It started like no other trip I had ever planned. I had just found out that my Uncle (by injection only) was having a TV show filmed at his place in Sweet Water (Agua Dulce in spanish), California. Okay that was pretty cool but not worth making a trip, right? Wrong, I found out it was gonna be a taping of MONK. That just upped the ante. I really want to make the trip but my back has been thrown out from some remodeling we are doing, so I don't know if I could tolerate a long flight. After thinking about it for 5 days I had made my decision back pain or no back pain I was heading out to get a once in a lifetime experience. And to boot I may get the opportunity to meet Tony Shalhoub.

We hop on a SouthWest flight from Baltimore to Burbank, eight hours later we exit the plane to the tarmac. This was my first to fly into Burbank and I hafta tell you I felt like a movie star (everything but the red carpet) you exit by walking down the stairs to the terminal. Maybe I will be discovered. LOL

I am traveling with my Sister-in-Law (which is a blood relative to the owner of the home). She and I find the house with little problems and discover they have already built the set. The set fills up the entire driveway to the house plus some extra space for their equipment for filming and stuff. (This is where pictures would help me explain but I cannot because they have specifically asked us not to post any on the internet.) We found our little trailer (Vintage Spartan Trailer) where we will be living for the next three nights. We know that they are filming the next 2 days (Thurs. and Fri.) and we pretty much came into town just for that, o and to visit with the family too but mostly for taping.

The next morning after a good sleep we wake to hear the beeping of big trucks backing up and people milling about out in the yard. It's 6:30a, I'm still east coast time so no biggie! So I get up excited that I may see Tony. The night before (Wed) we were told that it was just gonna be Tony taping and not the other cast members. I am like a kid on Christmas morning, I hurry to dress and rush out to see them in the center of the yard talking quietly, of course I am very anxious to see them and blurt out OMIGOD IT'S THEM RIGHT HERE!!!! And immediately they all turn (Tony, Traylor, Jason and Ted) and shush me. Ssssshhhhhhh, quiet they are rehearsing. Oh I must curb my enthusiasm. Darn what a disappointment. Well if I can't talk I can take pictures right? Nope sorry no filming or taping while they are on the set.

I am going to end this segment here but promise to be back with more later. I have to clean my house and finish laundry and this little bit took me about 1 hour.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions or whatever to help push the story along. If it's not a problem I would like to tell you the name of the episode but I don't know if that would spell trouble with a capital T for me.

As the Governator of California says, I'll be back.

Sue

Great Sue, I would pay every single money to see them on live and on set! When've U been on the set? I need a date, then maybe I can tell (if I'm not wrong) what episode it is...
Could U later tell more details, what U saw, maybe U remember what they were saying? I think U will be able to put the pictures (if U made them when they were filming) after official trailer will be on main site of USA Network. I think Doug can say yes, right?

The taping took place last week, October 4th and 5th. They said it was the 7th and 8th day of an 8 day shoot.

More info:

They rented parking space from the neighbor in the front lot closer to road for parking all the equipment. Cop cars, medical examiner van, Natalie's Ford Escape, port - a - johns, kraft services and so on.

The Base camp was located at the Agua Dulce Airport about 1 mile away. This is where the actors went for time in between takes and for food.

My mind is fading but I will come back with more stuff. Hopefully not all boring.

Sue

Before it all goes - tell me about Jason!!!!

Wow you were lucky... that's just awesome that you got to go see that!


What a welcome surprise to get to see all of them afterall! Very nice, and an amusing story to remember... (Getting shushed)


*Tries to will Doug to come answer this*


Hehehe...

Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Sue! It's really fun to hear it all... You had quite the special experience. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you.

And on a random note... I love Southwest Airlines! ... They don't come to Minnesota though...

The actors really didn't talk to us much. I kinda made a nuissance out of myself the first day by talking during a rehearsal and then later I stood by them (close enough they could see and hear me) and kept saying Hi, over and over and over again! Only to get one response that was from Ted! However, at one point I did get to meet Jason for about 15 seconds. He was exiting the set and so was I but from different points. I kinda slowed down so I could match his pace which happened just like I wanted. He shook my hand and told me he was Jason, and I said Hi I'm Sue. I told him I was from Maryland and he proceeded to tell me his girlfriends mother is from Maryland. And that was it he went to the right and I went to the left.

