Monk and the captain attend a football game, but before they can get to their seats, something unusual occurs in the parking lot during the tailgate party that soon has Monk hot on the trail of a killer. A star quarterback has met an untimely end, and it's up to Monk to figure out the case while the captain chafes at missing the actual football game. One of Monk's best lines occurs during this episode: confronted by hundreds of grown men wearing football jerseys and acting like idiots in the parking lot, Monk asks, "Who are all these people and where are their parents?" Sports commentator Bob Costas guest stars and tells an hysterical story about Monk saving him from an angry feline many years ago. A must-see for MONK fans.
6 Reviews
Scoring a touchdown with 'Monk'
TheLittleSongbird22 September 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.
As said a few times, Season 7 was a very mixed bag up to this point, "Mr Monk and the Genius" being one of its best while also having major disappointments like "Mr Monk Falls in Love" and especially "Mr Monk Takes a Punch". "Mr Monk Makes the Playoffs" is one of Season 7's best, along with "Mr Monk and the Genius" and "Mr Monk and the Lady Next Door". My only real complaints are Natalie being somewhat bland this time round, having little to do, and the mystery being not a particularly hard one to solve.
"Mr Monk Makes the Playoffs" is one of the funniest episodes of Season 7, alongside "Mr Monk on Wheels". Especially agreed one of Monk's best ever lines in "Who are all these people and where are their parents" and Bob Costas's (very funny here) cat story and witty commentary. While that episode has a slightly stronger mystery, this episode has the benefit of Monk actually being in character, his phobias and reactions to them are not overdone or done in a try-too-hard-to-be-comical way (not that "Mr Monk on Wheels" did that, it didn't) and he isn't unnecessarily nasty like he was in that episode.
Love the chemistry between Monk and Stottlemeyer, which is the strongest and most entertaining it's been all season, and that it featured heavily in the episode was great to see. One of my favourite things about 'Monk' is their seesaw chemistry, "Mr Monk Makes the Playoffs" is a strong example of why. Natalie and Disher have an amusing if very secondary side story where Disher admittedly registers more due to having more material to work with.
The mystery is not a hard one to solve, but it is clever and engaging and doesn't feel side-lined at the expense of the comedy and character interaction, actually working well with the whole football scenario.
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. Of the other three regulars, Ted Levine has the most to do by far and his comic timing is delightful as is his interactions with Shalhoub. The supporting cast are all fine, though the only memorable person is Costas.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever. 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.
In summary, one of the best Season 7 episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox
As said a few times, Season 7 was a very mixed bag up to this point, "Mr Monk and the Genius" being one of its best while also having major disappointments like "Mr Monk Falls in Love" and especially "Mr Monk Takes a Punch". "Mr Monk Makes the Playoffs" is one of Season 7's best, along with "Mr Monk and the Genius" and "Mr Monk and the Lady Next Door". My only real complaints are Natalie being somewhat bland this time round, having little to do, and the mystery being not a particularly hard one to solve.
"Mr Monk Makes the Playoffs" is one of the funniest episodes of Season 7, alongside "Mr Monk on Wheels". Especially agreed one of Monk's best ever lines in "Who are all these people and where are their parents" and Bob Costas's (very funny here) cat story and witty commentary. While that episode has a slightly stronger mystery, this episode has the benefit of Monk actually being in character, his phobias and reactions to them are not overdone or done in a try-too-hard-to-be-comical way (not that "Mr Monk on Wheels" did that, it didn't) and he isn't unnecessarily nasty like he was in that episode.
Love the chemistry between Monk and Stottlemeyer, which is the strongest and most entertaining it's been all season, and that it featured heavily in the episode was great to see. One of my favourite things about 'Monk' is their seesaw chemistry, "Mr Monk Makes the Playoffs" is a strong example of why. Natalie and Disher have an amusing if very secondary side story where Disher admittedly registers more due to having more material to work with.
The mystery is not a hard one to solve, but it is clever and engaging and doesn't feel side-lined at the expense of the comedy and character interaction, actually working well with the whole football scenario.
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. Of the other three regulars, Ted Levine has the most to do by far and his comic timing is delightful as is his interactions with Shalhoub. The supporting cast are all fine, though the only memorable person is Costas.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever. 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.
In summary, one of the best Season 7 episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Great episode
jeanpirise-9939228 October 2020
Bob Costas makes a special appearance
safenoe11 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is the 13th episode of season 7 of Monk, after which there are only 19 more episodes left. This episode runs 43 minutes, but 42 minutes if you fast forward Randy Newman's opening ragtime theme tune. Here Bob Costas makes a special appearance as himself, and he's friends with Monk. The episode is quite gripping, with most of the episode occurring "three days earlier".
Never Cared for It
Hitchcoc16 April 2020
To me, this seemed endless. First of all, I've always loved football, and the whole playbook thing was really a crock. The tailgating was weak and I thought nothing would ever get going. I also felt for Leland who had a chance to have the time of his life ruined by Monk's impetuousness. The Bob Costas thing was also ludicrous and, frankly, tiresome. I last saw this some ten years ago. I lost interest then and seeing it a second time didn't help.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
