[Monk - General Discussion]

I think you all will be interested in this but Natalie herself (Traylor Howard) is appearing on the Randy Disher podcast tomorrow to talk about her role on Monk and more.  I am so excited for this one

[Monk - General Discussion]

10 hours ago, Annber03 said:

When I started watching this show, I knew going in that Sharona left, but I didn't know how. So when I got to the episode where she thought she was losing her sanity because she kept seeing a guy who was never there whenever anyone else showed up, even though they did ultimately solve that case, I thought it was going to tie into some kind of explanation for her exit. Shame it didn't, as I think that could've been an interesting way to write her out. I felt so bad for her in that episode-that scene where she's in the bathroom and sees the guy in the stall was legitimately creepy as hell. I actually gasped at that part. 

But yeah, I do agree they got very lucky with bringing Natalie aboard, and handled the transition better than I think a lot of shows in that situation would ( say this as someone who watched "Criminal Minds" and became very used to cast turnover over the course of that show's run :p). I was thinking about it a bit while reading these posts, and it struck me that it seemed like Monk and Sharona were a little more alike in some ways-they're both a lot more blunt in their honesty, and say what's on their mind, and I think Sharona shares a bit of Monk's more world-weary outlook in some ways, because she's had a rough time of it, too. I think that's a big part of why she connects with him.

Natalie, on the other hand, balances him out with her more optimistic, lighthearted attitude and personality. We see how Monk's dealing with his grief over Trudy, and the way Natalie dealt with hers in regards to Mitch is a very stark contrast. They connected over their losses, yes, but the compare/contrast between how they each handled it made for some good storylines and scenes between them. And yeah, she speaks up when needed, too, but she also tends to be more tactful than him. Most of the time :p. 

Two different types of dynamics, and yet they both worked. 

As for Julie and Benjy, I liked his relationship with each of them. It strikes me, too, that not long after Sharona and Benjy leave, he bonds so much with that little boy, Tommy. Almost as though Tommy helped fill a bit of a void that Benjy had abruptly left (sure, Benjy was older, but still). Then he forms a bond with Julie, and at the end of the series comes Molly. They each brought out something special in their connections to and relationships with him, and it further ties into the whole thing of him wanting a child of his own. 

I totally agree with everything you are saying.  Awesome analysis and perspective.  I also liked how each assistant catered to the plot in their own way like how they had episodes kind of tailored to them and wouldn't really work with any other character which helps bring out more character development.  Plus, I think both actresses play their parts really well

[Monk - General Discussion]

On 3/28/2021 at 5:57 AM, dttruman said:

Was the character Natalie Teeger miscast? Considering the way the character "Julie Teeger" (Emmy Clarke) looked, I thought Mother and daughter looked about 10-12 years apart.

yeah, she just had youthful looks IMO.  I think I read that there was an audition process and quite a bit of people came to try for the role back in late 2004 when the show was on its hiatus, and they thought she fit the role the best cause she had the best combination of humor and warmth that the role required if I recall correctly.  despite coming on originally as a  replacement, I think she did really well in the role and became her own character within a few episodes, which I think helped viewers like her more

[Monk - General Discussion]

Randy Disher Podcast episode 2 comes out tomorrow.  He will be interviewing the guy who wrote the show and came up with the idea of Monk (Andy Breckman).  On episode 3 next week, he interviews Emmy Clarke who played Julie Teeger.  Can't wait to see who else he gets on.  

[Monk - General Discussion]

2 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

I agree with both, LOL. Sort of like: And THAT is how you shoehorn a story ending! It shouldn't have worked, but they pulled it off. IMO.

 

fair.  i think majority of viewers liked it as it is the highest rated episode on imdb being 9.4/10.  let me clarify, second part is 9.4 and first part is 9,2

[Monk - General Discussion]

3 hours ago, LexieLily said:

I always thought that the idea that Molly existed seemed to be a shoehorned-in retcon of what we knew of Trudy's life before Monk and I hated in the finale when Natalie said to Monk that "[Molly] it's what you've been missing. She [Trudy] sent you somebody to love." Monk slowly had made a life for himself after Trudy's death even if it wasn't the way he planned or envisioned; he had people to love and he had people that loved him. That was so much pressure to put on Molly and I wasn't sure if Monk would ever be able to see her as anything but an extension of Trudy. I think it would have broken him all over again if Molly pulled away or disappeared from his life.

