Thanks GG for todays trivia!! I kind of wish they would have kept the Acrobatic Randy in the script, it would have been funny to watch. It is also hilarious that Tony had to fix a scarf a half inch! I probably shouldn't laugh, though, because I notice things like that too. My students think it is so funny to change the markers around on the dry erase board. They love to see me go crazy to get them back in order. I also have a thing about my DVD's being alphabetized. Everytime my Aunt comes to my house she has to move at least 4 of them and I have to go back and re-alphabetize them when she leaves. So I am glad to know that I am not the only one who gets preoccupied with little things like that.

Ahead of next week's 'Underwater' episode, the practical problems of trying to get a Monk story set on a ship, Karen's love letter to Leland and the blink and you miss it personal ad for 'missing' Benji...

• So far there has only been 1 story idea that has been approved, developed, scripted and put into production before running aground: 'Mr. Monk at Sea'. The original concept was to set the story aboard a cruise ship but when looking for shooting locations a number of cruise lines expressed concerns about their image. Soon the team where involved in back and forth negotiations which ranged from requests for Monk not to make fun of the buffet to not having a murder on the ship. Since a murder on the ship is the basis of the episode, an impasse was reached, that was until someone came up with the idea of setting the story on a submarine and this became season 7 episode 'Mr. Monk is Underwater'.

• In season 2 episode, 'Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man' the Captain discovers Karen's letter to him which was in the time capsule. It was on-screen for a second so probably not meant for the audience to read, but courtesy of freeze-frame, here it is in full:

Dear Leland,
You are the most important person in my life!
I love you with all of my heart and soul!
No one will ever fulfill my dreams like you do!
You are my world, you are my everything!
There would be no life without you!
No man compares to you!
I will be forever yours!
Love, Karen

Shame about the divorce.

• During season 2 episode, 'Mr. Monk and the Paperboy' Randy is embarrassed to have his 'lonely hearts' advert discovered by Sharona whilst checking the local paper for clues to the paperboy's murder. If you blink you'll miss it, but underneath Randy's ad, there's an apparent in-joke referencing the character of Benji:

"Benji where have you gone? Desperate to reach you. Please call home. All our love M & D."

Next time, Ted Levine's real-life crush on a member of the cast, Tony's special 'Monk' running shoes and a tip of the hat to respected Monk writer and author, Lee Goldberg.

As always, you have out done yourself. I continue to enjoy your trivia.

Thanks Quinfran, always good to get feedback. Really glad you are enjoying the thread!

Hmm, I wonder who that might be? I'm gonna guess Bitty Schram - I read somewhere that it was Ted Levine who first suggested her to play Sharona.

Ashley

Nope, not Bitty, closer to home than that!

I think I read about this in the episode guide ...

Not like that, silly girl.

I don't know what you mean, this board is rated PG!

Thanks for the trivia!! I love these! I am so excite about the next installment.

*slow and easy music strikes up in the background*
I guess it was ....
Just my imagination, running away with me...

... ahem *sings tunelessly but with much heart*

Ooh-hoo-hoo-hooh
Soon we'll be married
and raise a family..

Nokay? Back to the trivia then...

Thank You goodbyegirl, your posts are my favorite part of the monk message board. Did Ted Levine also have something going with Glenne Headly? I just communicated with someone on-line on a tv show chat board who knew some of the actors on Monk and said Ted Levine was a huge fan of Glenne Headley's ex husband John Malkolvich. Headley and Malkolvick were ensemble members of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Ted Levine was a member of the smaller and less known Remains Theatre Company at the time. The same person told me Bitty Shram and Ted Levine were very "chummy together" at some of the bars up in Toronto, Canada 4-5 years ago. Did monk ever film an episode in Canada? I thought they filmed in Los Angeles? I guess ted's been pretty busy.

I could get used to a cozy little home in the country. Two kids, maybe three. Some rolling hills, maybe a little pond... What? It's just my imagination again? Sometimes it's so hard to tell...

Thank you for thinking about me while showering, Foxtrot! Kiwis R Us....Some people know me only as Kiwi Lady!

Maybe "closer to home" refers to the ex Mrs. Stottlemeyer herself! That would be interesting.

As for the Toronto thing, Monk was filmed in Toronto for its first season.

Ashley

Thanks for answering my question. I thought Monk filmed in Los Angeles. I hadn't heard it filmed in Canada originally. The person I chatted with online claimed to work on the series in Toronto, Canada. he had nothing but very positive things to say about Bitty Shram and Tony Shalhoub. Closer to home does seem to refer to the ex Mrs. Stottlemeyer though. I can't wait to tomorrow to find out!

