Friday, June 20, 2003

The actor's offbeat detective is as obsessive-compulsive as ever in the second-season opener.

By DAVE MASON Scripps Howard News Service

Solving murder cases is easy. Everything else comes hard for Adrian Monk, the private detective who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

"Monk," the highest-rated scripted series in the history of basic cable networks, begins its second season at 10 tonight on the USA network. In the episode, Monk investigates the murder of a teacher at the high school alma mater of his late wife, Trudy.

Star Tony Shalhoub does a brilliant job in depicting Monk's insecurities and obsessions. One hilarious scene in the season premiere features Monk painstakingly writing his name on a blackboard when he becomes a substitute teacher for his investigation. Monk insists on perfect penmanship.

"Tony loves that bit," executive producer and co-creator David Hoberman said. "It's all real time. Andy (Breckman, the other executive producer and co-creator) wanted it to go on even longer."

Monk remains afraid of germs and heights.

Hoberman drew from personal experience in developing "Monk." He had obsessive-compulsive disorder from ages 11-14. "It was hard. You try to hide it or slough it off; you try to downplay it," he said.

Hoberman said he sees "Monk" as a way of educating viewers. "I hope people will understand people can get on with their lives. You can overcome, whether it's OCD or manic depression; people can function."

But while OCD is a serious matter, "Monk" is incredibly funny.

"I think one of the funniest moments (from last season) was when Monk dropped his keys in the open coffin," Hoberman said. It happened during a funeral, and Monk was up in the balcony at the time. He used a long string with a hook to try to retrieve it.

Hoberman said the producers plan to keep referring to late wife Trudy off and on. She was murdered, and it's the one case Monk can't solve.

Trudy's death aggravated the obsessive-compulsive symptoms in Monk, and that led to his departure from the police force. But Monk now works as a private eye, and he copes with a disorderly world with the help of Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram of "A League of Their Own"), his nurse and unofficial partner in solving crimes.

"He needs her. She's his ballast," Hoberman said. "We try to depict that in one episode. "He helps her to grow intellectually, just from her being around someone so brilliant," Hoberman said. Like Sherlock Holmes, Monk's keen sense of observation leads to the conclusions no one else makes.

"I think the case is the easiest thing for him," Hoberman said. "It's living that's the most difficult for him."

Ted Levine ("The Silence of the Lambs") returns as Leland Stottlemeyer, the police captain who's frustrated by Monk's ability to solve the crimes he and his detectives can't.

Stottlemeyer and Monk "are forced to spend time together," Hoberman said, referring to an "Odd Couple" plot for an upcoming story.

Stottlemeyer actually will get to solve a case this season, Hoberman said. And viewers this season will learn about one of Sharona's fears in an episode set in a circus, Hoberman said.

Another episode will take Monk to Mexico.

Hoberman explained why he feels "Monk" is such a hit. "It's funny and refreshing on one level. On a different level, everybody has some ritual or something that holds their attention. They can relate to the character."

Viewers can cheer for Monk because he achieves two things in each episode: He solves the case, and he makes progress in interacting with the world despite his obsessive-compulsive disorder.

And in that sense, Monk can inspire viewers, Hoberman said. "A lot of us stand in the way of our own success at times. If he can overcome it to accomplish his goals, we can overcome our obstacles to accomplish our goals."

Breckman and Shalhoub, who's also an executive producer, researched obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Shalhoub is a 49-year-old Green Bay, Wisc., native who's known for playing Italian taxi driver Antonio Scarpacci on the NBC sitcom "Wings." He has appeared as various colorful characters, from Alexander Minion in "Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams" (2002) to Jack Jeebs in "Men in Black II." In 1999, he starred as twisted mystery writer Ian Stark in the short-lived NBC sitcom "Stark Raving Mad."

Shalhoub was the right actor to play Monk because he understood the character is more about internal emotions than physical gestures, Hoberman said. Monk is quietly nervous, not wildly out of control.

"Tony really has respect for the character, the character's plight and the illness. Tony has an intelligence and an offbeat approach to comedy." Hoberman said he doesn't know if ABC, which televised "Monk" reruns last season, will this year.