i will disagree you there.  i thought it was a great twist in the ending and it was a great way to wrap up his story, and it showed he was getting better.  i understand what natalie meant.  I think she meant because Molly is sort of an extension to Trudy, it is someone he can be connected to through the memory of Trudy.  Of course, he still loves and cares for his peers around him, but anything Trudy related means a lot to him.  Just check out the game show episode.  Look at how comfortable he was with his father and mother in law.  They are practically like a father and mother figure to him

[Monk - General Discussion]

Even though Monk could be rude to them at times, there are times where he is really nice to them and cares for them.  Season 8 he returns a hug to both of them.  Sharona in the episode she comes back, and Natalie when he finally sees her again after leaving the force again and her coming back from her short lived music job.  I think it kind of shows how much appreciative he really becomes after realizing how much he missed them

[Monk - General Discussion]

1 minute ago, peacheslatour said:

Oh god yes. It would take the patience of a freaking saint.

i love that portion in the end of the Natalie x Sharona episode when Sharona was like "you are a saint" and Natalie was like "you needed to be tough with him".  I also found this awesome photo too.  Something about it is so legendary

 

[Monk - General Discussion]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Sometimes it helps me to think of Monk as having had 3 assistants: Sharona, poor Natalie, and rich Natalie.

well I don't think Natalie took money from her parents even after the wedding episode.  I just think she was in a better position after working for Monk for a while because even in season 8 she states she doesn't take a dime from her parents which I believe since it is a TV show, and I doubt Natalie was lying.  She did definitely have a fashion glowup in the 5th season, but is is kind of what I respect about her.  Her being as "fiercely" independent as she is

18 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Sharona was an actual nurse, I think and Natale had been a bartender. It shows Monk's growth from being mentally and emotionally paralyzed after Trudy's death to a healthier, slightly more capable adult that he no longer needed a medical professional full time to just needing a little friendly support. I loved the way they bonded over Monk's legendary cheapness.

true, but I still Natalie had a hard job too than just "friendly support".  Even though, she didn't have the job of getting him out of the bed, she still kept him on his feet and pushed him to take cases and in some cases confront his fears.  I still think even at that stage of his life, working for Mr. Monk is one of the toughest jobs in the world.  I did love the way they bonded and complimented each other.

[Monk - General Discussion]

makes sense.  i think both bitty schram and traylor howard played their characters well and their characters were also good.  too bad we don't hear from them nowadays

[Monk - General Discussion]

Anyone else like Sharona and Natalie pretty much the same or is it just me?  IK most people are either mostly firmly for team Natalie or firmly for team Sharona.  I appreciated both of the characters though and the actresses portraying them

[Monk - General Discussion]

Check this official site for the podcast out

 

[Monk - General Discussion]

RANDY DISHER PODCAST THIS FRIDAY EVERYONE.  

 

[Monk - General Discussion]

Speaking of Monk, Traylor Howard and Emmy Clarke (Julie) apparently a few months gave an interview to some podcaster about their experience on Monk.  The interview had some pretty interesting insights.  It is not the full 1 hour and 23 minutes, but the interview is like the first 35 minutes of this.  I really liked it.  

  

[Monk - General Discussion]

53 minutes ago, LexieLily said:

Randy was in A Beautiful Mind? The movie about John Nash? Cool!!

It was a very small role, but he was one of the other princeton students at the bar while John Nash was talking about game theory I believe.  I think he appears in a few other scenes too.  

 

[Monk - General Discussion]

5 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Talk about range. I still have to shake myself every time I realize that he was Buffalo Bill.

Put the lotion in the basket!

[Monk - General Discussion]

On 1/12/2021 at 12:56 PM, LexieLily said:

In the episode where the high school stalker/bully of Natalie killed his father and stepmother (the neighbors of Natalie's parents) Natalie was the first to determine that there was no cell phone service up in the spot where the car crash happened meaning the father couldn't have called for help like Paul/the police report said. Natalie found the evidence that proved the father returned to the house that night and didn't die in the car crash.

In the drunk episode, although she didn't verbally say it, she figured out from drinking the Aqua Velva that the body was likely in an Aqua Velva container.  

[Monk - General Discussion]

Absolutely loved this show!  Finished from start to end.  Great cast members, writing, etc.  Tony Shalhoub and everyone else involved were truly a sight to watch.  Truth be told, after the third season I was not sure if the show would still be as strong without Sharona, but in my opinion I was wrong.  I ended up loving Natalie the same.  I actually got to like everyone that I started watching a lot of them in their past works.  I had already watched Shalhoub on Wings and Levine from Silence of the Lambs.  I really liked Bitty in a league of their own and Traylor in Two Guys and A girl which I am currently watching.   Jason had a small role previously in an amazing movie called a Beautiful Mind.  I just like everything about this show.