# Monk Appreciation Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173 "2002-11-04T03:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/21 "2002-11-05T18:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\* It’s his front entry, so why would the umbrella have been placed wrong in the first place? \*\* Mrs. Plant and I figure Sherona hung it up when she went by to check if the burner on the stove had been turned off. It is surprising that an Arab guy has a popular show these days. It gives one hope. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/22 "2002-11-05T18:25:33Z")
He’s of Lebanese heritage according to the IMDb, as is Casey Kasem and Jamie Farr. I wonder if there are any plans to get all three together, Kasem and Farr could play a couple of Monk’s relatives (from different sides of the family) charged with a murder they didn’t commit. Naturally, being Monk’s relatives at least one would have his own idiosyncrasies. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/23 "2002-11-05T19:37:05Z")
If you think this is a a show about a detective solving crimes, then you’ve missed the whole point. The “mystery” part is just backdrop for the real story: a guy dealing with, and learning about, his own demons. Much like “John Doe” seems to be about crime solving but really is a story about his missing life. I consider the “who-dun-it” issue to be immaterial. I don’t care who did it or why. What Monk goes thru in dealing with his problems to achieve something is the entertainment. Esp. the turning adversity into an advantage. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/24 "2002-11-05T20:12:22Z")
I beg to differ. Monk and Doe are becoming mere cop shows. The computer stuff on Doe is trash as is the gambling stuff. Time for more insight into the lady and the guys in suits. Surely they can find him when he gets in the papers. Monk is good, but the OC stuff is becoming comic relief; climbing on the room “with a lot of gravity” to catch Santa. Writing his will in the airplane bathroom. Both of them have a premise that is difficult to continue; I wish the writers luck. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jamesbp1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@jamesbp1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jamesbp1)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/25 "2002-11-05T21:32:38Z")
I really like Monk, maybe because I can see myself becoming a little OC, and I enjoy seeing him rise above it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/26 "2002-11-05T21:54:00Z")
Climbing onto the ROOF with a lot of gravity. I need to be obsessive about spell checking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/27 "2002-11-05T22:19:28Z")
Count me with those who find the mysteries somewhat puerile, and the “wherever he goes, he solves a murder” format rather predictable (though the airplane was a pretty clever setting) – but who love the show anyway for the quirky characters and the gentle blend of comedy and personal tragedy that is the main character. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/28 "2002-11-05T22:30:35Z")
I was big fan until he married Mindy and they had Jonathan Winters as a child. What? Oh. I concur with those who say the characters are great but the mysteries are somewhat lacking. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/29 "2002-11-06T00:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jamesbp1 \* > \*\*I really like Monk, maybe because I can see myself becoming a little OC, and I enjoy seeing him rise above it. \*\* I also like the show. I remember **Tony Shalhoub** from the sit com **Wings**. He also had a part in **Men in Black**. **Monk** is definitely a good show in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Boob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Crazy\_Boob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Boob)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/30 "2002-11-06T01:56:09Z")
Damn sailor #3–that was him? Wow! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/31 "2002-11-06T04:57:41Z")
Since this is turning into a sort of Tony Shalhoub appreciation thread I’ll say that I enjoyed him in _Seige_ which is the only time I recall him playing an Arab-American role. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/32 "2002-11-06T13:34:52Z")
Then let us return to spirit of the OP. Was the ending of the episode where the maids killed one of their own cool, or a “just one more thing” moment stolen from Columbo? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2002, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173/33 "2002-11-06T15:03:15Z")
Cool, in that the writers waited until the last moment for Monk to figure it out. Of course, once Sharona handed him that picture you knew that he was set for another victory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monk-appreciation-thread/135173.md?page=1)