It was a dark and stormy night.
Bitsy wanted more money.
The production company balked and held her to her contract.
Bitsy held out.
Her contract was terminated.
The End.

And, Traylor Howard is a welcome and pleasant addition to the cast.

I can't agree with that. I miss Sharona. Natalie is okay, I just
prefer Sharona. They should have given her more money if that's what
she wanted. She deserved it. Bring her back, and bring back the old
theme song.

ecsmith wrote:
> It was a dark and stormy night.
> Bitsy wanted more money.
> The production company balked and held her to her contract.
> Bitsy held out.
> Her contract was terminated.
> The End.
>
> And, Traylor Howard is a welcome and pleasant addition to the cast.

Once Upon A Time ecsmith wrote:

>It was a dark and stormy night.
>Bitsy wanted more money.
>The production company balked and held her to her contract.
>Bitsy held out.
>Her contract was terminated.
>The End.

Who the heck is Bitsy Schramm?


**
Captain Infinity

You know who he meant. It was hopefully a typo.

Captain Infinity wrote:
> Once Upon A Time ecsmith wrote:
>
> >It was a dark and stormy night.
> >Bitsy wanted more money.
> >The production company balked and held her to her contract.
> >Bitsy held out.
> >Her contract was terminated.
> >The End.
>
> Who the heck is Bitsy Schramm?
>
>
> **
> Captain Infinity

Peter McQueen wrote:
> You know who he meant. It was hopefully a typo.
>
> Captain Infinity wrote:
>
>>Once Upon A Time ecsmith wrote:
>>
>>
>>>It was a dark and stormy night.
>>>Bitsy wanted more money.
>>>The production company balked and held her to her contract.
>>>Bitsy held out.
>>>Her contract was terminated.
>>>The End.
>>
>>Who the heck is Bitsy Schramm?
>>
>>
>>**
>>Captain Infinity
>
>
Bitty?

Bitty Schram. You have to admit it is an unusual name. Traylor Howard
is almost as weird. At least she has a normal last name.

ecsmith wrote:

> >>**
> >>Captain Infinity
> >
> >
> Bitty?

"Peter McQueen" <peter_mcqueen@hotmail.com> wrote:

} .... bring back the old
} theme song.

Did they change the theme song? I thought it was still Randy newmans's
one... isn't it? There WAS one episode [two seasons ago was it?] where
they used a different theme for *ONE* episode (and even made a joke about
it in the next one, which went back to the original)..I feel sure I"d have
noticed if they changed it... Gotta watch more carefully this week...

/Bernie\

--
Bernie Cosell Fantasy Farm Fibers
bernie@fantasyfarm.com Pearisburg, VA
--> Too many people, too few sheep <--

In article <rc00e11863kn3803lm46mbet0rv1d0ld1r@library.airnews .net>,
Bernie Cosell <bernie@fantasyfarm.com> wrote:

> "Peter McQueen" <peter_mcqueen@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> } .... bring back the old
> } theme song.
>
> Did they change the theme song? I thought it was still Randy newmans's
> one... isn't it? There WAS one episode [two seasons ago was it?] where
> they used a different theme for *ONE* episode (and even made a joke about
> it in the next one, which went back to the original)..I feel sure I"d have
> noticed if they changed it... Gotta watch more carefully this week...

There oughta be a FAQ for the theme song.

Originally the theme was a perky tune, no words, by Jeff Beal.
Everybody loved it. Tony Shalhoub decided that the theme was
inappropriate because the teaser would show some horrible crime being
committed, and then there'd be this perky theme song. Randy Newman's
theme is more in line with the dark teasers generally used on "Monk."

I think the original theme song bothered Tony Shalhoub a lot more than
it bothered anybody else. They do use the original theme fairly often,
usually in the tag, and sometimes over the end credits. They did so
last week, for instance -- not that you could hear much of it, since
they slammed a promotional voiceover over it.

Both theme songs have won Emmys for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
-- Jeff Beal won in 2003 for the original theme, and Randy Newman won
in 2004 for the successor theme. "Monk"'s two theme wins are unique.