During the time that I kept harassing them by repeating Hi over about 12 times. Eventually Tony came walking by with his shades on, his head down, and I thought here he comes and there he goes but as he was getting closer to us (a crowd of about 6 people) he looks up and over and says 'Goodmorning' then he continues walking to the set. I felt like he was speaking to me directly but I am sure he meant it for everone. Darn those sunglasses!!!

Sue

Well, you answered my first question after reading your initial post . . . did you just happen to be visiting or did you make the trip from back east just to watch them? Of course you flew out just to watch them!


Your enthusiasm and excitment is perfectly understandable. And how many people can say they have been ssshhhhhhhed by the "gang."

Thanks, Sue, for sharing the details, each and every one you can remember. Got more? Hope someday you will get the "okay" to share any pictures you have.

What's that sound? It's the sound of teenage hearts being crushed around the world.

*sob*

That's neat that you got to meet them, Susan! Me jealous. lol.

!chik!

Oh no, I didn't think about that! Me so sorry!!!

Hmm, I'm not sure now for 100 % but I think it may be Mr. Monk joins his cult, but I can be wrong of course. I'm only human nothing all...

That's not it.

Oh well, my mistake...

obviously we can't stop people from posting pictures that they took while we were shooting if you they able to get away with it. But as a courtesy to the other fans on the site, I urge anybody who does have pictures not to give the storylines away. Beyond that, it's up to you...

It was the last 2 days of Masterpiece. Nice guest star in that ep.

You have my attention.

So I am reading that it seems okay to spread the name of the epi: Mr. Monk Paints his Masterpiece. Not sure where I will go from here. I will post some pix or a link to the them.

Sue

Sue,

How was your uncle's house chosen as a location, anyway? Did the producers send him a letter asking for permission to film there? My cousin and his family live in a really cool house in San Francisco that is actually a converted church - it has gothic pointy windows and everything. I wish they would use it as a set the next time production heads to SF - it would finally give me an excuse to visit!

Ashley

Ashley,

His house is a junkyard. They viewed various junkyards around LA County and his was the perfect one. I am sure price has a lot to do with it when the producers are making their decision.

Sue

Hmm.... I can't wait to see how a junkyard relates to Monk painting his masterpiece.

Ashley

My guess is that one of the characters in the episode makes sculptures out of scrap metal.

I know how difficult staying in the sidelines must have been...I would have wanted to say hi a bunch of times just to get noticed too! So glad you had a great opportunity! Thanks for sharing!

The owner's son of the junkyard is a woodcarver and while we were there the director, Andrei, who is a smoker, kept trying to find different places to put his ashes and butts. On the second morning the son, Danny, gave Andrei an old glass ashtray from the yard which was dirty. Once Tony saw this he immediately went to cleaning it with a paper towel. I was standing within 2 feet of him while he was doing this and asked him if he wanted me to take it inside to wash it with soap and water. He was engrossed with the director so I think my comment never got heard. However, Danny, which was carving this small soap stone (there is a borax mine very close) with no intentions for it's purpose. After watching Andrei find places for his ashes he decided to make this into an ashtray for him. Andrei was very touched and put the gift into his car immediately.

Visit here to see other projects he has done. He has worked with Ed Asner, and on the movie MI III building props and others, plus he does his own thing.

Sue

Wow, Tony must be a genuine neat-freak to worry about an ashtray, of all things, being clean! I wonder if he was that way bore Monk?

Ashley

FYI the director must be Andrei Belgrader, a renowned stage director. He directed Tony at the American Reportory Theater back in the 80's, and also directed Tony and John Turturro Off-Broadway in Waiting for Godot. He has directed many episodes of Monk.

Ashley

Wow, he does such beautiful work. Very lovely.

It's the truth Jen!

Dan does amazing work! I especially like those mushroom-looking lamps. Very nice.

How cute, Tony becoming all engrosed in cleaning out the ashtray.