monk candidate monk candidate pilot episode american comedy drama detective television series monk introduces character adrian monk private detective obsessive disorder multiple assistant police officers episode monk investigates assassination attempt mayoral candidate envisioned monk went development hell difficulties find actor main role successfully casting series episode shot vancouver british_columbia monk candidate written directed episode aired united_states july watched million viewers episode generally received critics praise performance title character plot past investigator death wife led develop depression obsessive disorder multiple private detective monk investigates murder later shooting occurs campaign rally resulting bodyguard mayoral candidate getting killed incumbent mayor orders captain bring monk case monk supervisor reluctantly monk meets wife advisor walks site assassination attempt occurred discovers volunteer claire campaign goes campaign headquarters questions volunteer volunteer later dies suspicious circumstances enhancing monk suspicion link cases monk assistant suspects wife person ordered husband assassination theory supported fact worth million monk thinks including having affair assistants things monk mind watches news report assassination attempt monk place campaign rally recreate happened day explains assassin hired kill kill bodyguard instead discovered lloyd campaign funds approached bodyguard murdering bodyguard refused carry murder lloyd killed prove theory monk shows photograph lloyd looking direction shooter shots fired monk proves lloyd sight line gunshot echo masked direction shot impossible lloyd known shots coming knew production monk originally envisioned inspector type abc executive learning creator came idea detective obsessive disorder inspired bout self diagnosed obsessive disorder initially considered abc worried audience comedic roles previous work sitcom series revealed casting sessions depressing executive vice president stated looking right actor portray monk casting hell years search producers found actor play distributors abc find lead actor entered development hell situation remained abc executive joined usa recommended monk boss trying change usa reputation muscles network usa president decided charge monk cerebral series wanted cast bring humor passion monk life monk initially interested manager insistence fact pilot director accepted declared pilot strong collaboration character originally written african american great maternal thing crossed east_coast type according cast instead cast audition vancouver british_columbia main cop accepted work aware involvement originally auditioned role deputy mayor cast invited read agreed excited try role sidekick pilot originally developed film written filmed fall vancouver originally shot film changed super budget reasons usa acquired reception monk candidate broadcast united_states est july according nielsen_media_research episode viewed estimated number million viewers household rating rating highest rated program cable television night writing pointed debuted period networks offer competition writer said numbers impressive replaced monk assistant middle season elected favorite episode monk cobra ranking best episodes placed 17th writer new_york_daily_news said pilot establishes character monk establishes perfect tone delicate blend humor tender drama united feature syndicate critic praised direction added monk easy love shines funny fresh alternative summer called fresh funny entertainment_weekly fresh spring breeze middle summer washington_post variety praised breezy storytelling nicely explained brilliant mind sterling characterization review people critic declared probably accurate portrayal gentle keeps san francisco chronicle praised creatively humor sadness news declared pilot episode good theatrical film fact better features funny warm character driven loaded hilarious stated funny scene pilot criticizing writing direction said plot unveiled visually dull way especially present alter wrote monk far bad calling best thing review said major problem trying combine comedy drama detective fiction praised combine deliver appealing television detective john homicide life street gates new_york_times declared breakthrough sorts episode disappointing reason watch monk according gates praised series joke feet said story wise monk makes terribly different shows genre praised portrayal monk monk calling welcome addition eccentric
Mr. Monk and the Candidate