I don't see how the original theme was a problem, because the show was
from day one a mix of comedy and drama. It was never like Law & Order
or NYPD Blue. I don't like the lyrics of the new theme.

Millard Fillmore wrote:
> Originally the theme was a perky tune, no words, by Jeff Beal.
> Everybody loved it. Tony Shalhoub decided that the theme was
> inappropriate because the teaser would show some horrible crime being
> committed, and then there'd be this perky theme song. Randy Newman's
> theme is more in line with the dark teasers generally used on "Monk."

"Peter McQueen" <peter_mcqueen@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1121986762.910536.224060@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
>I don't see how the original theme was a problem, because the show was
> from day one a mix of comedy and drama. It was never like Law & Order
> or NYPD Blue. I don't like the lyrics of the new theme.
>

I've always thought of Monk as a "black" or "dark" comedy - like some of
Hitchcok's stuff like The Trouble With Harry in a different vein. So I
though the "happy" theme was kind of neat (I'm also a guitarist, so it
immediately impressed me, and I'm short, so there's an automatic strike
against Newman).

But one thing's for sure - no matter how much we talk about it, I think the
new theme is here to stay, as is Ms. Howard.

I do want to say, I have definitely like the episodes better this current
season - it seems like last season was reaching for material, and this time,
they've actually come through with it - Jason Alexander was a great foil
(and the episode was written around him much better than the one from last
season with the comedian guy - in the traffic jam episode with so many plot
holes - for instance), and Turtorro's counterpart is great - though he
didn't seem to have agorophobia all of the sudden at the end when he was in
the ambulance! And, even though it was - one of my pet peeves - an episode
about people the chracters are related to/involved with, it was still well
done I thought.

Best,
Steve

You're right, of course, but that doesn't mean we have to like it! :-)

Steve Latham wrote:
> But one thing's for sure - no matter how much we talk about it, I think the
> new theme is here to stay, as is Ms. Howard.

"Millard Fillmore" <bathtub@whig.org.invalid> wrote in message
news:210720051657200152%bathtub@whig.org.invalid.. .
> In article <rc00e11863kn3803lm46mbet0rv1d0ld1r@library.airnews .net>,
> Bernie Cosell <bernie@fantasyfarm.com> wrote:
>
> > "Peter McQueen" <peter_mcqueen@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > } .... bring back the old
> > } theme song.
> >
> > Did they change the theme song? I thought it was still Randy newmans's
> > one... isn't it? There WAS one episode [two seasons ago was it?] where
> > they used a different theme for *ONE* episode (and even made a joke
about
> > it in the next one, which went back to the original)..I feel sure I"d
have
> > noticed if they changed it... Gotta watch more carefully this week...
>
> There oughta be a FAQ for the theme song.
>
> Originally the theme was a perky tune, no words, by Jeff Beal.
> Everybody loved it. Tony Shalhoub decided that the theme was
> inappropriate because the teaser would show some horrible crime being
> committed, and then there'd be this perky theme song. Randy Newman's
> theme is more in line with the dark teasers generally used on "Monk."
>
> I think the original theme song bothered Tony Shalhoub a lot more than
> it bothered anybody else. They do use the original theme fairly often,
> usually in the tag, and sometimes over the end credits. They did so
> last week, for instance -- not that you could hear much of it, since
> they slammed a promotional voiceover over it.
>
> Both theme songs have won Emmys for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
> -- Jeff Beal won in 2003 for the original theme, and Randy Newman won
> in 2004 for the successor theme. "Monk"'s two theme wins are unique.

As an aside for the FAQ, listen to Harry Nilson's "It's a Jungle Out There"
from the album 'Duit on Mon Dei' and tell me somebody doesn't owe someone
something. Harry did a whole album covering Newman songs and Newman did a
Nilson cover for the tribute CD after Nilson's death.

