Cheap Monk - The Premiere Episode (DVD) (Ron Underwood, Tony Bill, Michael Zinberg, Michael Fresco, Adam Arkin, Lawrence Trilling, Andre Belgrader, Randall Zisk, Jerry Levine, Robert C. Thompson) Price

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Customer Reviews of Monk - The Premiere Episode

The pilot episode for Tony Shalhoub's "Monk" (but just that)
Absolute agreement that the premier episode of "Monk" is one of the more memorable television pilots of recent vintage, but only having one episode, even that one, is less than satisfactory. Consequently, this DVD is not really for the devoted fan of the show but more for those who have missed out on the party from the first episode and need to get up the speed. What you get is an introduction to Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a former San Francisco homicide detective who left the force because he suffers from an extreme case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition that afflicted him after the murder of his wife. However, when there is an assassination attempt on a mayoral candidate he is coaxed out of retirement by his former boss, Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine).

The idea is that Monk is now a private consultant with an uncanny ability to pick up details missed by other detectives. You can think of Monk as a really quirky Sherlock Holmes, with his full-time nurse Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram) in the role of Watson. However, she spends more of her time serving as a buffer between Monk and the real world. The result is one of the rare delights on television from last season and the first television show to cross over from cable to networks. By the time you get to the scene where Monk knocks all of the little colored pins out of the candidate's map, you will be hooked and checking your television schedule to see when the next episode is airing. That is one of only a half-dozen scenes where Monk provides his bona fides as a detective.

The most important thing is that in addition to all the quirky comedy shtick with Monk's super attention to detail, the crimes he is investigating are worthy of his attention. The dynamic between Monk and Sharona becomes the pivot on which the pilot and all other episodes have turned, even though the idea of a potential romance between the two misses the point. Just watch the scene where he blows away her date and you can see the foundation of their relationship and just more proof that this is the role of Shalhoub's career. If you are not on the "Monk" bandwagon, then check this out. If you are already a fan and do not have everything on tape, keep hope alive that all of Season 1 will be available sooner or later.

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"Mr. Monk and The Candidate" DVD Series Pilot A Delight
And to think Tony Shalhoub initially passed on the role of Adrian Monk when it was offered to him! It's as amazing as his strong, effective and often touching performance as the leading character, Adrian Monk, in the series' pilot: he never overplays the charcter's OCD--nor plays it solely for laughs. Shalhoub has demonstrated that in acting this part, less is actually more, not only in his dramatic scenes but also in his physical comedy and character's humor. It's called balance, and Tony Shalhoub is a skilled and talented pro who walks the tightrope flawlessly! In Monk we have an unlikely (and flawed) hero who for over three years could never even venture out of his home due to the trauma of his late wife's car bombing death, which induced full-blown OCD and phobias.

Enter Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), a nurse and single mom who doesn't always treat Adrian Monk with kid gloves. He relies on her yet she never allows him to become too dependent upon her. While she may supply antibacterial hand wipes along with note-taking/phone calling as Monk's hired assistant and nurse, she is a fiesty and independent woman who doesn't take much guff; yet, she also enjoys tracking down the baddies and solving the murder mysteries with her boss, Monk, whom she both admires and is aggravated by. She often threatens to quit, but Monk somehow never believes she really will. When she goes on a date, which Monk thought she was only joking about going on, he turns up at the restaurant where the couple is dining and after a few moments of sitting at their table blurts out that the guy she's with is both a phony and a liar--not even the entertainment attorney he claimed to be... All so low key it's as if he's talking about menu items' pros and cons... And he wonders why Sharona becomes very upset and says she's quitting her job with him. He seems more taken with the fact she'd been a dancer in Atlantic City (as he's sure she'll return to her job with him).

The mystery in the pilot episode revolves around a seemingly small little murder of a young woman that Monk has been working on but is later able to tie to the supposed assassination attempt of a local political candidate. It's as if Monk has ESP, but it's plain common sense, a photographic memory, attention to detail, and logic which aid Monk in his deductions. Higher stakes matter here, though, as we learn Monk is also working to gain re-instatement to the police force he was discharged from when his wife was killed and his OCD flared up full-force. He's been working as a private detective and also a consultant to the police for about a year (with Sharona's assistance) for very meager pay.

Monk's shrink, Dr. Kroger, initially believes Monk may be ready to re-join the force (which does get Adrian's hopes and spirits up) after Monk solves both murders (plus a third, another campaign aide's murder, which happens along the way) and saves Sharona from being murdered in the sewer! The reaction he has to his unexpected recognition for solving the case--by the candidate (with full media coverage)--the will both touch and move even the hardest heart watching. The comedy is a treat: fresh, although often bizarre, upbeat (yet sometimes dark) and sure to take you by surprise and make you laugh in spite of your feeling you shouldn't (maybe) even be laughing.

The role of Adrian Monk in this series' pilot garnered Tony Shalhoub a Best Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy Award Nomination. The pilot is well-paced, superbly acted by a talented cast, effectively directed, and is rich with strong production values (just having some of it filmed in San Franscisco alone is enough to set mood and tone).

And even when the pilot ends, we want to see/know more. It's the relationship between Monk and Sharona which grabs our attention, our interest--and it's Tony Shalhoub as Monk who makes us care. The man's a magician--the plastic gloves and antibacterial wet wipes, like smoke and mirrors, are simply an added bonus to the genuine life he breathes into the character and the comedy/drama. Two clean hands way up for this rare gem!--Lenore Hutton

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Monk is on the Case
When an assassin takes a shot at a mayoral candidate, the current mayor insists that Monk is brought in as a consultant on the case. Adrian Monk has been consulting for three years trying to get over his intense fears and obsessive compulsive disorder enough to return full time to the force. Still, his curses are also gifts that help him notice little things others miss. Right away, he makes a connection between this case and another murder that otherwise would appear unrelated. But can Monk figure out what is going on?

I came to the party rather late, not watching until season 2. I was quite anxious to see the pilot because I wanted to get the complete background on the character. Since I've seen almost every episode now, I did know the basics of what I needed to know, so I could just sit back and enjoy the storyline.

I am a mystery fiend, and I especially love a good puzzle. Monk is wonderful for that, and this episode is no exception. I should have seen the ending coming, but, as usual, was taken completely by surprise. There are some wonderful laugh out loud moments as well.

The episode does fall into the traps of a series premier. Since we need to know about our characters, story is often slowed down for exposition. While it would have been helpful the first time around, I didn't need it. Fortunately, we were treated to the back story in small doses, so it didn't slow the story down for long. Also, the actors and writers are still trying to define the characters. While not as sharp as they later in the series, they're quite acceptable here.

I'm not completely sure why this DVD was put out. Maybe it was to test the waters or hold over fans until season one was released. Either way, all you get here is the two part pilot episode. No extras whatsoever. Since it's included again in the recently released complete season 1 set, if you are a fan of the series, just pass right on by.

Monk is one of the most original and entertaining shows currently on TV anywhere. While not perfect, this is a great intro to the character and tone of the series. If you only want an intro, get this disc. Otherwise, save your money for all of season 1.