Actually, Benji does appear in the episode. Remember the scene in which Monk and Sharona armwrestle? Sharona winks at Benji afterwards and Adrian thinks it means she lost on purpose.

Thanks for pointing this out Jedielf, you are quite right. When I was writing this I kept thinking of the 'Gameshow ep' where other than Monk, none of the principal players appear due to contract negotiations. Wonder if this in-joke is a reference to the other young actor who played Benji, who was, I guess, 'missing'?

Hello Ramblin', I love your picture. Thanks for your comments - I do wonder whose reading this stuff sometimes, so it's good to know this trivia is doing something for someone! I'll put in some quotes from Ted and his crush when I do today's write up later. Actually, it's a 'mini-crush' but a crush nonetheless!

Ted has said some nice things about Bitty as has Tony - my favourite quote from Tony is too rude to repeat here, but it's around the time the pilot was filmed and Tony was commenting on how much Bitty could eat. He quickly realised he'd innocently phrased it in a slightly saucy way and looked so cute, laughing as he acknowledged this.

He did trip and he broke his collerbone
e

Where did you see this?? I want to see it too!

I think it was in the first season DVD bonus features. And I saw it ages ago, it's literally been years, and until just now, I never thought about how it could sound sort of racy, but when I read Goodbye Girl's comment about it, I immediately knew which one she was talking about and burst out laughing! I'm actually kind of amazed that it took me this long to realize why he started laughing like he did and to realize that it did sound rather racy.

Thanks Liv. I know what I will be watching when I get home from work today!

Yes, check out the bonus features on the season 1 DVD - very cute!

I do wish they'd do more bonus features on the DVDs. The writers commentaries on season 6 had already been posted on the main page and I wanted to see some new stuff!

Yeah, the 'bonus features' have been a bit short on 'bonus' these last couple of seasons, not really offering a lot of reason to bother buying them. I can record them off of TV for much cheaper than the price of the DVDs if all that is going to be on them are the episodes and the same stuff you can see for free on the website. Okay, yeah, they had commentaries for Leper last year, and commentary for Up All Night this year, but really... I hate to say it, but not really worth it. At this point, I'm questioning whether I s hould bother with next season on DVD just for the sake of clearer screen caps and maybe a commentary track I haven't already seen.

It's especially pitiful in comparison to the bonus features for Psych. I think Monk is a better show, but Psych more than makes up for it with all the really great extra stuff you get in bonus features, like deleted scenes, outtakes, many commentary tracks, ect. The Psych people *know* what bonus features are supposed to be and they deliver. Next year, rather than buying the Monk/Psych combo, I might just get the Psych DVDs and wait for Season Seven of Monk to go on sale somewhere. Totally not worth what I pay for them when they first come out for those sad excuses for bonus features.

I have to agree with you -- season 6 bonus features were a bit of a dud. I'd already watched most of the writer's commentaries, so all that was left was the voice-over commentary for Up All Night -- and that, to me, was a little flat. (I was in a rush to buy it because there were a couple episodes I was only able to catch online) I did, however, really like the commentary for the Leper. That, to me, was worth the price of the season 5 DVD sets.

But I'm with you. I've been recording the new episodes to DVD myself. When the sets come out, this time I'm going to wait till they go down in price. Unless.... people start talking about how awesome the bonus features are. In which case I sadly admit that I have no self-control.

I agree. I was very disappointed in the bonus features for Season 6. While they could have done more as far as bonus features for Season 5, I enjoyed the commentary from Mr. Monk and the Leper and really enjoyed seeing it in Black and White. Those two things alone were worth buying the DVD's IMO. I had already seen the commentaries for most of Season 6, so all that was left was the commentary for up all night. That didn't not even have the full cast in it. I was very disappointed not to hear Traylor. "Monk" could have done so much better as far as bonus features goes on all of the seasons, really. I enjoyed seasons 1-3, but they could have added out takes, deleted scenes or something. I record all of the episodes on DVD, so I buy the DVD's for the bonus features. It really hasn't been worth the money paid lately. "Monk" could do so much better.

Here we go with Ted Levine's real-life crush on a member of the cast, Tony's special 'Monk' running shoes and a tip of the hat to respected Monk writer and author, Lee Goldberg.

• Originally Captain Stottlemeyer was written as guy who was violent towards his wife, but Ted Levine wanted to explore the character before going down the clichéd road of 'a divorced cop who is too rough for his family', so he was very pleased when Glenne Headly was cast, making Mrs. Stottlemeyer a 'gorgeous, hardy woman'. But Ted also had another reason to be pleased, one he confided in Glenne. Years before Monk, Ted and Glenne had acted in different theater companies in Chicago and when Glenne arrived on the Monk set, Ted told her he was glad she was playing Karen because he'd had a mini-crush on her back in the old days!

• It's always risky to allow lead actors to do their own stunts, due to the necessity of him or her being able to perform without injury, so naturally alot of effort is put into making sure all the cast on Monk are safe when carrying out stunt work. Tony Shalhoub performs his own stunts for occasional fight scenes and does almost all of his running stunt work, so much so, the wardrobe department sourced a pair of shoes that look like Monk's normal footwear but are in fact, cleverly disguised running shoes.

• Gerald, the homeless mouse-loving murder-witness in season 4 episode 'Mr. Monk and the Captain's marriage' was incensed by the 'degenerate' who tore out the last 2 pages of his Diagnoses Murder mystery book. Clued-in viewers will have recognised this tip of the hat to respected Monk writer and author Lee Goldberg who also writes for and executive produces hit show, Diagnoses Murder as well as writing the Diagnoses murder novels.

Next time, Monk and Marmaduke, who wins when there are disagreements, and why Randy will never be Superman.

Was just wondering why Monk was originally shot in Toronto, anybody know?
I know Michigan has more production companies etc. now and are trying to draw more movies makers here saying cost of production would be lower plus there are some tax breaks included, things I absolulutey know nothing about. Just curious about the Toronto thing.

Shooting in Canada is less costly but I think that was less of problem once the show had acquired an audience, so the network could afford to move production to LA from season 2. Apparently the natural light of the West Coast matches San Francisco's more than the light in Toronto does. Another reason for moving production to LA is that it's quicker to get to San Francisco for specific locations shots than Toronto.

Hope that helps - I'm sure someone else will have a better take on it!

GoodbyeGirl, I enjoy this thread so much I often go back and reread some of the trivia.

Wisconsin offers very large tax breaks to production companies wanting to film here, it's how we nailed the last Johnny Depp movie which generated tons of revenue into the state and the City of Columbus, WI where the movie was shot.

I've always hoped, since Tony was born and raised in Green Bay, they would consider filming an episode of MONK here. It would be so awesome.

That would be wonderful !! What a good idea !! Do you know if Tony ever comes back and visits the area ?

Oh yeah, his family has a big family reunion out on the tip of Door County every year and he comes to see the Packers play. As he explains it, when he comes to the Packers games he's all dressed up for winter so no one even knows it's him. He also has family living in Appleton (his name is Arthur, a brother I think) and his uncles and cousins have Seerogy's Chocolate's in DePere. If you had come to the Monkfest, Michael Shalhoub had given Raven a list of places to visit, the house they grew up in, his school, and other places and they stopped at Seerogy's and brought back chocolates, yummy!!!!

I am sure he would have to go when it was cold and stay bundled up so he wouldn't be recognized. Otherwise he probably wouldn't get to enjoy the game. Have you ever had any of the Seerogy's Chocolate? Is it any good?

Have you guys/gals seen this youtube video? Tony did an interview on The Craig Ferguson Show and describes a Packers game where he was "exposed" (recognized). Thought you guys/gals might enjoy it. I know I did. I got the link off of another fan's siggy. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrVIEHtyGjw&

Yes, it's very good. Raven was kind enough to send me some.

I saw the interview, a month or so ago, I can understand why he does not want to be recognized.

Ahhh commentary tracks. I do love listening to commentaries. I thought I'd been spoiled by Dr Who when I mourned the lack of commentary on the Monk DVDs out here in Australia so far (only seasons 1-4) and thought to myself that it's probably reasonable if this show is on a cable TV budget, and the settings/locations/props probably don't change as much and all that...but I am really not a big fan of Psych. I want more extras on Monk so then we don't have to rely on goodbyegirl and her sources for our trivia! And goodbyegirl can relax, LOL

And I really would like more than just 5-minute (character profiles/other interview-y stuff), you know?

Though I really don't mind watching Monk dubbed in other languages and turning on the English subtitles, LOL. (which sadly, we don't even have on the Region 4 Season 4 DVDs!)

Thanks for the info . Do you live near any of the places you mentioned ? I love Tony and chocolate, what more could you want? Well, I can't forget Ted now can I ? Was Tony at Monkfest ? Sounds like it would have been fun. I never get any time off to go anywhere, unless it can be done in an afternoon.