E. Brent Price

"EBRENT PRICE" <brent_price@nospamverizon.net> wrote in message
news:tqcEe.82$9y3.53@trnddc06...

>
> As an aside for the FAQ, listen to Harry Nilson's "It's a Jungle Out
There"
> from the album 'Duit on Mon Dei' and tell me somebody doesn't owe someone
> something. Harry did a whole album covering Newman songs and Newman did a
> Nilson cover for the tribute CD after Nilson's death.
>
> E. Brent Price

Silly me. It's "Harry Nilsson." One L, two Ss.

EBP

"EBRENT PRICE" <brent_price@nospamverizon.net> wrote in message
news:6BcEe.84$9y3.55@trnddc06...
>
> "EBRENT PRICE" <brent_price@nospamverizon.net> wrote in message
> news:tqcEe.82$9y3.53@trnddc06...
>
> >
> > As an aside for the FAQ, listen to Harry Nilson's "It's a Jungle Out
> There"
> > from the album 'Duit on Mon Dei' and tell me somebody doesn't owe
someone
> > something. Harry did a whole album covering Newman songs and Newman did
a
> > Nilson cover for the tribute CD after Nilson's death.
> >
> > E. Brent Price
>
> Silly me. It's "Harry Nilsson." One L, two Ss.
>
> EBP

By the way, here's the lyrics, but the similarity is closer in the music.


It's A Jungle Out There

By Harry Nilsson



One day Tarzan said to Jane

While they were walking through the garden

One thing I must explain - before we go much farther

I know you'd like a bright new dress

With a bright new yellow linin'

But every time you want one darlin'

I got to fight a lion.



And it's a jungle out there

And it's a jungle out there

There ain't no way around it

At least I've never found it.

It's a jungle out there

It's a jungle out there



Now way back in the city

Where the city people smile

Whenever they want a new pair of shoes

They don't kill a crocodile

And when the nighttime falls around them

They stay in their hotels

But out here darlin'

When the nighttime comes

There's nothing to do but yell

'Cause it's a jungle out there

You better say a prayer

Even if they eat you

And eventually they will.

It's a jungle out there

It's a jungle out there



One day Tarzan said to Jane

I want to talk to you about the boy

He's acting very strange lately

He thinks a tools a toy

Why only yesterday

While I was out there fixin' up the vine

He said "dad I'm gonna take a swing"

But he grabbed a hold of my vine - ow!

It's a jungle out there

Hey you better beware

There ain't no way around it

At least I've never found it.

It's a jungle out there

It's a jungle out there



Now the moral of the story is

If you end up out there too.

Just think of all them snakes

You might have snaken up on you,

But on the other hand my darlin'

You don't have to care 'cause no matter how far

No matter how long

No matter how cold or fair

High or low

Up or down

It's still a jungle out there

It's a jungle out there

It's a jungle out there

There ain't no way around it

At least I've never found it.

It's a jungle out there

"Steve Latham" <llatham@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:ZjYDe.51968$Zu1.39613@trnddc04...
>
> "Peter McQueen" <peter_mcqueen@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1121986762.910536.224060@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
>>I don't see how the original theme was a problem, because the show was
>> from day one a mix of comedy and drama. It was never like Law & Order
>> or NYPD Blue. I don't like the lyrics of the new theme.
>>
>
> I've always thought of Monk as a "black" or "dark" comedy - like some of
> Hitchcok's stuff like The Trouble With Harry in a different vein. So I
> though the "happy" theme was kind of neat (I'm also a guitarist, so it
> immediately impressed me, and I'm short, so there's an automatic strike
> against Newman).

Still, two years old is not a new theme. It's already been around long
enough to win an award.

Had me going nuts thinking there was a theme change from last season.



> But one thing's for sure - no matter how much we talk about it, I think
> the new theme is here to stay, as is Ms. Howard.

Well, give my vote to Ms. Howard (for now). Sharona was getting quite
stereotypical and almost a caricature of her role.



> I do want to say, I have definitely like the episodes better this current
> season - it seems like last season was reaching for material, and this
> time, they've actually come through with it - Jason Alexander was a great
> foil (and the episode was written around him much better than the one from
> last season with the comedian guy - in the traffic jam episode with so
> many plot holes - for instance), and Turtorro's counterpart is great -
> though he didn't seem to have agorophobia all of the sudden at the end
> when he was in the ambulance! And, even though it was - one of my pet
> peeves - an episode about people the chracters are related to/involved
> with, it was still well done I thought.

OK, you're killin' me. I've seen you reference this "pet peeve" of yours
twice and I still can't get a handle on what it is. What is your pet peeve?
When a story isn't soley about the main character and nothing else?


Tom P.

In article <pKvFe.1182$gt5.892@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>, Henry
Padilla <padillah@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Well, give my vote to Ms. Howard (for now). Sharona was getting quite
> stereotypical and almost a caricature of her role.


I don't know about that, but Traylor Howard's long since won me over.
I've never liked her in anything until now, but I like her a lot in
this.

"Henry Padilla" <padillah@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:pKvFe.1182$gt5.892@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com ...
>
> "Steve Latham" <llatham@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:ZjYDe.51968$Zu1.39613@trnddc04...
>>
>> "Peter McQueen" <peter_mcqueen@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1121986762.910536.224060@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
>>>I don't see how the original theme was a problem, because the show was
>>> from day one a mix of comedy and drama. It was never like Law & Order
>>> or NYPD Blue. I don't like the lyrics of the new theme.
>>>
>>
>> I've always thought of Monk as a "black" or "dark" comedy - like some of
>> Hitchcok's stuff like The Trouble With Harry in a different vein. So I
>> though the "happy" theme was kind of neat (I'm also a guitarist, so it
>> immediately impressed me, and I'm short, so there's an automatic strike
>> against Newman).
>
> Still, two years old is not a new theme. It's already been around long
> enough to win an award.

Both have won awards. One is older than the other, so that makes one new.
But to appease you, I shall call it, the current theme!

:-)


> OK, you're killin' me. I've seen you reference this "pet peeve" of yours
> twice and I still can't get a handle on what it is. What is your pet
> peeve? When a story isn't soley about the main character and nothing else?

I hate it when a show like Monk has all this stuff happen to the main
characters. The odds are extremely, overwhelmingly against a detective
having to solve cases in which Sherona, Stot, Stot's wife, Natalie, Ambrose,
his paperboy, the guy upstairs (nerdy guy who won the lottery), and himself.
My Favorite is when he goea on vacation and Sherona's son sees the murder.
Of course, whenever a detective goes on vacation there's a murder, but the
likelihood of him, or one of the people he's vacationing with being involved
or seeing it is extremely slim IMO.

While it generates plots and parts for the characters, it's rather
unrealistic, but of course we've discussed other aspects of the show that
have this same problem, so, there's my peeve.

Peeve, er, Steve.

> Tom P.
>

It's short for Elizabeth..Traylor however is just Traylor
e

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 21:50:46 GMT, "Steve Latham" <llatham@verizon.net>
wrote:


>I hate it when a show like Monk has all this stuff happen to the main
>characters. The odds are extremely, overwhelmingly against a detective
>having to solve cases in which Sherona, Stot, Stot's wife, Natalie, Ambrose,
>his paperboy, the guy upstairs (nerdy guy who won the lottery), and himself.
>My Favorite is when he goea on vacation and Sherona's son sees the murder.
>Of course, whenever a detective goes on vacation there's a murder, but the
>likelihood of him, or one of the people he's vacationing with being involved
>or seeing it is extremely slim IMO.
>
>While it generates plots and parts for the characters, it's rather
>unrealistic, but of course we've discussed other aspects of the show that
>have this same problem, so, there's my peeve.
>
>Peeve, er, Steve.
>
>> Tom P.

How many shows are realistic?
I think it's called "willing suspension of disbelief."

For example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief

(Not that this is the best source.)

