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Tony Shalhoub in "Monk"and James Roday
in "Psych"
photos courtesy of the USA Network
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“Monk” and “Psych” (The USA Network)
Both “Monk” and “Psych” have their season premieres on the USA Network this month. “Monk” is starting its seventh season and “Psych” is starting its third. These shows have proven to be very popular and millions of fans are anxiously awaiting their return.
Tony Shalhoub plays the obsessive and compulsive Adrian Monk, who is an advisor/investigator for the police department in San Francisco. His assistant is a young woman named Natalie Treeger (Traylor Howard) who has to be one of the most tolerant women in the world. She puts up with Monk’s peculiar ways and manages to keep her cool and her sanity.
In the first show of the season Mr. Monk is grieving the death of his therapist Dr. Kroger (Stanley Kamel). Since Mr. Kamel actually did die before the start of this season, this show is particularly bittersweet. Mr. Monk’s new therapist is played by Hector Elizondo.
Brad Garrett is the guest star of the first show. He meets Monk after Monk buys a house. Brad plays a handyman who knows just how compulsive is – and yet still wants to do work for him. Watching the fastidious Monk suffer as Brad redoes his home is a study in obsessive behavior.
Again this year the real joy of the series comes from watching Tony Shalhoub build on his portrayal of Monk. With each episode the intensity of Monk’s behavior increases and so does the enjoyment of seeing this good actor work his craft.
The enjoyment is not so much on “Psych.” James Roday and Dule Hill do have a little bit of comic chemistry as Shawn and Gus but nothing overwhelming. These two are partners in a crime solving/ghost busting agency. Shawn is the supposed “psychic” and Gus is his straight man who does the hard core investigating.
In the season premiere of this show Cybil Shepherd and Christopher McDonald guest star. Shepherd is totally wasted in her role as Shawn’s visiting mother while MacDonald has an okay role as Gus’ upper level supervisor.
The show focuses on the two men de-ghosting MacDonald’s house. It is a silly story and doesn’t do much towards drawing new viewers into the series. Roday and Hill have talent but it is not on display consistently in this series.
If you have to choose just one of these shows go with “Monk.” It is better written, better acted and just all around more enjoyable.
“Monk” premieres on Monday, July 18 at 9PM. “Psych” follows with its premiere on that same night at 10PM. |
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©2008 Jackie K. Cooper |
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