Tom Scharpling Movies
- 2006
In most Monk episodes, the sanity of obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is a matter of debate. This time, however, it is Monk's police colleague Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) who is suspected of temporary insanity. While under sedation in a dentist's chair, Disher sees--or thinks he sees--dentist Dr. Bloom (Jon Favreau) commit a murder. Unfortunately, no one believes Disher's story, not even his superior Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), and as result the lieutenant quits the force in disgust. Determined to prove that he was not hallucinating under the influence of anesthesia, Disher asks Monk (Tony Shalhoub). Before the story has reached its conclusion, Monk has uncovered a complex scheme involving stolen bank certificates--and has left himself wide open (or is it "open wide"?) for a painful dental demise right out of Marathon Man. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
At Christmastime, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is reunited with his long-lost father Jack (Dan Hedaya), an itinerant truck driver--and as if this wasn't enough of a jolt to his senses, our hero discovers that he has a half-brother named Junior. In the spirit of bonding, Monk accompanies Jack, who has been hired to deliver free toys on behalf of his otherwise Scrooge-like boss, on a road trip throughout the American Southwest. It soon develops that Jack is palming off some very shoddy merchandise to a lot of extremely disappointed youngsters--and a subsequent murder proves beyond doubt that there are even more unsavory aspects to his current assignment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
At the prodding of Natalie (Traylor Howard), Monk goes into business for himself as a full-time private detective. His first job is deceptively minor, concerning a fender-bender in which prominent realtor Linda Fusco (Sharon Lawrence). But as the investigation progresses, Monk stumbles upon a missing-persons case, a murder, and more than the usual quota of physical boat. By episode's end, the aqua-phobic Monk somehow finds himself on the deck of a boat in the middle of the Bay...and dying a thousand deaths in the process. A subplot involving Linda Fusco and Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) will yield unexpected "benefits" in the episodes to come. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
TV's favorite obsessive-compulsive, phobia-ridden detective is back for another 16 hour-long episode in the fifth season of Monk. The opener finds former San Francisco homicide detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) bedevilled by an egotistical movie star (Stanley Tucci) who is slated to portray Monk in an upcoming movie. But this irritation is a mere pinprick compared to what is in store for our hero in subsequent episodes. For example, in the episode "Mr. Monk Can't See a Thing", the detective faces the possibility of permanent blindess after an "accidental" firehouse explosion. In "Mr. Monk's Class Reunion", Monk must again confront bitter memories of his wife's murder, all the while endeavoring to save a former classmate from a similar demise (by the way, this is the episode in which we discover that Monk attended the University of California at Berkeley--and that his college nickame was "Captain Cool") Equally traumatic is the prospect that Monk's longtime psychiatrist Dr. Kroger (Stanley Kamel) will retire in disgrace after one of his former patients is accused of murder in "Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink". On a lighter note, in "Mr. Monk Makes a Friend" the infamously neurotic detective is inexplicably befriended by a seemingly neurosis-free guy named Hal, played by comedian Andy Richter. And when he goes undercover as the butler to a suspected murderer in "Mr. Monk Is at Your Service", Monk's list of 311 phobias is suddenly increased to 312 when he develops an overwhelming aversion to frogs. Two of the more noteworthy episodes this season are "Mr. Monk, Private Eye" in which Sharon Lawrence is introduced as Linda Fusco, who will become the new love interest for the recently divorced Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine; and the self-explantory Yuletide installment "r. Monk Meets His Dad", with Dan Hedaya in the title role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) sets about to locate the world-famous Alexander diamond, for which a million-dollar reward has been offered. Quickly absorbing the clues at hand, Monk deduces that the diamond was stolen by Danny Chasen (Daniel Browning Smith). Alas, Chasen has already been murdered, so Monk is forced to chase down several other leads, most of them leading nowhere. Meanwhile, the folks at police headquarters have their hands full with a persistent nutcase named Jennie Mandeville (Jamie Brown), who habitually confesses to crimes that haven't taken place--or have they? Much of the action is devoted to the exploits of retired Scotland Yard detective St. Claire (Derrick O'Connor), a techno-happy detective named Rufus (DJ Qualls), and an oafish bounty hunter named Dirk (Tyler Mane), suggesting that this episode may have been intended as the pilot for a spinoff series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Although the death of the wife of millionaire Las Vegas casino owner Daniel Thorn (James Brolin) has been ruled accidental by the local authorities, Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), who's in Vegas to attend a bachelor party, suspects foul play--and accordingly, calls Monk (Tony Shalhoub) onto the scene. Monk agrees that Mrs. Thorn's demise was no accident, but is stymied by a contradictory clue: How could the victim have been heard screaming for her life if she died of strangulation? And elsewhere in Sin City, Stottlemeyer's assistant Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) is trying his luck at the blackjack table--but the luck is all bad until Monk shows up and pulls a "Rain Man" with his photographic memory! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Brooke Adams, the wife of Monk star Tony Shalhoub, appears in this final episode of the series' third season as Abigail Carlyle, the mother of violin prodigy Daniel Carlyle...and a key player in a bizarre extortion plot. Monk is called in to investigate after a 22-month-old kid named Tommy (played by twins Preston Shores and Trevor Shores) shows up carrying a severed human finger in his tiny fist. The clues lead Monk to deduce that the finger belonged to a violin player, and this leads him to a meeting with the Carlyles. It doesn't take long for Monk to realize that "Daniel Carlyle" is an impostor, and that the real Daniel has been kidnapped--and to top it off, THIS crime is inextricably linked to little Tommy's grisly discovery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Monk (Tony Shalhoub), Natalie (Traylor Howard) and Julie (Emmy Clarke) are stuck in a massive traffic jam, caused by a multicar pile-up. Leaving his car to find out how long he's going to be detained, Monk stumbles upon clues indicating that the traffic accident was the end result of a murder. As he tries to solve the crime, Monk is faced with another crisis when Julie is suddenly seized by an urgent Call of Nature--and this little inconvenience brings our hero face to face with the rock group Korn (playing themselves), who unexpectedly provide Monk with the obligatory vital clue! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
John Turturro returns in the role of Ambrose Monk, the agoraphobic older brother of obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). In the middle of a murder investigation, Monk is summoned to Ambrose's home for a possible reunion with the boys' long-lost father. Upon arrival, Monk is hit squarely between the eyes with another mystery, this one involving a Halloween trick-or-treater who resorts to violence to get something more than candy. Ingredients essential to the action are a dead pigeon, a poisoned chocolate bar, and a real-life Frankenstein monster! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is placed on a new medication which modifies his obsessive-compulsive disorder, making him a more relaxed and well-adjusted person--in fact, he's now so laid back that he's abandoned his conservative business suit in favor of a garishly flowered Hawaiian shirt! Unfortunately, Monk's gain is the SFPD's loss: The medication has seriously impaired his crimesolving abilities. As it happens, the "new" Monk could not have emerged at a less convenient time: Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) has been shot and wounded, and his assailant is still at large. This episode marks the last appearance of Bitty Schram as Monk's nurse-assistant Sharona Fleming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
John Turturro guest stars as Ambrose, the agoraphobic older brother of obsessive-compulsive private eye Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). The brothers have not spoken since Ambrose failed to contact Monk at the time of his wife Trudy's funeral. Their hesitant reunion comes about when Ambrose suspects that his neighbor Pat Van Ranken (Holt McCallany) has murdered his wife. And the motive? Well, it could be nothing more than a cherry pie--one of three such tasty confections that figure prominently (and fatally) in the proceedings. The episode's best line is delivered by Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford): "Step away from the pie!" ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) and Sharona (Bitty Schram) pay a visit to the set of "Crime Lab S.F.", a popular TV show hosted by Brad Terry (Billy Burke). But this isn't a social call: Monk strongly suspects Brad of murdering his ex-wife Susan Malloy (Nicole Forester). Impossible, Brad insists: Susan was stabbed to death while Brad was arguing with a group of paparazzi--all of whom heard Susan's screams as she died. And if this wasn't an enough of an airtight alibi, Marci Maven (Sarah Silverman), Brad's obsessive "Number One Fan", has stepped forth to confess that SHE killed Susan! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Amy Sedaris returns as Gail Fleming, the ditzy actress sister of Monk's nurse-assistant Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram). In the middle of a stage performance, Gail's leading man Hal Duncan (Marc Vann) is stabbed to death by what was supposed to be a retractable prop knife. Sharona must now not only cope with the possibility that her sister is a murderer, but also with the unexpected visit of her overbearing mother Cheryl (Betty Buckley). In his efforts to clear Gail's name, Monk signs up for a troublesome "speed dating" service--and also confronts his mortal fear of crowds when pressed into service as an actor! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Legendary country singer Willie Nelson) is accused of murdering his crooked road manager Sonny Cross (David Anderson). Asked by Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) to investigate, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) has trouble upholding his objectivity: it seems that Nelson was the favorite performer of Monk's late wife Trudy. Alas, it looks bad for Willie, thanks to evidence provided by a blind woman named Wendy Mass (Jackie Richardson). Meanwhile, Monk's assistant Sharona (Bitty Schram) finds a new boyfriend named Jason--who has a very curious (and highly antisocial!) hobby. Without giving away the ending, it can be noted that the episode's highlight is the climactic guitar-and-clarinet duet between Willie Nelson and Tony Shalhoub. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
After the cops catch him preparing dinner in the house that once belonged to his late wife Trudy, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is temporarily bundled off to the Medford Psychiatric Institute. While undergoing therapy, Monk stumbles upon clues to the murder of a doctor that occurred at Medford three years earlier. But how can Monk convince the authorities that he isn't hallucinating--especially since his main sources of information include the highly delusional John Wurster (Kevin Nealon) and a thirty-year-old inmate (Ken Cheeseman) who still believes in Santa Claus? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
A minor Bay Area earthquake yields only one fatality: San Francisco philanthropist Henry Rutherford (Ross Petty), who was apparently killed by a falling object. A longtime friend of the Rutherford family, Sharona (Bitty Schram) brings Monk (Tony Shalhoub) along to pay a condolence call to Henry's young widow Christina (Janine Theriault). But as a result of this "friendly" drop-in, Monk begins obsessively dogging Christina's trail, certain that she has committed murder. Amy Sedaris of Strangers with Candy fame makes her first series appearance as Sharona's sister Gail. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