"Steve Latham" <llatham@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:WeyFe.6004$dM3.2278@trnddc04...
>
>
> I hate it when a show like Monk has all this stuff happen to the main
> characters. The odds are extremely, overwhelmingly against a detective
> having to solve cases in which Sherona, Stot, Stot's wife, Natalie,
> Ambrose, his paperboy, the guy upstairs (nerdy guy who won the lottery),
> and himself. My Favorite is when he goea on vacation and Sherona's son
> sees the murder. Of course, whenever a detective goes on vacation there's
> a murder, but the likelihood of him, or one of the people he's vacationing
> with being involved or seeing it is extremely slim IMO.
>
> While it generates plots and parts for the characters, it's rather
> unrealistic, but of course we've discussed other aspects of the show that
> have this same problem, so, there's my peeve.
>
> Peeve, er, Steve.

I was just mentioning this same thing over in the Smallville NG. They are
going to bring Braniac in this season and I feel that he should be there
actively seeking out Clark Kent. The odds on all these aliens landing in
one small town in Kansas are a bit mind-numbing. Clark Kent is powerful
enough now to warrant people seeking him out intentionally.

At least Monk has an association with the cops and they can throw him a bone
more times than not. I've seen a couple (Magnum P.I.) that were just P.I.'s
solving crimes that kept happening around them. No cops - no nothing.

Tom P.

"Brian" <drmorrisnospam@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:hsvde1prl069qucaks2l219e7hnl9f37dp@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 21:50:46 GMT, "Steve Latham" <llatham@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>I hate it when a show like Monk has all this stuff happen to the main
>>characters. The odds are extremely, overwhelmingly against a detective
>>having to solve cases in which Sherona, Stot, Stot's wife, Natalie,
>>Ambrose,
>>his paperboy, the guy upstairs (nerdy guy who won the lottery), and
>>himself.
>>My Favorite is when he goea on vacation and Sherona's son sees the murder.
>>Of course, whenever a detective goes on vacation there's a murder, but the
>>likelihood of him, or one of the people he's vacationing with being
>>involved
>>or seeing it is extremely slim IMO.
>>
>>While it generates plots and parts for the characters, it's rather
>>unrealistic, but of course we've discussed other aspects of the show that
>>have this same problem, so, there's my peeve.
>>
>>Peeve, er, Steve.
>>
>>> Tom P.
>
> How many shows are realistic?
> I think it's called "willing suspension of disbelief."

I guess for me Brian, suspension of disbelief needs to be consistent. For
instance, when I watch Battlestar Galactica I know that this stuff doesn't
exist. I can allow myself to believe all space shows have overcome the
problem of gravity onboard the ships and they can walk around like normal.
Godzilla, I have no problem with, King Kong, I have no problem with. But
buildings to Godzialla are waist high or so, and King Kong had to climb the
building - so when King Kong is the same size as Godzilla in king Kong vs.
Godzilla, I have a problem.

Monk is a rather realistic show. At least I have the feeling that it's
supposed to be very realistic, with the oddity of Monk's phobias being the
thing that makes him a genius at what he does. I know it's fiction, but it's
constantly walking this line between it could happen and that's ridiculous.
Some shows seem to do this on purpose (think of Ferris Beuller's Day off and
"breaking the 4th wall"). But you know that almost immediately. With Monk,
it's like it's unsure what it wants to be a lot of the time. It seems very
realistic most of the time, then we get something like Disher being overly
stupid - it's unlikely he'd have that job. SofD is what I had for Dukes of
Hazzard - I know Roscoe P Coltrane is a caricature. Is Stot supposed to be a
caricature? Disher? Natalie? Sometimes I'm not so sure.

Steve

"Henry Padilla" <padillah@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:DPKFe.110$gQ5.81@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com.. .
>

>
> I was just mentioning this same thing over in the Smallville NG. They are
> going to bring Braniac in this season and I feel that he should be there
> actively seeking out Clark Kent. The odds on all these aliens landing in
> one small town in Kansas are a bit mind-numbing.

