It's an interesting quote:

"She's hailed for her guest spot on "Monk" as a psycho fan of a fictional TV detective. It's an ironic role meant to mirror the obsessive-compulsive nature of Tony Shalhoub's character."

Although I really don't know if I buy the statement that the role was meant to mirror the OCD nature of Monk. I mean, the woman knew everything about him, had her own web site, wrote songs, fan fiction and painting pictures.

I think it is more likely that this highly touted comedienne is being given serious Emmy consideration for her portrayal of a role based on...

Us.

So in a very odd way -- we are up for an Emmy.

(What did they mean by "psycho" fan? )

Maybe some of us. I mean Marci was named after one of ours. Her demeanor is that of an obsessive fan.

Maybe some of us. I mean Marci was named after one of ours. Her demeanor is that of an obsessive fan.
I mean, think of it, if you had the chance to fish some of Tony Shalhoub's castoffs, would you. I remember asking Teresa if she would grab a ciggie butt if Jason happened to cast one off, on one of her set visits. The website, the fanfic. I think it's some of our traits, all in one character...plus a little psycho.

I think Marci was psycho, not just obsessive. LOL Would I fish some of Tony's castoffs? No way. That's oogy to me.

I think she was both. (I don't mean OCD, but she is obsessive.) She obsesses on Monk. Everything she does/thinks/says revolves around Monk. She was obsessed w/ Brad Terry in the same way in Mr. Monk and the TV Star.

BfloGal: I think the fan, from these boards, was called MonkMonsterMaven or MonsterMonkMaven, so yeah. It was a long time ago. During Sharona's reign.

Thanks, Crystal --

Yes, I think of Marci as being an unflattering caricature of Monk fandom -- you know, like those pastel portraits done in the park with the big heads, and all the features are there and recognizable -- but the person whose caricature it is will invariably hate it. Perhaps because it is too accurate.

Yes, I think the writers crafted her the same way they created Monk, weaving together then hyperbolizing various character traits associated with each personality, minus the tragic element Monk was weighted down with to instill our sympathetic love.

Oh, I always heard that there was a certain fan who complained unendingly about the theme song being changed. I could be wrong, tho.

There are two things you may or may not believe about Monk. One is the fact that it is now entering its seventh season on USA Network (season premiere on Friday, July 18th). The other is that the series will be celebrating its 100th episode this year, making it the grandaddy of the 'Characters Welcome' slate of original programming on the network.

This will be an interesting season for Mr. Monk. With the death of Stanley Kamel back in April, Monk will be getting a new doctor this year in the form of Hector Elizondo. In addition to that, Monk's search for his wife's killer will intensify after a big piece of the puzzle was revealed during last season's finale. Throw in guest appearances by Robert Loggia, Brad Garrett and Eric McCormick, and this could be a big season for the show.

To promote this season, Monk star and executive producer Tony Shalhoub joined Hector Elizondo on a conference call to discuss working with each other, the differences between Hector's character and Kamel's Dr. Kroger, and their favorite TV detectives.

On the death of Stanley Kamel: Shalhoub said that the death of Kamel was very sudden. They had all been together at the upfronts a few days prior to his death and he seemed better than ever. "His bright, cheerful self," Tony added. It was a shock when they heard the news. Shalhoub went on to say that you don't fully appreciate someone and his position in his life until they are gone. As to the choice of Hector Elizondo as Kamel's replacement on the series, Tony mentioned that Stanley would have been very pleased and proud that an actor like Hector decided to come to the show.

Hector on being cast in Monk: Working with Tony was his main motivation to be on the series, said Elizondo, and it came at a perfect time (his previous series, CBS' Cane, was recently canceled). Hector thought that it would take more time to adjust to the cast and his role as Monk's new doctor, but it never occurred. He credits Tony for the well-oiled machine that he runs for the quick adjustments he made into his role. "It is an environment that is quite likable," added Elizondo.

For Shalhoub, it was a feeling that he had worked with Hector before that made the transition so easy. Even though they never worked together in the past both men had so many friends and business associates in common that he wondered why they didn't work together previously. It was a fulfillment of Tony's wish that Hector was added to the cast.

How the guest actors are chosen: Because he is an Executive Producer on the show, Shalhoub is heavily involved in the guest casting. When he sees a role in the script he usually makes a personal call to a particular person or their people to get them to fill that role. This is how Tony got Brad Garrett to guest star in the seventh season premiere. Added Shalhoub, "it's been really kind of rewarding and interesting to do that."

