Oh, man, I wish I’d gotten cable sooner and not missed season one. If you missed “Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man” on 7/26, you missed a great episode. From Stottlemeyer’s development as a character–which I thought was really cool–to Monk’s funny as hell hierarchy of problems (“Snakes trump heights!”)…I love this show.
I’m glad you started this thread, because otherwise I was going to.
Who else loved the explanation for why the coffee table had to be crooked? (I knew it would have to be something about Trudy.)
What they found in the time capsule seemed to be a bit of a deus ex machina, but I don’t really care as this show is about the characters rather than sophisticated plot. The plots are usually junk food, but who cares?
Oh, yeah, bittersweet stuff between Stottlemeyer and his wife.
Mr. S actually thought Monk’s obsession with vacuum lines in the carpet was legitimate. Excuse me? I don’t even care about that, and I’m the anal one in this house!!
Not much Sharona in this episode, since Stottlemeyer was filling her role.
I’ve only seen one episode and absolutely hated it. I thought Tony Shaloub was awful. Maybe I need to give it another shot?
Yes, you do.
It’s a lot funnier when you know someone with mild OCD, or have it yourself. 
Of course, I find myself nitpicking things like, “What?? He separated his shirt hangers exactly two inches apart? BULLSHIT!! They’re supposed to be two and a half inches apart! Call my lawyers NOW!”
Chefguy, why didn’t you like it? And which one did you see? Some are better than others.
I agree with KGS – I share some of Monk’s obsessions (“If it’s not a right angle, it’s a wrong angle!”), though not to his extremes – I notice when things are spilled, dirty, crooked, etc., but I don’t have the irrepressible urge to fix them, especially when it’s not appropriate.
I now strongly resist the urge to make the two three-way switches in the hall at work both be up or down.
His whole hierarchy scene, where he was standing on the table, just about killed me. (Paraphrase)…“It goes milk, germs, death, snakes, mushrooms…”
I thought it was kinda cool that Stottlemeyer actually solved the case this time around.
I loved the whole ep - I liked the Stottlemeyer character development. I loved Monk’s heirarchy. Having a touch of OCD myself, I can appreciate the carpet lines thing. I always have to vacuum so the lines are parallel to the walls. Of course, I cure that by not vacuuming often. It’s funny - I went into my dentist’s office the other day and a former coworker was there. The dentist had some candelabras and the candles where crooked. Before I could sit down I had to straighten each of them. So I can empathize, somewhat.
I thought the final shot would’ve worked better to morphed Trudy out of the shot, ending up with Monk on the couch by himself.
StG
I think it was the first show in the first season. I actually like Tony Shaloub, but thought he reeked in this episode. Not having OCD may be a factor.
I still think the first episode is the best one. Something about him being chased down a street by a car intent upon running him down and killing him and he still has to touch every pole and parking meter.
I agree that the show is one of the best out there, and very familliar to me. But I still recite “It put’s the lotion on it’s skin or else it gets the hose again.” every time Stottlemeyer shows up or talks.
I’m getting to like the show. I thought it was really hip to do a Barry Bonds-parody episode and then bring back Russell from Wayne’s World as a bad guy.
Have any humorless OCD types protested this show?
Now THAT would have made me cry. Neat that that was the first time that Adrian and Trudy were actually in a shot together, hey? (Please correct me if I’m wrong.)
I have to say, “Was she a great big fat person?” (Drives Mr. S nuts.) What a great voice.
NAMI is keeping any eye on it but so far it seems their reaction has been positive.
Yup, that’d work. Sweet and poignant.
Eww, stop it! Now you’re making my skin crawl! It drove me crazy the first few times I watched it, just who he was, and when I figured it out I was so creeped out. I’ve been able to get that image out of my head, and I like Stottlemeyer now. Go away, you! 
Anthony Hopkins would charge too much for a guest appearence, dang it.
I missed that episode last Friday night. Fortunately, USA Network will rerun it on Monday night (July 28) at 8:00 p.m. here in California.