I've had lovely experiences with Arabian Americans (both secular and non-secular) and Monk facinates me sometimes - and Tony is Middle Eastern by blood (raised Christian) so . . . what do Arabs think of him? It's also bizarre (and sad) that the actor who played Monk's doctor died recently. It's sad yet mysterious.



Dr. Charles Kroger (played by Stanley Kamel) has passed on.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/09/m...el_n_95909.html

Monk is the kind of show you'd think would bomb

. .. but like the Energizer bunny it keeps going, and going . . .

I'd love to stay and answer questions but my . . . computer . . . has . . . just slllllooooooowed down to half it's normal speed. Time to reboot, man.

I'm not sure how many qualified responses you can get on this particular poll--it appears that Arab Americans would have to vote on it and I don't know how many post on this board. If it's meant for regular posters to vote on how many Arab Americans they think watch show, you're likely not going to get an accurate guage on your question--we can only guess, and we can't see this show through their eyes and from their perspective. As to Tony's religion, that could skew it a bit also. Many Arabs and Arab Americans aren't Christian. Tony was born and raised in this country, so as an Arab American, his perspective may not resemble other Arab Americans or Arabs born in the middle east who now live here.

The focus of this poll may be too wide, and the number of posters qualified to vote on it may be too narrow. Good luck with it, but you may have to adjust it a bit.

You're probably right. I had to "tweak" it about five times before I posted it. It was really making me angry because the computer was so slow and I had to go for a walk in the woods to get rid of the anger.

I felt that it was weird as I was writing it. It's one of those things that's hard to put into words correctly.

EDIT: I'd say that Tony's upbringing with Christianity makes him very interesting. It means he understands Western culture very well. You'd think that his perspective would be valued and cherished considering the hot tempers flying around with the whole culture clash going on - but sometimes different is just different. In other words - you're probably right about Muslim Arab Americans feeling weird about liking Tony.

EDIT 2: Even though he undoubtably gets the "blues" when contemplating current events. I'd love to interview him for the details of those sentiments.

EDIT 3: If anybody's got a link with an interview of Tony talking about our current dumbness please . . . feel free to post it.

I think any time you aspire to find a common thread or common perspective or perception among a group of people--whether based on religion or nationality or politics, you're stepping in quicksand. It's almost impossible to pigeonhole any one group and when you're talking about human beings, there are no absolutes except for death and taxes. Arabs are like any other group--they belong to different religions, have different political views, and have their own unique opinions. Black people struggled with this for years--they don't all think the same or vote the same or belong to the same religion. No group of people is homogenized.

Slightly OT as well, but personally, I hate the whole "hyphenated American" trend--I don't think Tony sees himself as a hyphen--I could be wrong. In my eyes, he's an American. The hyphen seems to function as some kind of qualifier, and though intended as an instrument of Political Correctness, we don't hyphenate everyone. There's one group that doesn't hyphenate themselves--that basic, run of the mill, every day, garden variety American--who are they? Why aren't they hyphens? If your name isn't Running Bear or Red Feather, you're a hyphen. I don't like the practice of hyphenating because it still strikes me as one group of kids trying to kick another out of the sandbox. If you were born here or you were naturalized, you're an American. Your nationality or race is a separate matter entirely.

Tony's an American. He's also Arab. Apples and Oranges. The strongest information indicates he's Christian but until it comes out of his mouth, that's not set in stone--and yes I've seen that page from the Episcopalian website--he could have just donated money to the church. I think like most aspects of his personal life, he likes to keep his business his business. I'm Catholic. I don't care if he's Christian or Muslim or Buddhist or Jewish or Atheist or Agnostic or Jehovah Witness or Druid.

I don't think you're making religion an issue in the least, but by putting "a fine Christian actor" in the title of the thread, some may see that as doing just that---making religion an aspect of your poll. Arabs are every bit as varied and diverse as any other group of people. If this poll was on a website with a substantial number of Arab posters on it, we'd all get to see just how varied and diverse their perspective is, and it looks like that's exactly what your poll attempts to find out.

