It saddens me to say it, but I think "Monk" has jumped the shark.

[mac56]

I finally saw the last two episodes, and it's become all about new sidekick Natalie and her "crisis du jour".

Since the show lost Bitty Schram I've seen a few glimmers of the former cleverness, but they've been few and far between. I'm disappointed.

[Bertha Venation]

1. I agree.

Bitty left. Fonzie jumped. End of Monk. :cry:

[mac56]

2. Hi Bertha!

:pals:

This is exactly what I hoped wouldn't happen to "Monk".

[Bertha Venation]

4. Hi, Mac

:pals: back atcha

She is so sharp, Bitty is, and the two of them were terrific together. Sigh. Hope she catches on somewhere else.

She brought along to "Monk" from "A League of Their Own" the perfect bit of tired patience. So many times when dealing w/ Adrian, she reminded me of her character in that film, trying to get her little boy back on the bus. Just beaten-down exhausted with his shenanigans. :)

[Blue-Jay]

3. You guys just miss Sharona.

The show is still good. You'll get over it.

[NYCGirl]

5. I really thought I'd feel the same way, but I'm surprised at how good it

still is.

[unblock]

6. mrs. unblock and i just recently discovered monk

we just made it through the first 2 seasons on dvd, haven't seen anything more recent.

although i love randy newman, i really loved the episode where they have the psycho fan who winds up suggesting that monk get his own tv show but threatens to kill him if he ever changes the theme song...

... fade to black, and cue the OLD theme song !


what i like is that they have a decent mix of "easy", "hard", and "don't worry, you're not meant to solve it" cases. i liked the ellery queen shows growing up, but they were almost always REALLY hard.

[mac56]

7. You've seen the best of it.

They hit their stride with the second season.

[unblock]

8. are ... are you CRYING? THERE'S NO CRYING IN MONK!

sorry, just a little itty bitty flashback moment....

:evilgrin:

[ceile]

9. I miss Sharona, too...

But I think this season was better than the last. Maybe some of the writers decided to show up this season.

[mac56]

11. Can't agree.

I really think the second season was their best.

[unblock]

10. what i really don't understand is dale the whale biederbeck

why did they feel compelled to bring back this character if they couldn't get the same actor?

:shrug:

[democracyindanger]

24. Still were paying rent on the fat suit nt

[redqueen]

12. I still love it.

In fact I'm liking the new assistant more. She's not as enabling as Sharona was.

[mac56]

13. It's rare that we disagree.

A poster on jumptheshark.com noted that Natalie whines and complains about everything (knowing full well that the obsessive-compulsive Adrian MUST have things his way), even when it endangers the investigation.

[redqueen]

14. At least it's about a TV show. :)

True, but she also seems to help more than Sharona... so... I guess it's a trade off, maybe.

[datasuspect]

15. what is "monk?"

i never heard of this before.

[mac56]

17. TV series about a detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Shown on the USA Network.

[saracat]

16. Wow. I haven't been watching. How did they ,and why did they

replace Sharona? Please tell. I loved this show!

[mac56]

18. During the hiatus, all the supporting actors asked for more money.

All were turned down. Bitty Schram was the only one who chose to walk.

In the story line, the writers said that Sharona had gotten back together with her (abusive) ex-husband and moved to New Jersey. They replaced her with another character, Natalie.

[saracat]

21. EEEEEW! They sent her back to an abuser? That is just sick!

Maybe I won't tune in again. What a nasty message to send. Thank you for filling me in. I appreciate it. I had no idea!

[immoderate]

19. Love Randy Newman, but I miss the original theme.

Some of the tastiest guitar I ever heard.

--IMM

[no name no slogan]

20. Jumped the shark after season 1 IMHO

When Monk went from a quirky yet functioning adult to an all-out OCD basket case it jumped the shark, IMHO.

That show was so witty when it was on CBS for that one year. Monk was actually a likable, somewhat strange man who had a hang-up. After that, the OCD became the main character, and Monk became nothing but the OCD's vehicle.

Consequently, I haven't watched in years.

[kk897]

22. I've been a fan from the first episode, but I have to agree

and I don't think it has anything to do with Bitty leaving (although I preferred her character and her acting to the current "helper"). I realized it last episode, too. Every joke, I felt, was like: "oh... I get it... he's obsessive/compulsive! ha! ha! ha!"</sarcasm>

I had though Malcolm in the MIddle was done for, too, in its third season, but eventually they pulled that one out of its tailspin; maybe they can with Monk, too.

[soothsayer]

23. You think they're gonna make Monk marry the new girl? I miss

Sharona but I do like the new one and the new dynamic. It's still a cool show.

[realisticphish]

25. da da DA DA da DA da DA da da DA DA

da da DA DA da DA... miiiiiisss Sharona...

plus the the new theme song is not anywhere near as good

:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Tweed]

26. No more Sharona?! The new theme song sucks!

Monk has definitely jumped the shark!