Mr. Monk and the Election
- Episode aired Feb 25, 2005
- TV-PG
- 43m
Natalie's campaign to be elected to the school board is interrupted by a sniper. Monk's life is endangered as well when he begins to investigate.Natalie's campaign to be elected to the school board is interrupted by a sniper. Monk's life is endangered as well when he begins to investigate.Natalie's campaign to be elected to the school board is interrupted by a sniper. Monk's life is endangered as well when he begins to investigate.
- Voting Attendant
- (as Debi Meyer Cox)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter checking the roof for bullet casings from the shooting, Monk finds one in a hidden slot. Leland identifies it and tells Randy to call Grooms at the bureau and to notify ATF. Agent Grooms appeared in S3:E12 "Mr. Monk Gets Cabin Fever (2005)". He was the Agent in Charge of keeping Adrian safe at the hideout cabin, along with Leland and Natalie.
- GoofsWhen Monk find the AK47 casing on the rooftop, Randy collects using his own hands without gloves. Since it was evidence, he should never have touched the bullet that way to avoid contaminating the evidences.
- Quotes
[while Stottlemeyer and Monk question Harold Krenshaw, Stottlemeyer takes a bite of a coconut donut]
Harold Krenshaw: Now you have to eat a sugar one.
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: Don't want a sugar one.
Adrian Monk: Then you could take three more coconuts and two chocolate.
Harold Krenshaw: Or two coconuts and two glazed.
Adrian Monk: Or he could just eat all of them. That would be easier.
Harold Krenshaw: That's a good idea.
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: Or, I can do this.
[takes the box, mashes it, then folds it in half, and pokes a hole in the middle]
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: There. Now there's *one* donut. One big damn donut.
- SoundtracksIt's A Jungle Out There
Written and Performed by Randy Newman
"Mr Monk and the Election" may not be one of the best episodes of 'Monk', but it has a lot to make it such a hugely enjoyable one. Enjoyed the election angle, having some back-story for Natalie (which gave her some development and allows one to warm to her more, being more than the other replacement assistant) and even more the absolutely hilarious rapport between Monk and Harold Krenshaw.
Natalie is settling in well, her chemistry with Monk is sparkling even more, her personality is starting to become more differentiated and more interesting, she's useful and the two characters function very well together. She has a down-to-earth-ness, sensitivity and sass that makes one warm to her as well as being more sympathetic to Monk's issues. Traylor Howard is doing just fine.
As said many times, 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.
Stottlemeyer is as ever very solidly played by Ted Levine, and he does have some memorable moments like the doughnuts, talking about Jack Whitman, rhetorically asking Monk if he is tired of being right and the talk of the grenade. Disher is fun and not too much of an idiot.
There are some great character moments, especially with Monk and Harold Krenshaw. Really liked the doughnut scene too.
It's not just the cast or story 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. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone.
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. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.
Perfect "Mr Monk and the Election" is not. The perpetrator is obvious from the get go, mainly because it's a case of there only could have been one person. Outside of Tim Bagley (who is a riot as Harold), a very appealing Emmy Clarke and a solid Stanley Kamel, the supporting cast are fairly forgettable (even for the perpetrator).
In conclusion, very good and enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 3, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- 4351 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA(filming location: Natalie's first election headquarters)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro