Tony Shalhoub Reprises Role as the Compulsive Detective in ‘Mr. Monk’s Last Case’

36

Tony Shalhoub, renowned for his portrayal of the obsessive-compulsive private detective Adrian Monk, bids farewell to this iconic character after a fourteen-year hiatus. Monk’s last appearance on television was in 2009, aptly titled “Mr. Monk and the End.”

Although there were occasional murmurs about a potential revival, Shalhoub remained reticent, citing the absence of a compelling reason to resurrect his phobia-ridden detective. Then came the global pandemic.

Suddenly, Monk wasn’t alone in his germophobic tendencies; the world was sanitizing groceries, hoarding antibacterial wipes, and avoiding crowded spaces. Shalhoub observes, “Monk, in a way, was the canary in the coal mine. He seemed so out of touch and so neurotic and so forth. The pandemic was the great equalizer. Everybody got to sort of see the world through Monk’s eyes.”

This rekindled interest culminates in the 90-minute feature, “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,” premiering on Peacock. Shalhoub reunites with the original cast, including Ted Levine, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford, Melora Hardin, and Hector Elizondo.

Reflecting on their reunion, Shalhoub humorously draws a parallel to the rock band Eagles, who famously quipped that they never disbanded; they simply took a 14-year vacation. “That’s how I felt at the first table read when we all got back together again. We just kind of folded right back into it.”

Adrian Monk, with his compulsions and keen observations, aided the San Francisco Police Department in solving crimes, but he withdrew from detective work after solving his wife’s murder. In the present day, emerging from the pandemic, Monk continues his meticulous hygiene practices but finds himself in a despondent state, no longer engaged in detective work. His attempt at writing a memoir, filled with obsessive details, leads to rejection by his publisher.

Shalhoub offers insight into Monk’s current state, reflecting on the human tendency to reassess and reevaluate as we age. “When we’re young, everything’s in front of us. And then when we’re in our middle ages, we feel more settled in the present. But then as we move beyond that, we mostly are looking backward.”

Shalhoub, who earned three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Monk, has continued to excel in his career, securing Tony Award nominations and Emmy wins for subsequent projects. He believes that Monk’s enduring appeal lies in his relatability, despite his flaws and insecurities.

Monk’s ability to turn his quirks into assets resonates with viewers. “He doesn’t know where he fits into the general society. So he’s kind of always sort of like walking alongside of humanity and society. Maybe that also makes him a bit relatable.”

Shalhoub suggests that a touch of obsessive-compulsive behavior exists in everyone, whether it’s noticing an out-of-place object or recalling an unusual encounter on the street. “Maybe it’s a crooked picture frame on a wall. Not all of us may go over and straighten that frame, but good luck trying to keep your eyes off of it, you know?”

As the curtain falls on “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,” the question lingers: Is this truly the final goodbye to Monk? Shalhoub remains uncertain. “I thought the door was closed. I really did for a lot of years. But now that we’ve cracked it open, I’m just going to leave that door open.” Perhaps, as he humorously suggests, the next chapter should be titled “Monk’s Really, Really Final No Kidding Case – This Time We Mean It” or something to that effect.

Mark Kennedy can be reached at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about detective revival

More about detective revival

• Tony Shalhoub
• Adrian Monk
• Peacock
• Mark Kennedy