Thanks Miss Kees.

I'd like to see an episode of Monk set in the UK, perhaps there can be a murder on the London Eye that only Monk could solve.

In the books Monk is becoming quite the traveller - wonder how he'd fare in Blighty!

I thought the commentary on 'The Leper' was great too - key members of cast and crew contributing, high energy and very entertaining, however commentary on 'All Night' was patchy, I had to check I had the audio track on quite a few times as it went quiet so often.

As the seasons have progressed, the DVD bonus features have got less and less. I had hoped with the introduction of the commentaries, we'd see some more background stuff, especially the bloopers/outtake reel. There are some great Monk bloopers but I still haven't found out why they're not included in the DVDs? Maybe production think this will take something away from some of the ongoing story lines if you see the cast out of character? Dunno, but I reckon they will eventually be released on the final season box set.

Are we going to get any trivia today?

Especially for History08… Monk and Marmaduke, who wins when there are disagreements, and why Randy will never be Superman.

• In season 2 episode, 'Mr. Monk and the Paperboy' we discover that Monk, with his arguably under-developed sense of humour, thinks Marmaduke is the gold standard of comedy. Andy Breckman believes Monk has a total lack of humour and therefore would 'get' Marmaduke because it's so obvious – but there's another reason Andy pushes for more Marmaduke jokes, he finds it a lot funnier that Tony Shalhoub does!

• Sometimes even a crew as tightly connected as the Monk team can have disagreements. For example, Tony Shalhoub likes for Monk to have a visual clue that will give him triggers to break the case. In season 2 episode, 'Mr. Monk and the Three Pies', Tony thought Monk should see the bingo chips flipping in the air to make the association with the bullet shells but Andy Breckman disagreed, arguing that Monk can be doing something unrelated – like cleaning – and will suddenly solve the case. So who gets their way? Sometimes Andy wins, sometimes Tony and in this case, Tony was the victor.

• Season 6 episode, 'Mr. Monk is up All Night' called for Randy to be dressed in his pyjamas for most of the story which takes places during the early hours. Originally the gag was for Disher to be dressed in Superman sleepwear but when the producers couldn't get clearance, an alternative superhero had to be found as no-one wanted to lose the visual joke. In the end Captain America was given the honour of adorning Randy's pjs and as an added bonus, the team found a way to give Disher Captain America's shield, substituting it for a trash can lid!

Next time, Mr. Monk and Big Bird, Sharona's connection to 1992 film 'My Cousin Vinny' and why Natalie is wrapped in a towel at the end of 'Mr. Monk gets Stuck in Traffic' (warning this is a particularly 'shippy' piece of trivia!)

Green Bay is a long 3 hour drive from Madison. It's in the mideastern section of the state, about midway along Lake Michigan and I'm less than an hour from the IL/WI border.

Tony wasn't at the Monkfest, at least not in person but he was in spirit. DePere is pretty close to Green Bay and Appleton is at the tip of Lake Winnebago, just south of Green Bay. The best way to explain it is to say, when the trees start to turn color in the fall in Madison, they are already in full autumn color in Green Bay and falling off the trees in the northern most part of our state.

That should be about as clear as mud.

Okay, I don't know if this really belongs here, but since it's a thread loaded with trivia hounds, I figure I'll get an answer faster here than by making a new thread.

I was watching a rerun of Mr. Monk and Little Monk the other day, and I saw Adrian explaining the painting of the woman chopping mushrooms for her husband in the museum, and he says she's going to kill her husband, as evidenced by the fact that the mushrooms were poisonous, and the bruises up the woman's arms. I was hoping to find out the name of the painting... I've been all over google looking for it.

So, anyone know what the painting of the woman chopping poisonous mushrooms for her abusive husband's dinner is called?

Shippy trivia???

Can't wait!

Thanks GG

Thank you, GG!! I can't wait for tomorrow!! Shippy trivia...

I didn't know where else to put this little piece of trivia so I hope goodbyegirl doesn't mind if I sneak it in here.

From an episode of Monk we learned James Watson and Francis Crick developed the test for DNA, the one most used to determine DNA from common body sources and used most often by forensic labs. James Watson was a brilliant man and patented this test under his own name. Now every time any lab uses this simple test he receives money from that test kit...he retired early becoming a very rich man.

Wisconsin is a gorgeous state with very friendly people - in my opinion the nicest in the USA. When I was a kid my parents and I took extended road trips throughout the country during the summer, and I have been through most of Wisconsin, including Green Bay, Door County and Madison.

Ashley