Good idea on the whole, but might not be the right site for it, any more than it would be for me to have a poll for Italians and asking the same question. There doesn't seem to be a lot of any one group of people in here posting.

Well . . . what I meant by, "A fine Christian actor" is that he is totally integrated with Western Culture . . . it was all positive although probably a tad prejudiced because I'm Christian. I'm filled with nothing but positive energy when it comes to Tony. I meant that it's good that he's Christian and that I like it.

My brother is named Tony . . . which makes sence since show business folk are supposed to think of themselves as one big family. I play guitar and sing.

The strongest evidence indicates he's Christian but I've never heard it come out of his mouth so it's not set in stone for me. A lot of people are sensitive when the subject of religion comes up and it's a dangerous topic, here as well as most anywhere else on the internet, particularly with regards to public boards. Some people see that, and hear a starter's pistol to start debating pro and con. Hopefully it doesn't happen here--we all generally get along well.



I've seen comments before that would indicate that Tony doesn't want to get into this too much. It's a form of typecasting with regards to his nationality. I don't know personally how much I'd want to get into it if we were currently embroiled in a conflict with Italy. lol. I don't think he feels responsible for what has happened--he's not from Lebanon. He's from Wisconsin, and bears no responsiblity for what people of similar descent are doing currently any more than he'd share credit for qualities that another person possesses, simply because they were both Lebanese or Arab.

I'm a direct relation to Willa Cather. That doesn't make me a great writer. Conversely, my cousin could be an arsonist--it wouldn't make me a fire bug. I don't think he wants to be seen as the spokesperson for all Arabs, here and in the Middle East. The Japanese living here during WWII were victims of that way of thinking. I can see how this would stir curiosity but I can more see how he might not want to get into that.

I find the point of your poll very interesting, but I don't know that you can get your answers in this particular forum. You could direct some of your questions to Tony at the same address in the pinned section where fans are to address requests for autographs. Good, bad, or sideways, that's as close to the mark as you're able to get.

Yes but this is the only culture he would be integrated with--he was born and raised in Wisconsin. He's not a naturalized citizen. He's an American who has never lived in another country.


I certainly hope you don't think I'm arguing with you or anything. It's the way you're wording some things that I think may be misinterpreted. There's nothing but love here. If Tony moved to Lebanon tomorrow, as an American he would have to adapt and integrate with that culture because it is not his culture. His parents may have come from there and had to integrate with Western Culture, but Tony never had to make the adjustment. He's from here. If I moved to Italy tomorrow, I'd have to adjust to that culture since I was born and raised in Akron Ohio--I'm from here, and the culture in Italy would be foreign to me. That's my nationality but I'm an American. I'm from here.

He is a Christian, he has discussed this in an interview. When I get home tonight and have the time I'll try to locate that interview for you yvette. I am thinking it was a magazine interview. I might still have that magazine at home, I'll have to look for it.

Thanx a bunch--that will be an interview I haven't seen before and I like not to make assumptions. It's a subject I've seen come up many times for both Tony and Ted, particularly on the IMDb board but here as well. Some people can just compare notes and keep their comments tempered, but some people take it as a challenge to "their God" and get on a soapbox. I'd like to see the source that verifies the info one way or the other but purely as a matter of curiosity--I don't care what faith he follows and I reject that aspect of all religions that serves to discriminate--including Catholicism, which is my religion.

I don't know how many Arab Americans watch Monk, and as has already been pointed out, this poll would hardly be conclusive, it would at best, be guess work on our part.

As for Tony being Christian as a sign of being integrated into Western culture, it's really not. There is the possibility that Ted Levine is Jewish, and I'm pretty certain that David and Andy Breckman are, and they are integrated into the Western culture. For that matter, I know a few Bhuddists who were born and raised here, so they are very much integrated into the Western culture.

I tend to think of Tony as just Tony, or rather, as a fine American actor of Arabic descent who was born and raised in Green Bay. Ted Levine is a fine American actor of possibly Jewish descent that was born in Ohio. Jason is a fine Canadian actor from BC and Traylor is a great American Actress who was raised in Florida (if my memory serves). Ted, Tony and Traylor are all American, no matter where their ancestors came from, but that doesn't make them any better or more admirable than Jason who wasn't born in America. I just think that at some point, people should not make distinctions between each other, or try to define each other by religion, place of birth or ethnic background and see the individual for who and what they are alone.

