Monk

About Monk

'Monk' is a popular American detective comedy-drama television series that premiered on July 12, 2002 on USA Network. The series revolves around Adrian Monk, a brilliant detective for the San Francisco Police Department, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and multiple phobias following the murder of his wife. Despite his quirks and obsessive habits, Monk proves to be a phenomenally effective detective, utilizing his attention to detail to solve complicated cases.

Making / Production

Monk was created by Andy Breckman and was produced by Mandeville Films in association with Touchstone Television. It was directed by a number of acclaimed directors including Randall Zisk, Jerry Levine, and Andrei Belgrader among others. The unique blend of comedy, drama, and crime investigation, along with compelling performances keeps viewers captivated throughout its eight seasons run.

Actors

• Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk: Known for his brilliant yet eccentric portrayal of the hampered detective, Shalhoub's performance stands as one of the memorable aspects of the show.
• Bitty Schram as Sharona Fleming: She provides comic relief as Monk's assertive, no-nonsense nurse and assistant who aids him in solving cases.
• Traylor Howard as Natalie Teeger: She joins in later seasons as Monk's assistant and offers a distinct yet enjoyable dynamic to the show.
• Ted Levine as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: He portrays Monk's slightly impatient but supportive boss with sincerity.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Tony Shalhoub, who portrays Monk, has appeared in every single episode of the series.
• The character of Monk was initially offered to other actors like Michael Richards and Dave Foley before Tony Shalhoub was finalized.
• Although set in San Francisco, the majority of the series was shot in Los Angeles and Toronto.

Awards

Throughout its run, Monk garnered several award wins and nominations. Most notably, Tony Shalhoub won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series three times for his role as Adrian Monk.

Quotes

• "Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not." - Adrian Monk
• "It's a gift... and a curse." - Adrian Monk referring to his obsessive compulsive disorder
• "You'll thank me later." - Adrian Monk

Music, Soundtrack

• The show's theme music, "It's a Jungle Out There" by Randy Newman, won a Grammy Award in 2004.
• Jeff Beal composed the original score for the series which accentuated the moods of the scenes.
• Several episodes feature songs pertinent to the plot or context of the episode.