Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger

I mean, come on, WILLIE NESON is the suspect? How dumb can you get? Although not a bad episode, it's a bizarre mishmash of pop culture that doesn't fit the show. Monk doesn't seem like he'd be a fan of a dirty, braided stoner, and how he was able to hang out with him without freaking out at the man's imperfections also goes against the premise of the show.

After the rehearsal with his band for two sold-out concerts in San Francisco, Willie Nelson has an argument with his manager 'Sonny' Cross that might have embezzled four hundred thousand dollars from his account. Then Sonny goes to a radio station where he will be interviewed with Willi Nelson, but there is a note asking Jason Cross to go through the lateral door in an alley. Out of the blue, there are shots and Sonny is murdered, the blind woman Wendy Maas is screaming, and Willie Nelson arrives and finds his manager dead. Willie Nelson becomes the prime suspect with the statement of Wendy and Stottlemeyer asks Monk to help him in the investigation. Willie Nelson is Monk's favorite singer, and he wants to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Sharona is dating the architect Justin and does not want Monk to meet him to avoid criticism.

"Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger" is a great episode of "Monk". The country singer Willie Nelson is the guest star and sings various songs along the show. Sharona finding that Justin is the streaker is one of the funniest scenes of this season. The idea of a blind eyewitness is also hilarious. The crime is very well-resolved in the end. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Sr. Monk e Willie Nelson" ("Mr. Monk and Willie Nelson")

THIS WAS A HILARIOUS EPISODE THAT INVOLVES WILLIE NELSON BEING ACCUSED OF KILLING A FELLOW MAN WITH THE WITNESS BEING A BLIND WOMAN WHO WAS THERE; MONK SOLVES THE CASE WITH HELP FROM THE STREAKER AND BENJY AND SHARONA

This is probably my all time favorite episodes of Monk. How can it not be when you have Willy Nelson singing and acting - as himself, and doing a great job of it all round. The reviewer who said this was an hilarious episode must be have been smoking the stuff from Willy's bus (he's real bus also making a welcome appearance). Because not only is this a great mystery, and a great acting job from Willy, it has many sad and emotional moments. One being Adrian 'blowing' his chance (no pun intended) playing the clarinet with Willy's band at a radio performance. However, there is a tender, lovely scene at the end that makes up for it.

It also is not that predictable as some say, sure it might point to a certain someone, but how and why? And you can't go past the streaker "What is this 1974?" as Stottlemeyer says; making two major contributions, one very funny, to the end of the story. And a great ending it is all round.

One of Willie Nelson's staffers may have embezzled some money and Willie threatens to fire the guy if the books don't balance by that night. Later in the afternoon, the same staffer sees a sign to not use the front door, to come around to the side door. When he does he is shot and killed - the audience does not see the actual killing. When the audience rejoins the scene there is a blind woman screaming murder and Willie Nelson bending over the body. Complications ensue.

Willie Nelson being slobbered over by Monk - a huge fan - takes up a good part of the proceedings as does Willy Nelson performing. Nelson is an OK actor - he's done several movies and he never embarrassed himself, but he's not Tom Hanks either. There are some humorous parts - Monk is invited to perform with the band on clarinet, and a streaker turns up a couple of times even though this is not 1974. I'd say this is one of Monk's blander season one episodes, but the quirky Monk humor keeps it at a 6/10.