One ofMonk’s greatest episodes was actually predicted by a classic, but often forgotten, comedy starring Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci back in 1996. Throughout its eight seasons on air,Monkoften featured guest stars, with some celebrities even appearing multiple times throughout the show. However, one ofMonk’s best episodesis whenTucci appearedon the show in “Mr. Monk And The Actor.“The episode even referenced an earlier work by Tucci and Shalhoub.
Although there are severalharsh realities to rewatchingMonkyears after it has ended, its guest stars were usually some of the best things about the show.Shalhoub and Tucci’s brilliant collaboration onMonkwas preceded by their roles inBig Night,which showcased both actors' comedy skills. The movie also helped predict their collaboration onMonk, 10 years later.Big Nightremains a classic comedy to rewatch time and time again.
Big Night Was Tony Shalhoub & Stanley Tucci’s First Screen Collaboration Before Monk
Shalhoub And Tucci Play Two Brothers Who Open A Restaurant Together
InBig Night,Shalhoub and Tucci play two Italian brothers who moved to America in hopes of becoming successful restauranteurswith their restaurant, “Paradise.” They host a night filled with free food and drinks in their last bid to save their restaurant from bankruptcy. Amidst the beautiful visuals of Italian cuisine are Shalhoub and Tucci’s incredible acting skills for comedy and drama.Big Nightwas also their first on-screen collaboration, a decade before Tucci’s appearance inMonk.
Big Nightwas Tucci’s directorial debut.
According toTV Guide, Shalhoub and Tucci first met in 1989 via their shared love for the stage. They first worked together on the playMoon Over Miamiand have remained close friends since then. Both actors are known for their excellence in character acting, andBig Nightis just one great example of it.Big Nighthas a 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoesand is an underrated gem in both of their careers.
Tony Shalhoub & Stanley Tucci’s Friendship Made “Mr. Monk And The Actor” Even Better
Tucci Played An Actor Playing Monk
Stanley Tucci’s performance onMonkwas one of the best on the show.Tucci played David Ruskin, a method actor who wanted to understand how and why Monk behaved the way he didto portray him as accurately as possible in an upcoming movie inspired by one of Monk’s cases. His performance on the show was incredible, not just because it was eerily similar to Shalhoub’s, but because it highlighted the closeness between the two actors.
Monk’s Final Trudy Twist Fixed An Annoying Problem That Happened In All 8 Seasons
Monk’s final episode finally revealed who killed Trudy, but it also fixed an annoying problem and made the show even better in hindsight.
Knowing thatShalhoub and Tucci were friends for years before Tucci appeared onMonkadded a personal touch to the tragic episode. One of the bestMonkepisodes, “Mr. Monk And The Actor” goes back to themystery behind Trudy Monk’s death, or at least how Monk continued to work to cope with it. Through the plot alone, the episode touches on all the soft spots ofMonk, but knowing that Tucci and Shalhoub are great friends in real life makes it even better.
Monk
Cast
Starring Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk follows the titular detective, a private investigator with OCD who helps solve crimes with the San Francisco Police. On the side, he also investigates the death of his wife, who was killed by a car bomb. Bitty Schram, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford also star.
Big Night
Big Night is a drama film that follows the story of two Italian brothers, Primo and Secondo, who own a struggling restaurant in New Jersey. The brothers decide to put all their hopes into one special evening, where they will prepare a feast of a lifetime in an effort to save their business from financial ruin.
