OMG
I really, really, really, really hope she does commit a crime. I want her tucked away into the deepest, darkest dungeon they can find. Stott really wants to date me, I know he does.
Aside from my never-ending passion for Ted Levine, I truly dislike the Linda Fusco character. She just seems too aggressive for Stottlemeyer. Of course, after the constantly-shrilly-whining Karen, anything is a good thing (JMHO, peoples). I can't tell you what it is that I dislike about Linda (aside from the aggressivness) but I just grit my teeth every time she makes an appearance. Although, seeing Stott in the leather jacket he wore to meet her in the restaurant was a good thing.

Meme

I hope this is another great episode. I can't wait!!! IS it Friday already....got to calm down... May need to be sedated! Maybe you will get your wish Meme and Stott will be ALL YOURS! I have noticed that he is one likeable guy...just from the last episode...what kinda friend wouldn't tell you to just deal with it...people are naked all the time!

I could make a long list of things I don't like about Linda, starting with her exaggerated sense of entitlement and firm belief that she is and should be the center of the universe and the way she seems to act like she's better than other people and wants to be sure they know it. Like there was absolutely no reason for her to jump the bid on the captain up from $650 or whatever it was to $2000 except to get attention, show off, and maybe show how extremely possesive she is. It's like with the dent in her car- she could have just paid the $900 for the repair, or traded it in because as she was sure to boast to Natalie and Adrian, she gets a new Buick every year, but instead, she went and offered Adrian and Natalie $3000 to find out who did it. And to me, it was just because of her unshakable belief that she deserves the very best there is to jump on her silly little problems and fix them and becasuse she wanted to show off. She seems to think people can and should be bought anyway. The way she acts it's like she thinks of other people as lesser beings, and as long as she has more money than they do, she can treat them that way and do as she pleases.

So, yeah, I hope she did it, I really do. But I'll settle for her being so affronted that the captain could actually even entertain the possibility because a man he has known, worked with and respected for years says she might have rather than just believe anything she says without question. It'd be better if he dumped her, because it would be better for Stottlemyer's self esteem than being dumped twice in a year, but I'll take anything that removes her entirely from the show forever.

I notice that Natalie wasn't driving a Buick last night.

Sounds like such a great episode but unfortunately for me over here in England i think it will be a while before i get to see it on the bbc . I hope you are all enjoying the new season.....can't wait till it's my turn . "monkette"

One way I might enjoy seeing it played: she's not guilty of the crime in question, but is guiltier of an even greater crime, perhaps even--yes, I dare say it--involvement, be it directly or indirectly, with Trudy's death. Perhaps the tag could be her driving away from San Francisco with a mixture of relief and regret on her face, staring at something in her hand that makes it clear to the audience she knew something about it that our heroes will never find out, at least not for the remainder of the series as shown on the air.

BBC America probably won't air "Wire in the Blood-Season Five" over here until next year, so I know how you feel. Television networks need to understand this is a tiny world now that we have the Interweb. Can't you get Monk through ITunes? I think USA Network shows are on ITunes. "WITB" is produced by a more obscure production company, or I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Liv,
Once again, I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head. It is the way she projects that "Look at me, I'm wonderful, and you all owe me everything just in honor of that wonderfulness" attitude of hers. I do not like this, Sam-I-Am, I Do Not like Green Eggs and Linda.

Meme

My niece has this tee shirt that says, "It's all about ME!" Linda seems to need a shirt that says that, or to have it stamped on her forehead. It's cute and normal when a toddler has that shirt and believes it, but when a grown woman does, not so much. She may have money, but to throw it around and show it off is extremely tacky. Money doesn't determine a person's worth and having money doesn't make a person better or worse, it's the way a person behaves that makes them worth something. She doesn't seem to know or belive that. I hope she gets run over by her own Buick.

Leland dumping Linda is a fantastic idea! What an ego boost for him. That would be so good.
Liv, we talked about a female detective as Leland's new love interest. But with an entirely different personality from Linda of course. I hope this is one of those times the writers are reading these threads!

Yeah. Personally, I don't care if anyone on the show ever has a love interest ever, but, if for some reason, the captain or someone else just absolutely *has* to (and I can't imagine a reason good enough, really) then a female detective from another precinct or department would probably be the best thing. Or at least someone who is not like Linda. But I hope that if the writers do decide that the captain, or anyone else on the show, must have a love interest, plots that involve the relationship or love interest are very rare. When TV shows (especially shows that previously have not been about relationships)start revolving around the relationships of one or more of the characters, the show starts starts to suck to me and I lose interest. Sometimes I feel like I must be one of the few people on on the planet that hates TV shows with romance in them. Sorry, guys .