Exactly my point, although in this case it could have possibly come from the
comic world - the same "closeness" often happens there (though I am by far
no expert)

Clark Kent is powerful
> enough now to warrant people seeking him out intentionally.
>
> At least Monk has an association with the cops and they can throw him a
> bone more times than not.

At least.

I've seen a couple (Magnum P.I.) that were just P.I.'s
> solving crimes that kept happening around them. No cops - no nothing.

Yes, I think many shows have this peeve of mine. The writers don't seem to
be very creative in this regard. Murder she Wrote seems to have this problem
a lot (though I've only seen it a few times, every episode was this way)

Steve

In article <ihQFe.5954$6M3.4981@trnddc03>, Steve Latham
<llatham@verizon.net> wrote:

> "Henry Padilla" <padillah@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:DPKFe.110$gQ5.81@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com.. .
> >
>
> >
> > I was just mentioning this same thing over in the Smallville NG. They are
> > going to bring Braniac in this season and I feel that he should be there
> > actively seeking out Clark Kent. The odds on all these aliens landing in
> > one small town in Kansas are a bit mind-numbing.
>
> Exactly my point, although in this case it could have possibly come from the
> comic world - the same "closeness" often happens there (though I am by far
> no expert)
>
> Clark Kent is powerful
> > enough now to warrant people seeking him out intentionally.
> >
> > At least Monk has an association with the cops and they can throw him a
> > bone more times than not.
>
> At least.
>
> I've seen a couple (Magnum P.I.) that were just P.I.'s
> > solving crimes that kept happening around them. No cops - no nothing.
>
> Yes, I think many shows have this peeve of mine. The writers don't seem to
> be very creative in this regard. Murder she Wrote seems to have this problem
> a lot (though I've only seen it a few times, every episode was this way)


The mention of Superman reminds me how the two latter Reeve films fell
apart because Superman was doing things that everyone knew Superman
couldn't do. We know that Superman can fly. We know he can't rebuild
the Great Wall of China with his super-vision. There was,
unfortunately, a lower class of moviegoing fan who said it didn't
matter because Superman is a series of impossibilities, and one more or
less didn't matter. But it does matter.

Disher can be shown to be endearingly eccentric without being made a
fool. He's a detective lieutenant in a major city's police department,
so he *can't* be a fool -- yet they had him babbling about how a police
sketch makes the suspect look like some actor or other, and how they
should put NOT SOME ACTOR OR OTHER on the sketch. (I've already
forgotten who the guy was supposed to look like.) It was a cheap laugh
-- and "Monk" has gone for too many of those in the past few
half-seasons.

I've never heard that short form before. I think I'd rather just go by
Elizabeth...

extex wrote:
> It's short for Elizabeth..Traylor however is just Traylor
> e

"Millard Fillmore" <bathtub@whig.org.invalid> wrote in message
news:270720051714459354%bathtub@whig.org.invalid.. .

>
> The mention of Superman reminds me how the two latter Reeve films fell
> apart because Superman was doing things that everyone knew Superman
> couldn't do. We know that Superman can fly. We know he can't rebuild
> the Great Wall of China with his super-vision. There was,
> unfortunately, a lower class of moviegoing fan who said it didn't
> matter because Superman is a series of impossibilities, and one more or
> less didn't matter. But it does matter.

Well Put.

>
> Disher can be shown to be endearingly eccentric without being made a
> fool. He's a detective lieutenant in a major city's police department,
> so he *can't* be a fool -- yet they had him babbling about how a police
> sketch makes the suspect look like some actor or other, and how they
> should put NOT SOME ACTOR OR OTHER on the sketch. (I've already
> forgotten who the guy was supposed to look like.) It was a cheap laugh
> -- and "Monk" has gone for too many of those in the past few
> half-seasons.

My point exactly. Story/Setting-appropriate laughs are great. Downright
absurdly silly jokes are "beneath" what I expect - my expectations being my
own, but nonetheless set up by the "feel" of the show since the beginning.

Steve