Shalhoub on the seventh season: Tony never dreamed he would be approaching his seventh season and 100th episode. He didn't think the character would be able to last as long as it did. Eventually, Shalhoub realized that potential for the character hasn't been exhausted. Yet, Tony doesn't think it would be healthy for the him to portray the character for ever and ever.

What to expect this season: Shalhoub said they would continue to explore the back stories of Monk as well as the other characters of the ensemble cast. In one episode, Monk will be hypnotized and go back to a small period of time where he was a much happier person. This will make the present-day Monk a bit happier for a time. In another episode, Monk will express interest in an Eastern European woman. It will be the first time Monk shows an interest in a woman since Trudy's death. It will worry him, but it will also exhilarate him as well.

Finding Trudy's killer: After the events of the season six finale, the search for Trudy's killer will continue through season seven. According to Shalhoub, a lot of what happens will depend on what the network decides to do about the series. If they decide to renew it for one more year, then season eight would feature a 16-episode arc which would wrap the storyline up. If the network decides to end the series then the wrap-up would be at the end of this season. Or, as Shalhoub stated, the identity of the killer could be left unknown in order to develop Monk TV movies. Shalhoub is wide open to however the writers want to pursue this storyline.

Becoming Monk: At the beginning of every season, Shalhoub has to regroup and remember how to be Monk again. Because this year's hiatus was longer (thanks to the Writers Strike), there was even more concern on how long it would take him to get into the role. Luckily, said Tony, it took only a couple of days to get right back into the character.

The difference between Dr. Kroger and Elizondo's Dr. Bell: According to Shalhoub, the main difference between Hector's character and Dr. Kroger is that Dr. Bell is more direct than Kroger ever was. Kroger handled Monk with kids gloves and was differential to a fault. Dr. Bell, said Tony, is a little more old school, a little more 'get over yourself.' Shalhoub said that Elizondo's character comes at a good time for the series.

Favorite TV detectives: Both Tony and Hector stated Columbo as one of the favorite detectives. Veering off of the detective front, Shalhoub said he also enjoyed The Avengers and Aaron Spelling's Honey West, and was completely obsessed with The Wild Wild West. For Elizondo it was Get Smart and Richard Boone in Have Gun - Will Travel.

Tony Shalhoub and Hector Elizondo talk about season seven of Monk

"Favorite TV detectives: Both Tony and Hector stated Columbo as one of the favorite detectives. Veering off of the detective front, Shalhoub said he also enjoyed The Avengers and Aaron Spelling's Honey West, and was completely obsessed with The Wild Wild West. For Elizondo it was Get Smart and Richard Boone in Have Gun - Will Travel."

Knew Tony had good taste!!! Yes, Columbo was the end all, beat all of TV detectives. I never watched The Avengers, and I'm not familiar with Honey West, but me and my brother and sister watched every single episode of Wild Wild West multiple times. I had posted in here once before about why I felt the movie underperformed--Will Smith was a big draw, but mainly for younger fans. Wild Wild West was a hit but not so much that everyone knew the hook of the show--western setting, Get Smart-type gadgets. The younger fans don't remember the show beyond hearing about it once or twice, and didn't know about the hook at all. When the movie came out, they anticipated a movie based on one of the old western TV shows of the '70s like Ponderosa or Big Valley. The guy behind me, exiting the theater after the movie, said "What the hell was that? They didn't have all that stuff back in those days." They just didn't get it. The movie was fantastic to people like me who remember watching the show religiously as a child.

BTW, Tony--you don't seem to be too jazzed about crossovers but Peter Falk is alive and well, reportedly lives in Beverly Hills, and he's still acting. How about at least a guest spot? If you can't get rights for a crossover, how about an old quirky guy who isn't a detective, but who coincidentally dresses and acts just like Columbo and drives Adrian nuts noticing everything before he does? Ooooooh, I like that. I like that a lot.

I think she was both. (I don't mean OCD, but she is obsessive.) She obsesses on Monk. Everything she does/thinks/says revolves around Monk. She was obsessed w/ Brad Terry in the same way in Mr. Monk and the TV Star.

BfloGal: I think the fan, from these boards, was called MonkMonsterMaven or MonsterMonkMaven, so yeah. It was a long time ago. During Sharona's reign.