No, Liv. Honestly, I have to agree with you there. When people start hooking up then it starts getting weird for me, too. The occasional flirt and "it was nice but it's not going to work out" is alright. But if the show is about a really genius guy with major problems solving murders then the relationship stuff just gets in the way of the heart of the show. Besides, real life is kinda like that. Hit and miss. Sometimes you get lucky for awhile, maybe. Too much romance in this show will distract from the main character and the main concept.
I just watched "Mr. Monk, Private Eye." That was the first time Linda comes on the scene. She is pretty brash but she seemed to be what the Captain needed at the time. Plush she got him into that nice apartment, even if she can spy on him from her balcony. Which is creepy. Well-meaning yet creepy. She doesn't seem too bad. She does say SOB a lot. Realtors…
Anyway, yes. It's true. Too much romance would kill this show. I like it just the way it is.

Exactly, I think that the occasional flirtation exchange is great, but the actual hook up is boring and usually messes things up. I think that it's just best to have as many *possibilities* open as you can, which means that having tension, flirtation and so on is a good thing. Once you start definitely pairing people off and focusing too much on the relationships, you start shutting down possibilities, putting limits on the show and the character growth, especially when you pair two main/recurring characters together. If Adrian and Natalie, for instance, became romantically involved to the point that it was no longer possibility but a definite thing, not only would it be such a big deal that it would have to be a part of just about every episode after that and would hugely change the formula of the show, but there would be no way of going back from that short of Natalie leaving, and not many, if any, options for going forward, there wouldn't be much for the people who liked the idea of Natalie and Randy becoming involved to hope for, or for the people like me, who hoped that they would/could just leave it alone and allow Natalie to continue being seen as a complete and whole person by herself, and an equal part of the team. If Natalie and Adrian stay involved, they've lost the tension and suspense that kept some people watching to see if they would get together, and they have to go forward, where would it lead? Either to Trudy becoming much less important to Adrian, which make a lot of fans upset, or to Adrian and Natalie having a new, and unpleasant kind of tension where Natalie will continually feel like she will never measure up to Trudy in Adrian's eyes, and that will, or should, make a lot of fans angry. Both women deserve better.

I think that a Natalie and Randy thing might have a slightly better chance of not destroying the show, because Randy isn't devoted to another women (dead or alive) in that way, because although they are main characters and important to the show, they aren't the focal point of it, and because we have seen Randy bounce back from so much, and we know that Natalie is tough, that if things didn't work out, they could end the relationship and go on from there, which just isn't possible with Adrian. But I still hope that they don't feel that this is a necessary step or a great idea. I don't want to see Monk de-evolve into a soap opera.

'Monk' is born to be mild - video
I hope you like it, because I like it a lot..I love this motorcycle...it's (WOW) beautiful...all motorcycles are beatiful...

Another 'exclusive' video. Enjoy!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2nuze_ex...m-monk-8307_fun

Thanks for the video! That was fun. Guess all she saw was Monk's palm or some crazy blur.

She moved! Yes! So, will this guy Shawn be the victim or the killer?

Probably both and the victim and the killer ..No just kiddin'...I think he may be a victim...but who the killer? Linda? Or someone else?
CrystalSmith thanks for the video it's great...

I believe he's the victim, but I'm not sure, as Linda is who Monk suspects of being the killer.

I must say, I really like Linda, if only because she just isn't what most of us would consider a nice person. I love characters that are bossy, tenacious, and completely lacking in what most of us would consider "personal warmth". Even if the captain is making a mistake being with her, I'm glad to see him make it. It adds a fun, uncertain element to those episodes.
As for other romantic developments, I am all kinds of in favor of Randy and Natalie winding up together, if they stay just the way they are now. Their few scenes together are so sweet and silly, and just a joy to watch. If they kept it all very subtextual, like a wink at the audience, it would be a wonderful treat. Hey, it worked on Stargate SG1!

Monk preview clip
Another clip...which assure me that this eppy will be COOL!!

I have to admit, Traylor does look hot in her motorcycle garb.

As for TV romances, I have three words of warning: Lois and Clark.

