Mr. Monk Goes to the Ballgame
- Episode aired Jul 11, 2003
- TV-PG
- 43m
When a powerful CEO and his wife are shot to death in a deserted parking lot, the police investigate the husband's enemies. But Monk thinks it's all about the wife and the affair she was hav... Read allWhen a powerful CEO and his wife are shot to death in a deserted parking lot, the police investigate the husband's enemies. But Monk thinks it's all about the wife and the affair she was having with a handsome young ballplayer.When a powerful CEO and his wife are shot to death in a deserted parking lot, the police investigate the husband's enemies. But Monk thinks it's all about the wife and the affair she was having with a handsome young ballplayer.
- Other Coach
- (as Tom Virture)
- Darryl Grant
- (as DJ Lockhart)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the first time where it's mentioned that Stottlemeyer has a son.
- GoofsThe GPS in the car the Hammonds are driving and the car Monk is looking at after the murder is not the same.
- Quotes
[Monk is compulsively trying to fix the game up]
Sharona Fleming: Adrian! Adrian, it's okay. It's clean enough.
[Monk goes back to cleaning. The players look rather frustrated, but Stottlemeyer is smiling to himself]
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: OK guys, we're going to be here awhile, so if anybody's got any homework they need to do, they might as well get it out now.
Adrian Monk: Play ball!
[the catcher cleanly catches the ball right past the batter]
Adrian Monk: Safe!
[the catcher throws it back]
Adrian Monk: Strike one! Ball! Ball one! That was a ball. That was ball one. Ball one!
[the catcher, pitcher and batter just look confused. So does Monk]
Adrian Monk: No - no, it's a strike!
[Stottlemeyer is very amused, but the kids are agitated]
Adrian Monk: Strike! Ball! Ball!
[the catcher pesters Monk to speed up play. Monk signals with one hand T-shaped on the other to stop the game]
Adrian Monk: Time - time out!
[points out to the pitcher in front of him. The pitcher points to himself as if to ask "You mean me?" Monk then points to the helmet he is wearing. He then puts either hand on each side and straightens it. The kid realizes he means his own hat and tilts the crooked hat's rim to face the front. Adrian then tilts his helmet so that the kid tips his hat until it's perfect. He puts his fingers together to show he's pleased and it's just right]
Adrian Monk: Play ball.
[Cuts to him bending over home plate with a handy wipe, polishing it off. As he goes back to his spot, a little batter comes up and slips on the polished plate, which has no traction. Sharona cover her eyes. Adrian looks around to see if anyone noticed. Next, he's picking off little stray fabrics sticking up off the softball with his fingers]
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: [helping his team with their math] That eighth is where you have to carry...
- ConnectionsReferences The Heckle and Jeckle Show (1956)
"Mr Monk Goes Back to School" was outstanding and "Mr Monk Goes to Mexico" was very good and an interesting change of pace. "Mr Monk Goes to the Ballgame" continues this high standard with one of the season's stronger episodes. The whole stuff with the GPS tracking announcer system was very clever to begin with but came over as a little silly once the murders happened. The motive for the killings makes one think "they killed for that".
So much works about "Mr Monk Goes to the Ballgame". As said many times, one of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching. It is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
As well as Ted Levine, who has fun in a role completely removed from Buffalo Bill, and a more confident with every episode Jason Gray-Stanford. Love the chemistry between the four all the time, especially with Monk and Sharona and the seesaw one of Monk and Stottlemeyer.
It's not just the cast though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft, of which some of the funniest writing of the whole show is in this episode. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast are always.
Loved the naked man stuff, which was hilarious, the "Girls can't eat 15 pizzas" clue and Monk's obsession with acronyms. Appreciated the character development for Benjy, the most developed he's been up to this point in the show. Sharona's running gag was amusing too.
The mystery is very interesting, with lots of surprises that keep coming, things personally much more noticeable and appreciated than on previous viewings.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now.
Overall, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 17, 2017
Details
- Runtime43 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16 : 9