Knew Tony had good taste!!! Yes, Columbo was the end all, beat all of TV detectives. I never watched The Avengers, and I'm not familiar with Honey West, but me and my brother and sister watched every single episode of Wild Wild West multiple times. I had posted in here once before about why I felt the movie underperformed--Will Smith was a big draw, but mainly for younger fans. Wild Wild West was a hit but not so much that everyone knew the hook of the show--western setting, Get Smart-type gadgets. The younger fans don't remember the show beyond hearing about it once or twice, and didn't know about the hook at all. When the movie came out, they anticipated a movie based on one of the old western TV shows of the '70s like Ponderosa or Big Valley. The guy behind me, exiting the theater after the movie, said "What the hell was that? They didn't have all that stuff back in those days." They just didn't get it. The movie was fantastic to people like me who remember watching the show religiously as a child.

BTW, Tony--you don't seem to be too jazzed about crossovers but Peter Falk is alive and well, reportedly lives in Beverly Hills, and he's still acting. How about at least a guest spot? If you can't get rights for a crossover, how about an old quirky guy who isn't a detective, but who coincidentally dresses and acts just like Columbo and drives Adrian nuts noticing everything before he does? Ooooooh, I like that. I like that a lot.

Knew Tony had good taste!!! Yes, Columbo was the end all, beat all of TV detectives. I never watched The Avengers, and I'm not familiar with Honey West, but me and my brother and sister watched every single episode of Wild Wild West multiple times. I had posted in here once before about why I felt the movie underperformed--Will Smith was a big draw, but mainly for younger fans. Wild Wild West was a hit but not so much that everyone knew the hook of the show--western setting, Get Smart-type gadgets. The younger fans don't remember the show beyond hearing about it once or twice, and didn't know about the hook at all. When the movie came out, they anticipated a movie based on one of the old western TV shows of the '70s like Ponderosa or Big Valley. The guy behind me, exiting the theater after the movie, said "What the hell was that? They didn't have all that stuff back in those days." They just didn't get it. The movie was fantastic to people like me who remember watching the show religiously as a child.

BTW, Tony--you don't seem to be too jazzed about crossovers but Peter Falk is alive and well, reportedly lives in Beverly Hills, and he's still acting. How about at least a guest spot? If you can't get rights for a crossover, how about an old quirky guy who isn't a detective, but who coincidentally dresses and acts just like Columbo and drives Adrian nuts noticing everything before he does? Ooooooh, I like that. I like that a lot.

The death in April of actor Stanley Kamel, who portrayed the longtime therapist for eclectic detective Adrian Monk, left the series with a sad and delicate situation entering its seventh season.

“You can’t replace or imitate him because that’s dishonest, and I wouldn’t do it,” said Hector Elizondo, who joins the show as Monk’s new psychiatrist. “You do not want to do anything that infringes on the man who created this other, lovely character.”

Kamel played the smartly elegant Charles Kroger, whose counseling guided Monk through the murder of his wife and the loss of his police department job, as well as a multitude of quirks and fears.

Elizondo, a veteran of stage, film and TV, including last season’s “Cane” on CBS, plays Neven Bell, who takes Monk (Tony Shalhoub) as a patient. The first episode of the season on Friday centers on how Monk handles his grief over Kroger’s sudden death.

“It’s not love at first sight,” Elizondo said. “Monk doesn’t trust me for awhile. (Bell) is an embryo, a working-class guy whose environment is dark wood paneling.”

Gone is the light-filled office where Kroger and Monk held sessions, a sparkling cascade of water in the background. “My guy likes jazz, and there are paintings on the wall,” Elizondo said.

Elizondo compared Shalhoub’s work to that of another actor best known as a TV detective.

“When I did ‘Columbo’ early on, I admired Peter Falk because he was always working on that character as if it was the first day, fussing over things to get them right,” he said. “Tony pays the same attention to detail, making it a finely honed, honest character.”
“Monk” Fridays 9 p.m. USA

For week of July 12-13: Mr. Monk Gets a New Therapist

The death in April of actor Stanley Kamel, who portrayed the longtime therapist for eclectic detective Adrian Monk, left the series with a sad and delicate situation entering its seventh season.

“You can’t replace or imitate him because that’s dishonest, and I wouldn’t do it,” said Hector Elizondo, who joins the show as Monk’s new psychiatrist. “You do not want to do anything that infringes on the man who created this other, lovely character.”

Kamel played the smartly elegant Charles Kroger, whose counseling guided Monk through the murder of his wife and the loss of his police department job, as well as a multitude of quirks and fears.

Elizondo, a veteran of stage, film and TV, including last season’s “Cane” on CBS, plays Neven Bell, who takes Monk (Tony Shalhoub) as a patient. The first episode of the season on Friday centers on how Monk handles his grief over Kroger’s sudden death.

