that. A nice introduction.

I have high hopes for this season.

h.sapiens · #16 01-22-2005, 10:27 AM

I thought they did a good job of introducing the new assistant. The mystery itself was only so-so, but it was pretty secondary. There were some nice moments between Monk and Natalie. I also liked when Monk's therapist told him that his new assistant was out there somewhere, and Monk answered, "God help her."

TV time · #17 01-22-2005, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet

I'm obviously in the minority, but I never liked Sharona. I found her more annoying than intriguing, more plain than interesting, and more closed off than emotionally compelling.

I like the new assistant much, much more. I like the fact that she too has suffered the loss of a spouse and I'm hoping that will start Monk on the way to somehow getting back to normal. This first episode clearly went for more comedy, but I was fine with that. A nice introduction.

I have high hopes for this season.

I am in your boat with this Hamlet and I might remind the Sharona fans that when we had the first thread about the show a few years back when Monk started, the consensus was that Sharona and her kid were a couple of the weaknesses of the show.

I think Howard will do a good job. Saying that, however, I felt a little cheated the plot Friday was a bit obvious. Usually there is a bit more subtleness in the crime and figuring it out.

TV

Nonsuch · #18 01-22-2005, 01:56 PM

I was pretty turned off by the whole thing. Maybe I was being oversensitive, but the fact that the producers had Sharona

SPOILER:

combined with the new assistant's extreme resemblance to Sharona in attitude, looks, and family circumstance, seemed almost to smack of contempt. "Not only will we completely sell out that bitch's character, we'll serve you up a near carbon copy. Enjoy, suckers!" The new assistant had some good lines here and there, but that scene with the science teacher was almost unwatchably bad, and I found that even by the episode's end I didn't like the character very much. Monk has now become a "I'll watch it if I happen to be sitting down at the TV and nothing else is on" show for me. Too bad.

Can those who watched last night settle a disagreement for me? (I'll use spoiler boxes for those who haven't seen it yet.) When Monk is wrapping up the case, he says first that

SPOILER:

I was positive, however, that right after that, Monk said

SPOILER:

Am I misreading something?

(And was anyone else sure that Monk was going to adopt that parrot?)

Cervaise · #19 01-22-2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonsuch

that scene with the science teacher was almost unwatchably bad

That's where I turned it off.

Gala Matrix Fire · #20 01-22-2005, 05:11 PM

It was a very poorly written show, and I hope they get their act together.

Nonsuch is right about the moon rock. That's one thing. There's no explanation for why they're searching everybody. No one knows the rock is missing. That's one stupid writing mistake.

Another one is: Monk notices the dry aquarium net stuck in the couch cushions and comes to the conclusion that the guy wanted to steal the fish. C'mon. Monk knows perfectly well that if the guy wanted to steal the fish, he'd have some means of transporting the fish in water, so it wouldn't die. What's he going to do, drive home with the fish net in one hand and a slowly-dying fish flopping around in it?

The next thing is: Traylor Howard's character knows perfectly well that it's not a valuable fish, because she replaces it every year with a knockoff for 99 cents. Yet they still waste time traipsing off to the fish store to find out if it's a valuable fish.

Another thing: They follow the museum guy around the museum and worry about losing him. Hello! The man works there! You know where to find him, for God's sake.

Really abysmal writing.

carnivorousplant · #21 01-22-2005, 06:35 PM

Why make up an "orange marble fish"? He was a double tail Rhiunkin goldfish.
Make Mr. Henry a killifish. The Nothos are large and pretty and live only a year.

davenportavenger · #22 01-22-2005, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

Why make up an "orange marble fish"? He was a double tail Rhiunkin goldfish.

Actually, I have heard orange-and-white-and sometimes black goldfish referred to as marble fish (because their scales are mixed up in color). I don't think that's the proper species name, but it is an informal name.

I agree that the writing was super-weak (how did those problems bluethree pointed out ever get past first edit?), but I did like the new character, way better than Sharona. She was a total enabler. Maybe with the new assistant Monk will be able to finally get past his problems and get back on the force. He could have never done it with a nurse following around after him. Also, last night's episode was more dramatic than comedic, which I liked, because I don't like when Monk's OCD is played as slapstick. I hope they continue in that vein.

erislover · #23 01-22-2005, 07:30 PM

Did they say the employees were being searched for a missing moon rock? I thought the searching was just part of normal operation. Hmm.

Nonsuch · #24 01-22-2005, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erislover

Did they say the employees were being searched for a missing moon rock? I thought the searching was just part of normal operation. Hmm.

That's what my g/f thought, but since when is it normal to frisk people at a museum? They don't search you when you leave the courthouse or get off the plane—the only reason to do it at a museum would be to find a stolen item, which logically no one in the story could've known had been stolen.

carnivorousplant · #25 01-22-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by continuity eror

Maybe with the new assistant Monk will be able to finally get past his problems and get back on the force.

Then the series will be over. Voyager will have come home, Dr. whois will have found the one armed man.

[quote=Nonsuch]but since when is it normal to frisk people at a museum?[Nonsuch]

Since you have moon rocks on display?

davenportavenger · #26 01-22-2005, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

Then the series will be over.

Not necessarily; I think it will be over when Monk solves his wife's murder. Though I guess both those endings could happen simultaneously.

Lute Skywatcher · #27 01-22-2005, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

Then the series will be over.

