Tony Shalhoub Reveals His Top 5 Monk Episodes and What They Have in Common

The success of the show “Monk” is largely due to Tony Shalhoub’s exceptional portrayal of Adrian Monk. His unique performance as the brilliant detective, burdened by numerous phobias and suffering from OCD, gives the crime comedy-drama a perfect blend of humor, emotion, tragedy, and clinical insight. Over the years, Shalhoub has played a crucial role in shaping one of the most compelling and multifaceted protagonists in the crime genre’s history. Given his deep understanding of Mr. Monk, it is no surprise that his favorite episodes of “Monk” offer a glimpse into the character’s personal evolution.

During an interview with First for Women in December 2023, Shalhoub singled out five standout episodes from the series Monk that he believes showcase the program at its finest. These episodes offer a mix of suspenseful plots, side-splitting humor, and exceptional guest performances, but it’s Adrian Monk’s personal growth as a character dealing with various psychological issues that truly makes these episodes shine. Essentially, they represent instances where Monk is challenged to step out of his comfort zone and conquer significant hurdles, thereby fostering his personal development.

“Mr. Monk And The End”

Monk Season 8, Episodes 15 & 16

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I can confidently say that the legendary double-episode finale of “Monk” is nothing short of extraordinary – a fitting climax for an all-time great detective series. Tony Shalhoub himself calls it “complex,” and he’s spot on. The finale unveils the mystery behind Trudy Monk’s murder, Adrian’s beloved wife, while gracefully wrapping up each character’s storyline without feeling contrived or forced. It’s a gripping 90-minute journey of television that brings “Monk” to an explosive end rather than the subdued conclusion it hints at halfway through its first act.

Tony Shalhoub found the plot thread in the finale where Adrian Monk was poisoned to be the most troubling, calling it one of the hardest parts of the episode. He remarks that “Monk falling gravely ill and almost dying” made for a particularly heavy storyline to conclude the series before things improved in part 2.

In simpler terms, the last part of the final episode of Monk is an authentic, transformative ending that aligns with the show’s characters and delivers on fan expectations, with a few unexpected twists. Craig T. Nelson’s performance as the main antagonist is highly praised by Tony Shalhoub, but what he loves most about the finale is its fulfilling conclusion. “I thought we ended the series on such a high note,” he said to First for Women.

“Mr. Monk And The Garbage Strike”

Monk Season 5, Episode 2

Without a doubt, one of the most humorous episodes for “Monk” is titled “Mr. Monk and the Garbage Strike.” This episode brilliantly sets up a situation that pushes the boundaries of the OCD-ridden detective Adrian Monk to his breaking point. As mountains of trash accumulate in the streets, Monk abandons his usual investigative tasks to take up the role of a garbage collector instead. Tony Shalhoub, who plays Monk, shared that he particularly enjoyed the psychiatric scenes, where debris falls in the background. “There’s just garbage everywhere,” he added. With his character neglecting his primary job and advocating for the return of the striking garbage collectors, Monk’s usually impeccable detective work unfortunately suffers a noticeable decline.

Temporarily, Adrian Monk believes that the murderer he’s pursuing is none other than the iconic rock star Alice Cooper. As per Monk’s hypothesis, this suspect selects his victims because of an unusual fascination with antique wingback chairs. Notably, the show succeeded in having Alice Cooper make a guest appearance in the episode. “We were venturing far beyond our usual structure,” Shalhoub recollected, “and Alice Cooper was incredibly cooperative and eager to join in the fun.” It was fantastic, he added.

“Mr. Monk And The Kid”

Monk Season 3, Episode 16

Many fans highly appreciate the third season episode of “Monk” due to the heartwarming relationship Adrian Monk develops with a child he unexpectedly looks after. This role often takes Monk far beyond his comfort zone, as Tony Shalhoub noted, “That wasn’t really his thing!” The scene where Adrian juggles working on his case and reading bedtime stories to two-year-old Tommy Graser is undeniably one of the funniest and most emotional moments in any “Monk” episode.

The TV series “Mr. Monk and the Kid” presents an emotional and heartwarming perspective of Adrian Monk, making us contemplate the kind of father he might have been if Trudy had not been killed. Scenes between Mr. Monk and the title character are skillfully filmed with a poignant piano soundtrack. A bedtime story scene incorporates stop-motion animation to animate Monk’s tale, and when Adrian expresses his affection for his foster child, it’s hard not to feel a lump in your throat. In Shalhoub’s own words, “This episode was one that we all felt really stood out.

“Mr. Monk Bumps His Head”

Monk Season 4, Episode 11

The episode “Mr. Monk Bumps His Head” offered Tony Shalhoub and the writers of Monk an opportunity to explore new grounds with Adrian Monk’s character. Shalhoub’s Emmy-winning portrayal of Monk, who suffered from memory loss after a head injury, presented a markedly different private investigator than what we’re accustomed to. As Shalhoub explained to First for Women, “Monk is in a changed state due to his amnesia.” Despite this change, Monk’s quirks and neuroses still emerged, even as kidnapper Cora tried relentlessly to make him fall in love with her as his wife.

Shalhoub found it difficult not to laugh while working alongside guest star Laurie Metcalf, who portrays Cora in the episode. He reminisced, “I had a hard time keeping a straight face during our scenes together.” The situation of Cora exploiting Adrian Monk’s memory loss is similar to a comical adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, Misery. However, Monk refuses to let his amnesia hinder his detective work, even managing to perform some of his finest investigations despite the supposed bee issue in Pernell, Wyoming, where Cora is keeping him hostage.

“Mr. Monk And The Three Pies”

Monk Season 2, Episode 1

Among the 125 episodes of the long-running series “Monk,” Tony Shalhoub particularly cherishes the season 2 opener titled “Mr. Monk and the Three Pies.” This episode is significant as it brings Adrian Monk’s estranged brother Ambrose, portrayed by John Turturro who often collaborates with the Coen Brothers, back into the picture. Shalhoub shared that he had previously worked with Turturro on a Coen Brothers film called “Barton Fink” and had also shared a stage with him. For Shalhoub, having Turturro join the cast was an exciting prospect, and working together again was a delightful experience.

Remarkably, Ambrose Monk is not only more intellectually gifted and neurotic than his sibling Adrian, but due to his persistent agoraphobia, he secludes himself within the family home from their childhood. The reunion of these brothers stirs deep emotions in the series, making it particularly poignant. Furthermore, the camaraderie between long-time friends Shalhoub and Turturro, who additionally bear a striking resemblance, heightens the drama even further. Over time, Ambrose became one of John Turturro’s most memorable guest appearances on ‘Monk’.

This “Monk” episode holds a particular significance for Tony Shalhoub not only because of the brotherly affection portrayed, but also due to his appreciation for the intriguing murder investigation at its core. In 2023, he shared, “I thought the plot and the mystery were really compelling“. There are numerous aspects that make this episode exceptional, and one of them is Sharona Fleming’s pivotal role in mending the relationship between the Monk brothers, underscoring her integral part in the series during its early seasons.

2025-05-17 01:48