Sharona or Natalie ?

[lumberingbear]

Many wondered if Monk would sink when Sharona left (Bitty Schram had contract problems).

I was leary, but Natalie (Traylor Howard) won me over very quickly, and I would have to vote for Natalie as the better assistant for Monk.

[Mojambo]

1. Traylor Howard is so sweet that she wins everything

There has been no drop off from Sharona to Natalie. I kind felt like they had done all they could with the Sharona character anyway.

The writing was a bit stale last year, but that's not Howard's fault.

[lumberingbear]

2. Your right Mojambo

But I'm liking the episodes this season (so far).

[Mojambo]

3. I missed the premiere

But I caught the second episode and was quite satisfied. The plot was pretty easy to catch onto, but Monk isn't really about having tough mysteries to follow, it's about the characters.

John Turturro is amazing as Ambrose.

[driver8]

24. I love Traylor Howard! I liked the other girl, but Traylor stole my

heart on "Two Guys and a Girl."

[no name no slogan]

4. That show jumped the shark years ago

It used to be clever, witty and idiosyncratic. Then it left CBS, and became buffoonish, clownlike and just plain insulting to the intelligence.

Yeah, Monk's got some issues. He's got OCD. You don't need to remind us of it every fifteen fscking seconds. :eyes:

[Mojambo]

5. Was it ever on CBS?

I only recall seeing it on USA.

I'm waiting for the phrase "Jump the Shark" to Jump the shark. I've never cared for that phenomenon.

If you think something sucks now, just say it sucks now. I'm not addressing you specifically though.

[no name no slogan]

7. For two seasons, and it was brilliant

...but it was too clever for your average network viewership, so they dumbed it up to appeal to a wider audience.

As somebody who has a brain disorder, I don't find it humorous when a debilitating illness is put on display for the comic amusement of others.

Hey, let's make fun of chemo patients! Hahahaha!!! Look at that bald fool! Bwaahaahahahahahahahah!!! Ain't that a hooT! Better yet, what about that dwarf!! Hey, half-pint, how's the weather down there? A-heehehehehehehehehehehhhhheeeeee.

Yeah, mental illness is really fucking funny. Glad everybody gets such a fucking hoot out of others' misery.

:crazy:

[Mojambo]

10. As much as I can appreciate your hypersensitivity to the subject matter

I believe that your facts are in error.

Monk originally aired on the USA network. It was produced for ABC television but they passed on it. After it succeeded on USA, ABC did "second-window" some episodes, but they never aired it originally and certainly not for two years.

Here's more info

http://yahoo.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,10541,00.html?yhnws

[lumberingbear]

11. Funny that for two years

you thought it was alright, but after that it was wrong. :crazy:

[no name no slogan]

25. because for two years, it was subtle, playful, and intelligent

and treated Monk's illness with a quiet dignity.

Now it's little more than slapstick, with his disease as little more than a laugh vehicle.

If it's just about the laughs, why don't they run blooper reels from the Special Olympics, when the athletes run the wrong way around the track? That's pretty damn funny right? Or why not replay old Steppin Fetchit movies-- he was a real laff-riot with that whole "Yasssah Boss" bit for the white man, wasn't he? :crazy:

It just goes to prove that the only "safe" group left to make fun of are people with brain diseases.

I'm so fscking happy that our diseases can provide so much laughter for people. Oh well, I guess it's better than the usual depiction of us as serial killers. :eyes:

[lumberingbear]

6. That's your opinion, but

I still enjoy it. :hi:

[lumberingbear]

9. I have had mild OCD all my life

but I don't find this offensive. The other characters love and admire him for his abilities and for being just "Monk"

[Mojambo]

12. Exactly

It's a very empowering show. He is overcoming his disorder, not falling prey to it.

[RevCheesehead]

8. I think Natalie is a breath of fresh air.

I was getting tired of the whiny Sharona.

[Mojambo]

13. Sharona was funny for quite a while

But after some time you realize that the only reaction she is having to Monk is one of exasperation.

With Natalie it's all new to her and she reacts to his issues with the audience. I think that's funnier.

[WCGreen]

14. Ditto

[RevCheesehead]

15. exactly.

I think she's far more accepting of Adrian as he is, rather than what she thinks he should be. In a way, her character makes Adrian more sympathetic and understandable.

I hope John Turturro is going to be on every year!

[Mojambo]

16. He's just spectacular

He deserves an Emmy nomination, IMO.

[RevCheesehead]

17. Are you watching it now? n/t

[Mojambo]

19. No. Is it on? n/t

[RevCheesehead]

20. Yup. Ambrose again.

[Mojambo]

22. Got it. Thanks. n/t

[lumberingbear]

21. Yes it is on now

I watched it Friday night though.

[lumberingbear]

18. Yes ,

I have enjoyed both episodes he has been in.

[latebloomer]

23. I miss Sharona!

I just can't seem to warm up to Natalie. Sharona was such a character-- very true-to-life of a certain kind of New York area woman. Natlie seems bland in comparison.