“It’s not love at first sight,” Elizondo said. “Monk doesn’t trust me for awhile. (Bell) is an embryo, a working-class guy whose environment is dark wood paneling.”

Gone is the light-filled office where Kroger and Monk held sessions, a sparkling cascade of water in the background. “My guy likes jazz, and there are paintings on the wall,” Elizondo said.

Elizondo compared Shalhoub’s work to that of another actor best known as a TV detective.

“When I did ‘Columbo’ early on, I admired Peter Falk because he was always working on that character as if it was the first day, fussing over things to get them right,” he said. “Tony pays the same attention to detail, making it a finely honed, honest character.”
“Monk” Fridays 9 p.m. USA

If this first episode will have Monk dealing with the death of Dr. Kroger, then it appears they will be handling this situation with the utmost respect for Stanley--not having Kroger move away, abandoning Adrian. The way the article is worded, it also doesn't seem likely that they will be having the character murdered--"sudden death" usually means natural causes or illness. I have my fingers crossed. This is just a classy group of people. Thank you.

He does have good taste. I enjoy both Columbo and Wild Wild West. I also like Hector Elizondo's taste in Get Smart. I would have to agree with someone else, though, Monk is my all time favorite detective.

I kind of figured you'd notice that part History08. Good man!

I had signed on to do this show. I knew everyone in it in some fashion and was jazzed. However, one of the guys who had agreed to do it got a lead role in Final Destination 4 (which I think is awesome and can’t wait to see). So a replacement was brought in. I had seen the guy in a couple of shows and he was very good. I had met him once, briefly. His name was Tony.

Anywho, during rehearsals, I make some joke about Tony Shalhoub (nothing hurtful, because I’m a huge fan of Mr. Shalhoub dating back to the movie QuickChange. He had a small role as a cabby in it but I remember being really impressed with him and I’ll often imitate his word for ‘bus’ in that film, ‘blufftonay’). So the director of the play says, “Better not say that around Tony because Tony Shalhoub is his uncle.” I figured the director was messing with me, but then one day in conversation Tony confirmed that yes, Mr. Shalhoub is his uncle.

Flashforward and the show is up and running and Tony comes to us in the dressing room and says his uncle may come see our show and asks if that is cool with everyone. I have to say Tony is a super, super nice person, on stage and off. And he was worried that it may freak us out or something. Apparently that had happened before and some actor had flipped out about it. Anyway, I was all for it. As mentioned, I’m a big fan of Mr. Shalhoub’s work........

Read more

INTERMEZZO .....I found a very well written little story about TS in the Blog of mmyers called "Black Smoke Factory".

The Tony Shalhoub story (by popular demand)

Excerpt:

INTERMEZZO .....I found a very well written little story about TS in the Blog of mmyers called "Black Smoke Factory".

The Tony Shalhoub story (by popular demand)

Excerpt:

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
Jul 11, 2008

Hector Elizondo reports joining the new season of "Monk" has taken the sting out of the cancellation of "Cane," the CBS drama about a well-to-do Latino family in Florida in which he starred with Jimmy Smits and Rita Moreno. "After smarting from that experience I wasn't looking forward to getting back up on the horse," admits Elizondo, who'll be seen as obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk's new therapist when the show returns July 18. "That broke our hearts. We were the victim of unfortunate circumstances … the strike killed our show, and we were just devastated. So it was not in my radar screen to jump back in TV."

What changed his mind, says Elizondo, was "the fact that ('Monk' star/exec producer) Tony Shalhoub is involved. That turned the corner for me. He picked up a phone and called me and wanted to make it all happen. Tony is a fine professional and one of the most respected people in the business. He's also a social activist. He has a great conscience, and I particularly admire that."

Elizondo also couldn't be a much bigger admirer of Shalhoub's work. "He's a great listener, which is the first thing you have to have in an actor. He likes to parse moments very clearly. And he's totally committed to that character. He reminds me of Peter Falk when he did 'Columbo,'" adds the actor. "I worked with Peter Falk back in the '70s, and I saw how assiduously he worked on that character … years after he'd done it for I don't know how many episodes. It's nice. It's more than nice, I don't like that word. Scratch nice, that's a flabby word. It's heartening to see someone take his work with such genuine seriousness."

According to Elizondo, his introductory scene with Shalhoub is "quite funny. Adrian doesn't trust me, doesn't even want me after the initial visit as his psychiatrist, but I change that around."