Not necessarily, even "normal" Monk would have a whole bunch of quirks. Didn't he go through three partners in the space of a week or something?

Lute Skywatcher · #28 01-22-2005, 08:36 PM

For a second there, I thought I made a double post!

carnivorousplant · #29 01-22-2005, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lute Skywatcher

For a second there, I thought I made a double post!

Nah, they're just picking on me.

Monk's family was nuts. Remember the brother and his MOther numbering the mugs?
"What happened if one broke?"
He was OC in high school, retying his shoelaces in track.
So I don't think he'll be cured, but the "normal" Monk would be as Luke said, but I don't know if that theme would support a TV series.

erislover · #30 01-22-2005, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonsuch

That's what my g/f thought, but since when is it normal to frisk people at a museum? They don't search you when you leave the courthouse or get off the plane—the only reason to do it at a museum would be to find a stolen item, which logically no one in the story could've known had been stolen.

No, they don't do it when you leave a plane. What are you going to take, the headsets? Neither would they frisk people going to a museum, because that's what the security is for: to make sure people don't take things in the first place. It seemed logical to me that personnel who could have had access to the museum's goods would be routinely searched. But, what do I know about museums?

Nonsuch · #31 01-22-2005, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erislover

It seemed logical to me that personnel who could have had access to the museum's goods would be routinely searched. But, what do I know about museums?

Ah, but who frisks the friskers?

NoCoolUserName · #32 01-22-2005, 11:56 PM

We, too, felt that the writing sucked. Mr. Bad Guy didn't know they were searching people on the way out? Why not???

The "mystery" was so transparent, as was the "who will be the new assistant" "sub"-plot that we both hated it. We're hoping that better writers will be forthcoming.

blowero · #33 01-23-2005, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonsuch

I was pretty turned off by the whole thing. Maybe I was being oversensitive, but the fact that the producers had Sharona

SPOILER:

combined with the new assistant's extreme resemblance to Sharona in attitude, looks, and family circumstance, seemed almost to smack of contempt. "Not only will we completely sell out that bitch's character, we'll serve you up a near carbon copy. Enjoy, suckers!"

Totally. That bugged me a lot. I guess I should continue the spoiler boxes:

SPOILER:

teela brown · #34 01-23-2005, 09:46 AM

I think it was a so-so episode, which I neither hated nor loved. I realize its main purpose was the introduction of the new assistant, so maybe once this hurdle is cleared, the writing will improve.

Last season, they were clearly trying out some other characters (maybe with focus groups) to see if they would fly as the new assistant. I'm extremely thankful that that obnoxious nurse friend of Sharona's didn't make it, nor did Monk's geeky upstairs neighbor.

Lute Skywatcher · #35 01-24-2005, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnivorousplant

So I don't think he'll be cured, but the "normal" Monk would be as Luke said, but I don't know if that theme would support a TV series.

I think a "Nash Bridges" meets Sherlock Holmes sort of think would work if they get the right writers.

Lute Skywatcher · #36 01-24-2005, 11:25 AM

Pretend that second "think" is a "thing".

Rysler · #37 01-24-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blowero

SPOILER:

Addressing Sharona's write-out...

SPOILER:

I was completely taken aback by the moon rock revelation. Apparently my weak mental capacity makes me a fabulous target audience.

Lute Skywatcher · #38 01-24-2005, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rysler

Addressing Sharona's write-out...

SPOILER:

Quote:

I was completely taken aback by the moon rock revelation.

As was I. Then again, I just enjoy the ride and not try to figure out the mysteries before Monk does.

carnivorousplant · #39 01-24-2005, 01:30 PM

I recall two actors playing the husband, one a creep one neutral.

BigDummy · #40 01-24-2005, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lute Skywatcher

SPOILER:

On the other hand

SPOILER:

Her poor judgment in that area was kind of a running joke, as I recall.

I have no problem with the new girl and I liked her introduction. I almost didn't recognize her, but maybe it was just the lighting in that opening scene.

teela brown · #41 01-24-2005, 05:20 PM

I liked the expressions of relief on Adrian's face as she unconsciously stepped up to the plate and assisted with an evidence bag or paper towel hand wipes.

[hijack] We just invested in a plasma screen television and are watching some season 2 Monk episodes on it. Damn, this series is beautifully filmed. Every (actual, on-location) shot of San Francisco is gorgeous, and the interiors of the various craftsmen and Victorian homes are lighted very naturally and subtly. Good stuff!
[/hijack]

BobT · #42 01-24-2005, 05:48 PM

But how much of the show is actually filmed in San Francisco? Much of it is filmed in Los Angeles.

And the "Monk" San Francisco seems to have relatively flat streets now and ample parking. And people living in big tract homes.

teela brown · #43 01-24-2005, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobT

But how much of the show is actually filmed in San Francisco? Much of it is filmed in Los Angeles.

And the "Monk" San Francisco seems to have relatively flat streets now and ample parking. And people living in big tract homes.

You're right, there are way more scenes filmed in Pasadena/Beverly Hills than in SF. If homes like that existed near the bay area, you'd have to be a billionaire to afford them! But when they're in SF, it's easily spotted, and they will often choose to film on a stunning day.

Lute Skywatcher · #44 02-06-2005, 01:17 PM

I missed last week's episode but the one this week seems to indicate that they are trying to take the series in another direction. Or maybe it was just a reference to action/mystery shows from the '80s in which somebody dies whenever the main character goes somewhere.

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