 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Monk
Common Sense Media says
Witty crime drama too highbrow for most kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this series includes subtle references to sex and drugs, as well as mildly violent scenes in which a murder is committed. The main character suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and is easily rattled by germs, chaos, and changes in routine, a fact that is sometimes played for laughs (albeit sympathetic ones).
What's the story?
MONK is the story of Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a brilliant but quirky detective armed with a photographic memory and the ability to piece together even the weakest of clues. Monk, who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), lost his job with the San Francisco Police Department when he couldn't get a handle on the phobias he developed after his wife's death. Now, with the help of his assistant, widow Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), Monk works as a private consultant, helping solve cases the police department can't. In doing so, he hopes to convince his former boss, Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), to allow him to return to the force.
Is it any good?
Monk is a thinking-person's television show thanks to fresh, intelligent writing and well-nuanced characters. Shalhoub's tender portrayal of his character's subtle idiosyncrasies is nothing short of amazing (he has won two Emmys and a Golden Globe for his work on the show), and he easily wins viewers' affection. However, that very subtlety may make the show a little difficult for tweens and young teens to enjoy. They may have fun figuring out "whodunit," but the understated, Seinfeldian humor laced throughout will be lost on them.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how detectives solve crimes. What kind of methods do they use to find the perpetrator? Another good discussion topic would be Monk's OCD. Can kids imagine what it would be like to have the disorder? How does Monk balance his OCD with his work? Do kids think they'd be able to do the same in his position?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Not too difficult for tween to understand
I couldn't disagree more with the assessment that kids won't get the humor. That was my 10-year-old's favorite part of the show. This is a great series that will keep both mom and tween engaged with plenty to talk about and laugh over -- together. Once this series became well-known and acclaimed, in the later seasons, we have some wonderful guest actors that make it really fun. Monk is endearing and in no way over a tween's head.
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AGE
Great show, may be too much for little kids but fine for tweens
Monk is one of my favorite shows. It's not gory or graphic. The actors are some of the best I've ever seen. The writing is extremely clever and witty. Other than a few innuendos or "sex-affiar," as Monk would call it, related crimes, there really is no strong sexual content. The main characters show each other respect and demonstrate what it is to be a true friend. Monk has a lot of issues to work through and each episode will likely have a moment in which you're laughing at some of his antics, or at some of the reactions to his antics, and then grabbing a hanky for a touching ending scene. I would recommend this show to anyone over 11. The only real issues are that some of the bodies, while tastefully filmed so that they're not graphic, may be just a little more bloody than you might want them to be. The murders can be very creepy so I advise parents not to let young children watch this. The language is very mild but it's nothing most tweens haven't heard from other TV shows they've likely seen.
I don't understand some of Monk's bad reception, personally. There are a LOT more violent crime shows out there and this one is full of heart, charm, and wit. It isn't about the murder mysteries. It's about a man who is trying to cope with his many psychological issues and it's about the people in his life who are willing to help him, no matter how difficult it gets. I think that's a very positive message.
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AGE
Very good
This show is great. Monk is a good influence, and its one of the only murder shows that is appropriate for preteens. My brother is 10, and he has no problem with this show. I love it.
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AGE
Quirky characters who care for each other
While the opening "set up" scene often involves a violent crime, the heart of this show is the affection and empathy the characters have for one another. The characters accept one another's foibles and truly care for one another. These values trump the opener and occasional "swears." Plus, the dialogue is witty and the plot lines keep us all interested. This is one show that my entire family (kids 8 to 15) enjoys watching together. We all laugh out loud several times in each episode.
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AGE
Watch it with ClearPlay
Monk is a great show. My whole family has OCD to a certain extent, which makes it much more entertaining. The only real problem is the language and the violence, and many of the murders are related to extra-marital affairs. Watching it frequently gave us a bad feeling so we stopped watching it, but now Clearplay is releasing filters for Monk. We can now watch it again in peace.
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AGE
Great show except it ended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only bad thing is that they stopped it!!! It's a great show. It's funny how mr.monk is scared of most things, including milk and ladybugs. It's best in the early seasons that had Sherona. A great show that's clean except for violence. See if you can find it because it's great!
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AGE
A bit scary at times, but very enjoyable
Although I find myself cover my eyes as the victims are murdered, it isn't only about that. It is also about Mr. Monk and his trials and tributes as a lonely mega-phobe. His wife was murdered and he takes it upon himself to figure out who did it until his last breath. The writers are absolute geniuses. You would have to be extremely smart in order to write these crime shows with clever solutions. I absolutely adore this show!!
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Kid, 12 years old
May 17, 2011
AGE
perfect for tweens not for 9 and below.
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AGE
Love it!
I LOVE this T.V. show! It has a great combination of comedy and suspense. I love this series, but sadly it starts deteriorating in the quality on the 7th season, but its still watchable. I started watching at age 9, and I loved it. I still do.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Networks: | NBC, USA |
| Cast: | Bitty Schram, Ted Levine, Tony Shalhoub |
| Genre: | Drama |
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