USA Network's Monk returns on Friday, July 18, and stepping in as the OCDetective's psychiatrist is Hector Elizondo. The Chicago Hope alum recently stopped by to talk about his late Monk predecessor, Stanley Kamel, preview his shrink's own relationship with Tony Shalhoub's sleuth, and share some memories about Pretty Woman Julia Roberts. Hector and I also talk about how Alzheimer's has touched each of our families. — Matt Mitovich

The video won't launch for me. Does it play for anyone else?

Yeah, I just played it. I had to click it twice, but it played for me.

Edited to add: Thanks Alex!

I loved the interview. I think I'ma gonna like Dr. Bell.

I loved the interview. I think I'ma gonna like Dr. Bell.

I guess it's just me. I get a black square and no buttons--nothing comes up in the box at all and it gives me nothing to click on.

Maybe you need to download something for your computer to play it. I'd check w/ YouTube. It should be up soon.

The website didn't tell me until I tried to download the video to real player. I was missing the newest version of Adobe. I downloaded it and it downloaded google toolbar. I hate when programs install themselves without me clicking on them or okaying. I immediately uninstalled it. Saw the video finally. It was very good. I'm glad to see he's involved with the alzheimer's issue. My grandfather died from that in 2007.

Joining the close-knit cast of a show that's been on the air for six years is tough, especially if you're replacing an actor who just passed away.

But that didn't scare off Hector Elizondo. He'll star in season seven of "Monk," beginning Friday on USA, taking over the role of Adrian Monk's psychiatrist from Stanley Kamel, who died of a heart attack in April.

Elizondo and Tony Shalhoub, who stars as Monk, had no trouble forming the tight bond that therapists and patients often have.

"There was no problem," Elizondo says. "Also, we've been around the block. It's not rocket science as long as the writing is good, and they make sure that it is. They know how to do this now. They've worked out the kinks."

Though it's not likely that Monk and Dr. Neven Bell (Elizondo) will hit it off nearly so well. Monk - a deft detective who suffers from a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder - doesn't react well to change. But Elizondo didn't need to study with shrinks to prepare for the part.

"I've been living in the world, paying attention, with a lot of crazy people around," he explains. "I've played many a doctor, I've played therapists before. I don't think there's a profession I haven't played. I was a doctor on 'Chicago Hope' for six years. It always surprised me that the doctors really wanted to be actors and the actors all want to be doctors." more

The website didn't tell me until I tried to download the video to real player. I was missing the newest version of Adobe. I downloaded it and it downloaded google toolbar. I hate when programs install themselves without me clicking on them or okaying. I immediately uninstalled it. Saw the video finally. It was very good. I'm glad to see he's involved with the alzheimer's issue. My grandfather died from that in 2007.

By LUAINE LEE McClatchy-Tribune News Service

LOS ANGELES -- Before he became a working actor Tony Shalhoub was - what else? - a waiter, many times over.

"I was always on the verge of being fired because the manager kept saying, 'You have to go faster!' I wanted to make sure everything was right. And you didn't want to throw food at these people. I would say, 'Are the people complaining?' They'd say, 'No, we just see you're not working fast enough.' I just wanted to make sure I had it all right ..."

His precision often cost him his job, but not the most important job of his life. In fact, as the obsessive-compulsive detective on USA's "Monk," Shalhoub is allowed to indulge his penchant for perfectionism without any retribution.

While he doesn't confess to many of Mr. Monk's finicky quirks, he does admit, "I try to be loose. But I'm told, on a regular basis by my kids and my wife, to lighten up a little bit. 'Let it go.'"

Now with "Monk" into its seventh year and with three Emmys in his custody, it would seem that Shalhoub could at last relax. Not so. Throughout his career he has been the hardest on himself. "I can't explain why, but think I've always wanted to move out of a place of complacency into a place of the unknown," he says over a lunch of salmon and steamed vegetables here.

"I left Boston - I was doing great roles and loved the people I was working for and had worked my way up to lead parts - but I felt I had to go start over again. And I don't know why. I went to New York and worked my way up, and I was really feeling pretty confident. Then I came out here and this was like hitting a brick wall. Everything I'd done in New York and Boston for 10 years didn't seem to count for anything here. I thought I had a pretty impressive resume by this point: I'd done two Broadway plays, I'd done a Coen Brothers movie, but it hadn't come out yet. And they said, 'Do you have anything on tape?' 'Tape? What's tape? I've got a resume.' It was crazy. I was feeling like I had to start over."......Read more

TV Guide thingy....

clicky

A long and interesting article about TS.........especially for you Raven. It´s good, to see you back "home"

Just like his character, `Monk' star Tony Shalhoub is a perfectionist

Excerpt: