Daniel Gaeta Movies
- 2007
Andy Richter) guest-stars as Hal, a jovial fellow who wants nothing more than to be best friends with Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). Fully aware that Monk neither has any real friends nor wants any, Natalie (Traylor Howard) is naturally suspicious of the ebuillient Hal. Meanwhile, Monk is kept busy investigating the mysterious death of former police dispatcher Gail Segalis (Stephanie Erb), who used to regale him with stories of her world travels. A snapshot of Gail during one of her trips abroad reveals what both Natalie and the viewer have already figured out: "harmless" Hal does indeed have an ulterior motive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
San Francisco literally stinks to high heaven thanks to the longest garbage strike in the city's history. No one is more upset by the overpowering pungency than the germophobic Monk (Tony Shalhoub), who doubles his efforts to find out who murdered the union boss who called the strike in the first place. Growing progressively unhinged as the smell gets worse, Monk concludes that the guilty party was none other than San Francisco mayor Ray Nicholson (Chi McBride)--and when this proves not to be the case, Monk goes completely off the deep end, accusing rock star Alice Cooper of the dirty deed! Will Monk get his act together in time to find the real killer, or have his phobias finally destroyed his detective skills? ~ 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