All the previews look great! TGIF!


I have one word . . . Moonlighting

I loved that show. It was a detective show, too, but that's not why most people watched it. It was all about the chemistry, mostly sexual, between the two main characters, without them, there would have been no show.

Like Monk, the mysteries were fun and quirky. But I think the mystery was there just to give the characters something to do while they flirted with one another. When the two characters "got together," the flirtation factor was gone. TPTB tried to recapture it with what I call "soap opera-like behavior."

TV shows that make romance the main driving force of the show, usually risk losing their appeal once they officially get the characters together. I think Lois and Clark fell into that category but I don't think Monk does. The show is all about Monk and Tony's brilliant portrayal of the character plus a mystery, great supporting characters, humor, sentiment . . . a little something for everyone without overdoing it in any one category. It’s the perfect blend.

As far as attraction between any two characters on the show, IMO Monk and Natalie have developed a very strong bond/relationship. They have become very close in an emotional and spiritual sense. There is no sexual tension between them because they aren't attracted to one another in that way which seems extremely rare in TV currently and is kind of nice, and for lack of a better word, sweet for a change. They seem very comfortable and dependent on one another but seem obliviously unaware of it most of the time. Episodes like Hospital, Biggest Fan, and Rapper seem to reinforce that they are becoming more aware of the importance they each have in one another's lives.

I personally enjoy Monk and Natalie scenes. I think they play off one another really well, Leper being a great example. Andy jokingly mentioned in the Leper commentary during the sink scene when Natalie comes back from her date that “you guys should have a TV show or something.” Not that I would want to just watch Monk and Natalie for an hour, but I do think the two of them interacting is amusing to watch and are just ONE of the entertaining elements that make the show so good.

Nicely written and worded, Fan4Sure. In one of the Tony interviews on the site he sees Monk & Natalie's relationship like "an old married couple." Being part of that kind of relationship I can understand what he means. You have this history and a way of relating to each other that is unique. You know each other so well you know what the other person is thinking and how they will react. There is an annoyance factor but at the same time you can work together with a certain precision. When other people see you and your partner and the ease you have with each other they see "married couple" even if you are not hanging all over each other making goo-goo eyes. I think that, in spite of no romantic attachment, other characters assume Monk and Natalie are married like in "Goes to the Hospital" when the intake nurse refers to Monk as Natalie's husband (which she quickly explains she's not.) I think it's refreshing that opposite sex characters can work so well together and not have a romantic involvement in the story. Yet it's obvious how much they care for each other when times get tough. There is a great balance here I truly appreciate.

Oh! Great.

"You see a bug… zig-zag!"

I can't tell you how many times I've been hit by really large bugs on motorcycles and bicycles. Thank God for helmets. We have no helmet law in PA. I can't imaging running into a huge beetle without my trusty full-face helmet.

If Monk doesn't wear a helmet, we might hear him say "There's a bee in MY MOUTH!!"

COMING UP ON MONK
Monk and Natalie stop by Captain Stottlemeyer's office during his nightly webcam date with his girlfriend, Linda Fusco (guest star Sharon Lawrence). Meanwhile, Linda's real estate partner, Sean Corcoran, is out of town showing a house to a young couple. Suddenly, an intruder appears. Without saying a word, the intruder shoots Sean Corcoran dead, but allows the terrified couple to escape with their lives.
Tune in to Tonight at 9/8C for an all-new episode of Monk – "Mr. Monk and the Bad Girlfriend" – as Adrian's relationship with the Captain winds up in jeopardy when he accuses Linda of the murder!

Darn it! You made me LOL! Out loud!

Yeah, what she said! All of it. Twice even!

BTW, I noticed that the captain still has the dreamcatcher hanging in his office right behind his chair. You can see it while he's talking to Transitional Woman. Just wondering what's up with that.

Robot Satellite.

Liv, I'm sure you really liked this episode!! Just what you wished came true.

It was another fantastic episode!! Go Monk team.

Oh, man. We seriously need BIGGER smilies, really because these just ain't cutting it for me right now.

Wow, Linda has now been in both my absolute favorite episode and the one episode I actually hated with a deep, ugly passion.

About damn time the captain started using his brain again. I hope he gets his nards back from her. And apologizes in a monstrously big way to Monk. I think that now, he owes Adrian. He should be sentenced to being very patient and pleasant as Adrian is given free reign to fun shui the hell out of his apartment and his office. And his car.

