# Mr. Monk and the Critic **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681 "2009-09-19T02:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 19, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/1 "2009-09-19T02:25:07Z")
The Bad Guy is Dylan Baker, the brother in law from _Kings,_ who organized the coup. How can they not believe Natalie? 🙂 ---
**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:** [September 19, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/2 "2009-09-19T02:35:14Z")
And the Men’s Room Attendant is Bernie Kopel, Siegfried from _Get Smart_ from the TV series, “Opel Driver” from the movie. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/3 "2009-09-19T04:53:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And the Men’s Room Attendant is Bernie Kopel, Siegfried from _Get Smart_ from the TV series, “Opel Driver” from the movie. 🙂 and we can never forget him as the horny doctor in The Love Boat. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/4 "2009-09-19T05:23:01Z")
I really like this episode because it was one of the rare Natalie/Julie episodes. Hopefully we’ll see Julie some more this season, but if not, we know she’s across the Bay at Berkeley. The plot was transparent from the start, but it was fun seeing Siegfried as the restroom attendant! I was hoping for a closing scene with him out of his coma, but at least they didn’t kill him! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/5 "2009-09-19T09:54:52Z")
I was surprised that Monk was able to actually enter a men’s room. I would have thought that he’d make sure to go before he left, rather than face the terrors of an unknown men’s room. On the other hand, he’s traveled out of the city before, so surely he’s used a gas station restroom? That would explain his fear of unknown restrooms. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/6 "2009-09-19T11:41:26Z")
Nicely done, with a great “get” at the end, but it would have worked better if Julie was actually that good a singer (sorry, Natalie, but she wasn’t) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/7 "2009-09-20T09:14:05Z")
Pretty substandard episode in terms of the mystery, but it was nice to see Natalie getting some action, and Monk’s relationship with the bathroom attendant was brilliant. I especially loved the scene where they are grooming each other! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/8 "2009-09-20T17:22:32Z")
Anyone happen to know what show the song that Julie sang was from? I did some searching for it but could not find it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/9 "2009-09-20T17:45:29Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Anyone happen to know what show the song that Julie sang was from? I did some searching for it but could not find it. I think it’s an original song. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/10 "2009-09-20T21:28:37Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > I think it’s an original song. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/11 "2009-09-21T05:45:06Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > I especially loved the scene where they are grooming each other! Yes, I replayed that several times. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/12 "2009-09-21T13:42:11Z")
Tangent on songs: I _wish_ that the title song “It’s a Jungle Out There” were available! The mystery on MONK is never much of a mystery, it’s just the fun of watching him in the most outlandish situations imaginable. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/13 "2009-09-21T14:36:22Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Pretty substandard episode in terms of the mystery, but it was nice to see Natalie getting some action, and Monk’s relationship with the bathroom attendant was brilliant. I especially loved the scene where they are grooming each other! I guess Monk groomed (Siegfried) because he wasn’t going to tip him. Heck, he even tried to pocket one of the tips. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/14 "2009-09-21T16:42:45Z")
I thought Julie’s singing was lame. Not bad, but not stage-quality good. Just meh. Like your average person on the street. But she sure was poised. I loved Bernie Kopel’s character. Hand-woven peruvian cotton towels. They made Randy actually looked like he had enough brain cells to but two words together this ep. He’s the one who told Natalie they needed actual evidence for the arrest of the critic. StG ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/15 "2009-09-22T00:04:29Z")
This episode has awesome character moments for all the main cast. Natalie’s personality shone, Monk’s fears and compulsions were on good comic display, and Stottlemeyer’s reaction when Monk referred to “his mens’ room attendent” was a perfect display of their relationship. Even Randy got decent moments showing his spinelessness and his basic competence as a cop. On the mystery angle, though, I had several complaints: the villain was obviously wearing bad guy murderer gloves in the intro. Wouldn’t some simple Isotoners or something make a lot more sense in the context? Also, he let the attendent LIVE? That’s hard to swallow; my assumption is that the script originally killed the character but they balked when they realized how cute his relationship with Monk was and softened it but left an odd plot hole in doing so. Also, I’m skeptical that they couldn’t get a bite print from the strawberry – you can make plaster casts of VERY soft stuff, I’ve done it. But I’m just a hobbyist, not a forensic scientist. And, lastly, I feel the final “get” was really weak – couldn’t the guy just say, “I’m bad with faces. I didn’t recognize her out of context.” I’m a theatergoer, and I’m pretty confident I wouldn’t recognize actors I’ve seen in plays just a few days later if I saw them off stage. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/16 "2009-09-22T00:13:56Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > I feel the final “get” was really weak As the method in which they obtained it. Surely a lawyer would have a good chance throwing it out. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/17 "2009-09-22T00:54:28Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > As the method in which they obtained it. Surely a lawyer would have a good chance throwing it out. Sure, in real life it would be a joke. But for TV, it was right in there with a lot of the gotchas in “Columbo”. (“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the proof beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty is that he knew right where the victim’s missing earring was!”) ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/18 "2009-09-22T01:45:03Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Sure, in real life it would be a joke. But for TV, it was right in there with a lot of the gotchas in “Columbo”. (“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the proof beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty is that he knew right where the victim’s missing earring was!”) And, you know, normally that wouldn’t bug me TOO much, but there’s two strikes against this Monk episode: 1. Randy BROUGHT UP the need for decisive evidence. 2. The criminal didn’t self-incriminate and just said IIRC that he needed his lawyer. If he’d made a big blunder after the weak gotcha, then you’re sold. Granted, maybe they’ll save the case with hair or blood from his trunk and some witness statements placing him with the first victim, etc etc. He did seem a pretty sloppy killer. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/19 "2009-09-22T02:11:13Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Also, I’m skeptical that they couldn’t get a bite print from the strawberry – you can make plaster casts of VERY soft stuff, I’ve done it. But I’m just a hobbyist, not a forensic scientist. I’ve heard that in real life bite marks are not easily matched, but perhaps he left some DNA on the strawberry? ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681/20 "2009-09-22T02:15:27Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > Sure, in real life it would be a joke. But for TV, it was right in there with a lot of the gotchas in “Columbo”. (“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the proof beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty is that he knew right where the victim’s missing earring was!”) Except that Monk dealt with exactly this situation in the previous episode. Monk did the standard “TV gotcha” routine, but the defendant hired a good lawyer and beat the charges. Especially coming right after someone beating a “gotcha”, this “gotcha” was very weak. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-monk-and-the-critic/510681.md?page=2)