Tony is a great actor who is married to a wonderful actress and they have raised two children well together. He supports Arabic actors, not just because he is of Arabic descent but because the current climate in this country means that Arabic actors can expect to be offered way more roles as villains than good quality roles. He offers advice and support to aspiring, up and coming actors, and he promotes green living. He may have been born Arabic in America, and he may have been raised Christian, but that's not what defines him as a quality person. It's what he's done with his life since he was born that does that. And he has done well.

Well I certainly hope we don't start arguing about religion and we keep the vibes positive at all times so kids and moms and family folk can feel good while reading. Honestly, I think I just wanted to say, "If I was from the Middle East - I'd be rooting for Tony" because I totally would. It's kind of a sports type of thing . . . if you see a homeboy from your clique prospering you should root for him.

Mostly I made this thread because Tony S. reminds me of my brother, Tony F. My birth brother has been classified as, "Gifted" and therefore sees the world in a very different way. His great intelligence has enabled him to get a great job as a programmer (for a major bank) without even having a degree. Technichally, as a mere Medical Assistant I "outrank" him when it comes to education. Nevertheless - he's a genius and I think of Mr. Monk the same way.

I luv-a-luv-luv him because he's cool. Anyway, it's just a TV show I guess so it's not a SIN to not watch or anything . . . but there sure is a lot of effort put into each episode. Gotta give respect for hard work, I think.

Rock on, Tony.

Ooooooo scan that puppy and host it on immageshack or photobucket. Do we have to Paypall you? We can, you know. I'm sure you'll post a link or something.

Thank you thankyou PEACE,
-WP

Sure, yeah, no problem. I had no hard feelings and wasn't trying to argue with you, I was just merely making a statment, pointing out some things. And I'm rooting for Tony even though I'm not from the Middle East, myself. I'm rooting for him and Alexander Siddig and all the other Arab American actors out there that are trying to present a more positive image to the American public at a time when it would be so much easier to simply villify Arabic people. And just for the fact that he seems to be a very down to earth and nice, without all the scandal, bad behavior and mistreatment of others that some actors and actresses fall into.

No problem. I never thought your intentions were anything but benign and admirable. Just remember, Tony's not from the Middle East--he's from the the Midwest. lol. Wisconsin's part of the midwest, right? Anyone?

The last time I checked Wisconsin was still a part of the Midwest. Unless we've decided to start selling off the states. LOL

Thanx for your verification--I wasn't sure. Ohio is considered part of the midwest too and that makes it a wide section of the US that falls in that category. It seems everything that isn't NY or CA is part of the midwest or part of the south, and I was pretty sure Wisconsin wasn't part of the south.....


I just wanted to clarify that Tony's not from the Middle East. That's his descent but he wasn't born there or lived there so it's incorrect to say he's from there. I checked--he's from Wisconsin. Mmm, Wisconsin....behold the power of cheese. rofl.

Cool. Yeah - he definately seems totally American.

Yep.

I knew that Tony was raised in a Christian home, but that doesn't mean that he's embraced the faith (My dad was raised in a Christian home, but he's more new age/agnostic than anything .) I love Monk, and I love all the cast, tho.

When I was a kid I read a book where the main character learned that people on the planet he was on always spoke very respectfully of the prevailing religion (the Great Egg). I didn't consider myself that religious but knew that there were a lot of people in America that were. I learned to at least give good lip service to Christianity at an early age.

I learned a lot of things from reading lol.

I'm soo not savvy with this technological stuff. Someplace in this forum is a link to an interview with Tony on growing up in Green Bay and being a Packer fan - he talks about church letting out early on game day and going to his room to say prayers when the Packers were losing.

I cannot remember who posted the link.

Thanks for the info.

Wow. Capital. The episode on right now is about Monk and his astranged brother.

What a coincidence.