Barnes & Noble

The whodunit is an exacting dramatic form, requiring unusually intricate scripts to fool puzzle-solving viewers as well as colorful characterizations to keep people coming back for more. Monk succeeds on both counts, baffling audiences while keeping them interested in the leading characters. Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a highly neurotic ex-cop turned private investigator, is an obsessive-compulsive with multiple phobias. He's also haunted by the murder of his wife, one of the few mysteries he's been unable to solve. Monk's former chief, Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), is exasperated by the man's eccentricities but has great respect for his ability, which means that the newly minted P.I. is frequently called in on cases the police are unable to handle themselves. Since Monk can barely function outside his own private environment, assistant Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram) accompanies him everywhere. Season 1's 13 episodes -- including the two-hour pilot -- are uniformly excellent, sporting complex plots, sharp dialogue, and numerous opportunities for Shalhoub to demonstrate his formidable comedic skills. First-season guest stars include Adam Arkin, Willie Nelson, and -- playing himself -- Tim Daly, with whom Shalhoub worked for years on the sitcom Wings. A novelty in that it succeeds as both comedy and mystery, Monk begs for discovery by viewers who may have missed it on USA Network, and its release on DVD is most welcome. Ed Hulse

Product Details

• UPC: 025192304828
• Source: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Editions: Subtitled, Dubbed, Digi-Pak
• Time: 9:23:00
• Sales Rank: 1,665

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Candidate
• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Psychic
• Monk: Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale
• Monk: Mr. Monk Goes to the Carnival
• Monk: Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum
• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger
• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Other Woman
• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man
• Monk: Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation
• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Earthquake
• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger
• Monk: Mr. Monk and the Airplane

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