Customer Reviews

Monk: The Official Episode Guide

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Terry Erdmann and Paula Block have written an episode guide that rises far above the usual flat writing or fannish drool that personifies this genre of book. MONK: THE OFFICIAL EPISODE GUIDE is detailed and informative and packed with behind-the-scenes anecdotes -- and yet still manages to be every bit as breezy and entertaining as the show it chronicles. I'm a biased reviewer -- I write the MONK books and episodes of the TV series -- but I still learned a lot about the show that I didn't know before. This is now my MONK bible...and it should be yours, too.

Monk is a great show on the USA Network. Over the course of four seasons, it has built a loyal audience of fans. Every week, we tune in to see how detective Adrian Monk will use his fears and obsessive compulsive disorder to solve a murder, and what fun he'll create for us along the way.

This episode guide features all the episodes from the first four seasons of the show. The books starts out discussing the origins of the show and the four-year process it took to bring the show to TV. Then they discuss the characters and actors who bring them to life each week. Each season gets its own chapter and the chapter prolog discusses a little of what was happening behind the scenes that season, such as the move from Canada to Los Angeles for filming beginning in season 2.

And, of course, there are the episodes. Each episode starts with a summary of the plot, so if you don't quite remember the details, you can catch up quickly. Then the author's go into behind the scenes stuff. They talk to the writers about what inspired the idea and the cast and crew to find out any unusual challenges that filming that episode created or some funny story that happened while they were filming it. At the end of each episode, they list a favorite quote, the most unusual clue, the clue that breaks the case, and Monk's idiosyncrasy of the week. Along the way, they feature sections on such crewmembers as the writers, costumer, and composer, for example.

I love behind the scenes books, and this one is great. I sat down to read a few pages and read it in an afternoon. I learned trivia about the show and what makes this show unique from others currently on the air. Everyone is more then willing to admit when something is sub-par, and I was glad to see they agree with me on what some of the worst episodes of the show are.

The issue that has created the most gossip surrounding the show was Bitty Schram's sudden departure in the middle of season three. While it is discussed, the writers do their best to gloss over any potentially inflammatory issues. While this is best, the gossip lover in me wanted more dirt. Still, her departure does create a hole in the book. The authors were given this assignment just as she was leaving the show, so they never had a chance to interview her for their book.

This book is a fast, fun read focused on one of the best TV shows currently on TV. I hope the show and the book are successful enough to merit a volume two in a few years.

A great book for "Monk" fans... but it summarizes only the first four of the series' eight seasons. Will there be a Volume 2 to cover Seasons 5-8?

A FOLLOW-UP (2/15/2012): This "Official" MONK episode guide still covers only half of the classic series' eight-season run. Are there any plans to publish such a revised guide which includes Seasons 5 through 8 to make this a COMPLETE OFFICIAL GUIDE?

Adrian Monk would be pleased with this book. Everything is indeed in its place. From insights into how the series was created and the character development, through episode summaries of the first four seasons, and guest star listings. The bonus: full page color pictures of the cast (Sharona on the left and Natalie on the right),

Each episode ends with a box titled "The Quotable Monk", including a quote from the show, The Weirdest Clue, an Idiosyncrasy of the Week, and The Clue that Breaks the Case. Even Monk couldn't organize things any better!

A required resource for the true Monk fan.

Dear Monk Fans:

If your really into Monk every week, then this is the manual for you. Ordinarilly, I have to see the episode several times to catch everything. but with this you right on target. Have Fun

Many Blessings,

Christine Merlotti

Coral Springs, Florida

A must have for Monk fans. The only disappointment was that it never really discussed why Bitty Shram left or was fired. Probably for legal reasons. I got it for my wife for CHRISTmas and she really enjoys it.

I am a Monk fan. I enjoyed reading this book. In addition to a synopsis of each episode, it has lots of fun tidbits from behind the scenes, such as where the writers got their ideas, who were the other actors considered for the role of Monk, etc.

I didn't give it 5 stars because there is no table of contents, index or even a list of episodes by season. It was hard to look up a specific episode. For a book that's an "official episode guide", a list of episodes should not have been left out.

This book contains pretty much everything you'd want to know about the episodes from seasons 1-4. Other stuff, like inside info from the people behind the show and details on a "lost" Monk episode, make it a fun read. You'll also find out that Shalhoub was not the first choice to play Monk. That said, the show will end up having 8 seasons. There definitely needs to be a volume 2 of this book.

MONK, the television series featuring a brilliant but deeply troubled detective, has some fans as obsessive as its hero. And, for those fans and even somewhat more casual fans of the show, MONK: THE OFFICIAL EPISODE GUIDE, is a necessary addition to their libraries. The book offers interviews with nearly all of the prime players--including all of the show's stars (with the notable exception of Bitty Schramm), and most of its writers and producers. The book demonstrates just how much work goes into the production of a television show, how even the best laid plans of the best professionals can be upset, and how much of the success of MONK resulted from the casting of Tony Shalhoub as the detective.

As its title indicates, this book presents the "official" and approved version of the history of MONK. There's little negative commentary here--everyone loves everyone, and Ms. Schramm's sudden departure from the show is barely discussed. Those less obsessed with MONK or those willing to wait for the inevitable next edition that will appear after a few more seasons will probably not need to purchase this book, but for the more devoted of the show's fans this is a necessary purchase.

Patcat

A great guide for any fan of the series but it just makes me miss Sherona all the more.