Just wondering if anyone has heard how they will be handling Stanley's death on the show? Do we know who the new psychiatrist will be? Whatever they do, it won't be the same.

there is a new pychatrist coming in. How they are going to explain kroger leaving not sure.

"Whatever they do, it wont be the same."

I like that. It's very true.

And I didnt want it to be ANY different at first. I shivered away the idea of how different the show would be...

And it kind of came on me very, very slowly.

After a loss like that... I dont think it's supposed to be the same.

I hate change twice as much as the next guy. Especially when it's something great that's changed in favor of an unknown and unproven future.

...

But I'd hate it more if we were trying to pretend nothing happened.

I'm still in favor of wishing it wasnt so.

But it was so monumentally out of everyone's control. Unpreventable given the way the world unfolded.

And something like that deserves ... such respect.

It should be different after. It should be obvious and noticable.

Especially with someone like Stanley. He made me laugh and cry.

Do you know how many people can drift in and out of your life and never make you do either let alone both?

I know how many drift in and out of mine.

Dr. K was a rare gift from a rare individual.

So I'm okay now. With it being different. I had to think about it a lot. But there is just NO WAY that anyone can replace him.

They can only succeed him.

And that is sooooo as it should be.

In my mind at any rate.

-M

That was beautiful. I'm still a little nervous about how they are going to address Dr. Kroger's absence. I'm afraid that I may be setting myself up for disappointment when the first show airs. Depending on what happens, it may affect my feelings for the show from then on. If it's a disappointing episode (like REALLY disappointing), then I may have tho think twice about watching Season 7. Although given how upset the cast must have been over Stanley's passing, I'm praying that they give him a well-deserved tribute.

Andrea

Andrea

It's going to be very delicately handled. I don't think they will say Dr. Kroger died though. IMO that probaly would send Monk over the edge. If I had to guess it might be something Dr. Kroger won the lotto and he went to a better place and didn't tell mr monk where he was going so that he won't try to follow.

"On this island, in my mind... No phones." - Dr. K., on what he would do with a million dollars.

I could see the lottery thing if they hadnt already done that with Kevin.

Of course, it would keep getting funnier to me if they sent off everyone they liked from the show by making them lottery winners - and Sharona was still, at last report, in New Jersey.

-M

I'm amazed at how the passage of time can affect my perspective on this.

Yes, I wish it had never happened, that a new shrink was not necessary, and that season 7 would bring Dr. K back to us -- that it was all just a nasty rumor.

But with the passage of time bringing personal acceptance, I'm a little less fearful of seeing how TPTB have decided to deal with his departure. There's still no good way to do that. I'll leave that to their better judgement, and deal with whatever comes.

And I'm actually looking forward to seeing how they introduce Hector Elizondo, and what he brings to the role.

But we still miss you, Stanley!

That was beautifully put. I am amazed at how over time my mind has changed on this. First of all, let me say that whatever they decide to do, it WILL NOT be the same. I am amazed at how, over time, my mind has changed on this subject. When it first happened, I wanted everything to be exactly the same. Kind of like it was a horrible, horrible dream or joke that someone had played on us. Then, I slowly began to come to acceptance of what had happened. I realized that just like when we lose a family member, friend, or someone else we love (like Stanley) things shouldn't be the same. It would be like you are trying to replace someone who is irreplaceable. I am not a fan, at all, of change and wish so badly that this change didn't have to take place. I do, however, think that it this change will be handled very delicately, as it should be. I think Tony, Traylor, Jason, Ted, Emmy, and the rest of the crew hurt much more than we do, so it will be handled delicately. I am okay, although each day is different. I cherish the memories we have with Dr. Kroger, and am finally able to watch scenes with him and not totally burst into tears. In the words of Adrian Monk, " Thanks, Doc!" Thanks for the memories Doctor Kroger. We love you, will we ALWAYS miss you, and we will ALWAYS cherish the memories!!

I haven't heard how the issue is going to be addressed but I do know I feel sorry for the writers. Think of what a tough position they are in. And no matter how they handle it, there are going to be some fans upset about it, there's just no way of getting around that.

That's where I got the idea from LOL.

The writers are good at alot of things but, for getting rid of people not so much. Sharona still in NJ and Kevin winning the lotto then losing everything and coming right back to the same apartment miraclously

How about Witness Protection? Monk would understand that. And you could give him any destination you wanted - Someplace warm and sunny with a new identity... Even if that's all you could say.

It's a nice tribute I suppose to send Dr. K away happy. But then again... Any way they go with it is fine by me. I just cant bring myself to get upset about it if they handle it badly in places.

It's a tough thing to deal with, personally, let alone professionally as well as continuity wise for the show.

It's not supposed to be an easy thing to lose someone.

I just intend to let it be hard, or bad, or sad... Just because it should be.

Who wouldnt stumble slightly under the transfer of that kind of weight?

They may be perfect and flawless in this transition but... I cant expect that.

The point of this change isnt to accomodate me, or the show, or the writers. It's to accomodate Mr. Stanley Kamel. And I've no doubt it's so much more personal an endeavor for everyone involoved on that end than it is on this end. No matter what we feel.

It cant be EASY. So at best, all we can hope is that they make it LOOK EASY.

And even if it's just to hard, to make it look easy...

If we're really fans, not just of the characters but of the people who play them, then I think we really need to 'suck it up' for them and just undersand that it's WAY, WAY, WAY harder to do this gracefuly than we could ever hope to know.

Any effort put forward WILL be the absolute best they could do given the situation.

And we cant fault anyone for doing thier best, can we? Especially when we know it's hard?

<shrugs>

-M

Totally agree M...it is going to be a BIG transition to us and the cast without Stanley but life is not easy...it is suppose to be hard or it wouldn't be life!

it's going to be tough. I hope the fans aren't too hard on the explanation as justifying it 100% is going to be hard. Especially since they did mr monk gets a new shrink when Adrian was going crazy not having kroger around. I hope they give stanley a nice promo in the beginning of the episode and say kroger moved on to a better place by saying he finally retired.

I completely agree with you. I hope the do something very nice for him at the beginning of the episode as well.

I came back to this site today after not being here for a while (not uncommon for me), but was pleased to see that Hector Elizondo will be playing Monk's new therapist. I love Hector Elizondo!!! I'm hoping he'll be a little bit of a challenge with a new personality & style as therapist for our Mr. Monk.

I was heartbroken over Stanley Kamel's passing, and still am, and hope that his character of Dr. Kroger is acknowledged in a thoughtful and sweet way... it would be okay for me if his character were to pass too (Mr. Monk can solve crimes, but there would be no crime involved, so Mr. Monk would feel doubly adrift). Regardless of how the writers will explain his absence, I would like to see Dr. Kroger mentioned from time to time in future episodes, 'cause just to miss him in one episode & then move on would be unnatural and kind of disrespectful to him, the show's trajectory, and to the other characters, not just Mr. Monk.

I agree, they need to mention him from time to time

I just hope TPTB will handle it well....(I think they will) ...you know...recognize that a BUNCH of us loved SK & the wonderful character he SOOOO brought to life. My hope is that they handle it in such a way that SK ,as Monk's shrink , is paid respect ....& allows us some time to mourn...either by his passing or his retiring (AND Monk being more than happy for him, if he's retiring or sad & respectful if he's not ) & riding off into the sunset. What a glorious one that sunset is.

You can borrow CWN. BUT....please...... have him back in time for dinner. A horse & his dinner ... at the SAME time everyday ..........can never be parted. LOL

B.
I am along for the ride & gladly welcome the new shrink.