My blood runs cold! Yes, here Monk investigates the murder of a playboyesque finance officer. The suspect is played by Gary Cole, who IMHO, was superb in Midnight Caller and later as Mike in the Brady Bunch reboot movies. We learn more about Sharona's younger days, which almost causes Monk to rethink his investigation of the suspect. Also Danny Bonaduce plays himself, although I'm unsure why he didn't get a special credit like "And Danny Bonaduce as Himself". Also not sure why IMDB lists Danny Bonaduce playing Danny Bonaduce.
5 Reviews
A playboy you wouldn't want to mess with
TheLittleSongbird19 July 2017
'Monk' has always been one of my most watched shows when needing comfort, to relax after a hard day, a good laugh or a way to spend a lazy weekend.
There is a huge amount to enjoy in "Mr Monk Meets the Playboy". It may not be one of the best episodes of Season 2 or of 'Monk' in general, but it's wildly entertaining with a clever if not too hard to figure out mystery and one of the show's best villains (personal opinion of course). The "whodunit" and "whydunnit" aspects are obvious from the outset, the motive is known right from the opening scene before the murder and the "whodunit" aspect was a case of it could have only been them.
"Mr Monk Meets the Playboy" also fares better in the comedy than the mystery. The mystery is still good, it's interesting and clever, and the "howdunnit" aspect is not as obvious as the other two (even if suspected) and not simplistic or convoluted. It does stall in momentum occasionally and maybe Dexter's profession is laid on slightly heavy-handedly.
With all that being said, there is so much to enjoy. One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching. It is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
Ted Levine is amusing if a little underused compared to some incredibly funny material, some of his funniest in fact, in a couple of previous Season 2 episodes, but Jason Gray-Stanford and the character of Disher really shines, the brightest they've shone yet. Gary Cole is excellent as Dexter, one of the season's and show's most memorable villains as he switches from sleazy, nerdy, manipulative and dangerous, all portrayed believably and with no jarring changes of tone by Cole. It's not just the cast though.
Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft, of which some of the funniest writing of the whole show is in this episode. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast are always.
As to be expected, "Mr Monk Meets the Playboy" is very high in laughs, and there are even some fairly chilling and heartfelt moments like Dexter's threat to reveal Sharona's past (which makes an already loathsome character even more hateable, nobody wants to mess with this guy) and Sharona's conversation with Benjy (that was a tear-jerker).
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now.
On the whole, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
There is a huge amount to enjoy in "Mr Monk Meets the Playboy". It may not be one of the best episodes of Season 2 or of 'Monk' in general, but it's wildly entertaining with a clever if not too hard to figure out mystery and one of the show's best villains (personal opinion of course). The "whodunit" and "whydunnit" aspects are obvious from the outset, the motive is known right from the opening scene before the murder and the "whodunit" aspect was a case of it could have only been them.
"Mr Monk Meets the Playboy" also fares better in the comedy than the mystery. The mystery is still good, it's interesting and clever, and the "howdunnit" aspect is not as obvious as the other two (even if suspected) and not simplistic or convoluted. It does stall in momentum occasionally and maybe Dexter's profession is laid on slightly heavy-handedly.
With all that being said, there is so much to enjoy. One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching. It is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
Ted Levine is amusing if a little underused compared to some incredibly funny material, some of his funniest in fact, in a couple of previous Season 2 episodes, but Jason Gray-Stanford and the character of Disher really shines, the brightest they've shone yet. Gary Cole is excellent as Dexter, one of the season's and show's most memorable villains as he switches from sleazy, nerdy, manipulative and dangerous, all portrayed believably and with no jarring changes of tone by Cole. It's not just the cast though.
Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft, of which some of the funniest writing of the whole show is in this episode. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast are always.
As to be expected, "Mr Monk Meets the Playboy" is very high in laughs, and there are even some fairly chilling and heartfelt moments like Dexter's threat to reveal Sharona's past (which makes an already loathsome character even more hateable, nobody wants to mess with this guy) and Sharona's conversation with Benjy (that was a tear-jerker).
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now.
On the whole, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox
A mistake?
gigicatraoine3 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
A lot of women (and men) work in various aspects of adult industries, and, surprise, surprise - a lot of people patronize those industries with a lot of money. Whether they be strip clubs, cam girls, adult films and so on, as long as these are complete, consenting voluntary choices as employment, they are just another venue of entertainment employment. Sharona admitted herself, to her son, that she was trying to make a better life for the both of them. Yes, these jobs are not considered mainstream jobs, but why go on and on about it being a mistake? There are many more mainstream employment venues where honesty and integrity are covertly discouraged, in fact, a bit of dishonesty, trickery and backstabbing are unwritten rules and are silently encouraged. What makes jobs like these any more acceptable? The point is - don't assume you know and understand the integrity of a person based solely on their employment. Apparently Sharona was able to eventually get through nursing school and become a successful nurse.. if not for that other job, she might not have been able to. So why the mistake? I applaud the writers' handling of Benjy's mature and enlightened response.
Monk has a big heart
hanchilles1 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Monk chooses Sharona over solving the crime. When threatened by the perp to back off or illicit pictures of Sharona would be published, monk not being his usual self offered to back off to save Sharona , but Sharona who had a heart to heart talk with Benjy allowed monk to get the perp at all costs and in the end it was brilliant how monk caught the perp.
Officer randy shines in this episode , comic relief!
An Electromagnetic Personality
Hitchcoc6 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Everything clicks pretty well in this episode, up until the explanation of the murder. The use of the magnet, with the barbell sight unseen, is pretty hard to fathom. However, Sharona shows her stuff in a difficult situation and Monk shows his love and loyalty toward her and her son. I enjoyed seeing Gary Cole, whom I've always enjoyed. Just remember that this isn't always the height of reality.
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