They aren't missing a chance to get Randy in as little clothing as possible.

I approve of this. Yes.

Now, excuse me while I dance wildly around my living room in celebration and sing that Munchkin song about dead witches.

Hi all. I cam here to tell USA I saw a technical error in the discussed episode. Did anybody else see anything wrong? Have there been others and I missed them?

I'm curious to hear.

Thanks.
-C

Yes! I love whoever wrote this episode!
I'm gonna find out who it was and draw them a picture! Or something. So much to love. Except the captain acting like a jerk, but I knew that could happen, it's happened before.

For now, though, I'm back to my obsene happy, happy dance.

Anyone else notice that the last scene on the beach there was a mistake made?

Good episode tonight. I was really surprised that they made Linda the killer; I thought it was a bold choice. I also liked the fact that it was just a nice solid mystery, it didn't really center around a special guest star or location. I liked Naked Man more than this one, but that was a tough act to follow.

Next week's episode looks very promising as well.

I caught it.... The towell behind the leiutant was down whenever they were far away and up when they were close by.. and at the very end, it was shown as being tucked into the chair, so there would be no way it could have been down..

Not likely. I notice Randy in his trunks. Sorry, I missed...everything else there for a few minutes.

Not me! I saw it coming, I loved it!
Next week loooks cute.
But this week is my all time favorite. I heart this episode.

LOL..I didn't see the beach issues; I was too busy logging on here! The gun cleaning kit Monk was looking at/sniffing was for a large bore rifled barrel, not a shotgun. That's what I saw. I'll need to watch closer to keep up with this crowd!

But that's not fair! Randy was in front of the towel! How were we supposed to notice the towel? Pardon me, I'm just being delirious and silly.

Oh my god. That was really SO good. Very clever! So Linda was really the guy. Heartbreaking for Leland. What a tough way to lose your girlfriend, your "last chance." She was pretty smart but not too smart for Monk. I was worried when he was in her bedroom. Something really bad could have happened there. I think at the party when she said Monk tried to blackmail her for sex the Captain realized something was definitely not right. And the end was good. The right amount of rye humor and pain. I love this show. BRAVO, you guys! Great stuff!

WOW! What a great ep! I was with Monk, I knew it was Stot's girlfriend the entire time. I don't know how I knew, I just did. I think the part where he fell off the motorcycle was pretty predictable, but still hilarious! I have never seen Stotty that angry at Monk before! But, i must say, the interrogation scene was pretty funny!! I was cracking up when Randy was doing Hawaiin dances. "Hey, Randy, what's this one mean?" I didn't see what he was doing, but I think I pretty much have an idea. The tag scene was hilarious as well. I loved all of it!!

!chik!

P.S I also, just realized that in "Mr. Monk and His Biggest Fan" Linda said 'What do I have to do to get your attention, murder someone?" Ha. Apparently so.

I wish they would stop titleing the episodes, they didn't do it originally and I find that giving them a title sometimes ruins the guessing part of who-dun-it. ie; mr monk and the astronaut, mr monk and the bad girlfriend etc..Actually before I looked at the title in the guide, I could tell the shooter was a woman by the clothes and stance while shooting. It sooooo looked like a woman. Also I too thought that monk falling off the bike was tooo cool. I just wish that they hadn't given the case away with the title. It isn't like anyone else on the show had a girlfriend right now. I used to look forward to them but now it kinda blows all the fun out of it.

I agree. But, if I'm not mistaken, I believe they always did title the episodes.

!chik!

Right amount of Randy, at the end too. I loved Randy this entire episode, from his crime scene tape skirt to his nice tan and chest.

Even my husband started LOLing out loud when Linda started saying that about Adrian. Wow, she really was stuck on herself, wasn't she? There's really no way you're that good looking, Linda, even if I liked you a little bit.

I felt bad for the captain, but please, she was *not* his last chance! Meme? You think that no other lady will look at him? Yeah, me neither. There's probably already a line forming outside the police station.

I knew he was in denial when he accused Monk of being jealous of him becuase he had a girlfriend and a badge and stuff, I knew what it boiled down to was him being afraid that he would end up being like Adrian, but at least Adrian hasn't just made a jackass of himself to his best friend over a woman who was so not worth it.

I really enjoyed tonight's show. The first
one of this season and this one tonight (#4)
were very well written.

The #2 & # 3 shows were not!

I promote Monk from my blog...