User Reviews

I love meta episodes and Mr Monk and the TV Star doesn't let down, with a gentle send-up of CSI stars. Like a show-within-a-show, there are self-deprecating observations about "real" police detectives. Also Sarah Silverman played a key guest role. Interestingly, Sarah gets the more prestigous "and" credit, whereas Stanley Kamel gets his usual "with".

Also I love the episode's awareness of the audience cricitism about Randy Newman's "It's a jungle out there" replacing Jeff Beal's opening theme, which IMHO is far superior to Randy's one really.

'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.

"Mr Monk and the T.V. Star" is another winner from Season 2, one of the better ones from that season and almost one of the best and funniest of the earlier seasons. The "why" and "who" aspects of the mystery are not hard to figure out and the whole thing with the lie detector was quite unlikely, even the calmest person ever would break a sweat and have their pulse changing when being tested.

However, the mystery is a lot of fun and diverting. Some of it is obvious, but the time frame and how the murder was done was a clever explanation, how Monk solves the crime and comes to his conclusions are a huge part of the fun (always was though one of the show's charms) and how he has to overcome everybody doubting him when falling for the television star's charming exterior.

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.

Both Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford are very amusing, with Stottlemeyer's loyalty and frustration towards Monk a lot of fun to watch and Disher's quirks and goofiness never coming over as annoying. The supporting cast are strong, with a charming and devious Billy Burke and a hilarious Sarah Silverman.

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, it's always interesting seeing episodes showing behind the scenes of films/TV shows and the inside jokes are a delight, as is the ongoing debate about the theme song.

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.

Overall, great and very funny episode and almost one of the best. 9/10 Bethany Cox

This show is very much like Columbo, which also had an episode about a television star who plays a private eye (William Shatner). This episode pales to that one (as Columbo is greater than Monk), but it's pretty decent although the setup has more potential than it delivers.

The greatest moment is when, on set during filming, Monk fills in for the Continuity Crew Member and it's hilarious realizing how perfect he'd be in that particular job.

They poke fun at how that fictional show changed its theme song, which happened this season with the Randy Newman song instead of the acoustic instrumental, which I preferred to Newman's jowly, wannabe Louis Armstrong vocals.

Anyhow a pretty decent episode but remains mostly on cruise control.

Monk thinks the TV star did it, but of course it's impossible. Is Monk just prejudiced against the popular people, who left him out of parties since the 6th grade? He doesn't seem to have much else to go on.

Monk on great form here, with the whole team playing their parts, even Dr Kroger chipping in to make him feel inadequate. But irrespective of that, the whole thing is worth the price of entry thanks to the running gag about the change of theme tune in Crime Lab SF. What Randy Newman thought about it is unrecorded.

When the ex-wife of a handsome young actor is killed, the press and the police are convinced the actor had nothing to do with it. Star struck characters get involved. But Monk does in public what the actor does on TV. Nicely put together plot and some nice moments.

Monk is lonely in this episode, because the person he suspected to be the perp , is a TV star , and his charm won over Sharona, Randy , stottlemeyer to the point that they won't listen to monk(weird since monk is almost always right with his convictions). The TV star actor Brad is amazing in his deception(like most serial killers) and managed to tricked everyone but monk. I feel sad for monk and rooted so much for him to make the others regret for not trusting his suspicions from the start. Brilliant episode once more, very fresh and flawless in my opinion

I'm glad Monk changed the theme song. The original sounds like the theme song to a PBS cooking show. Randy Newman's song lyrics describe Monk perfectly and it's more interesting musically.

In this episode 3 regular characters prove that they are complete idiots. The captain, Randy and Sharon. In most episodes they prove this over and over again. Of course this accentuates Monks genius. Or does it take away from it?