MovieChat Forums > Monk (2002) Discussion > Michael Richards as Monk?

Michael Richards as Monk?

posted 9 years ago by packersfan100
24 replies | jump to latest

I recently came across an article that said Michael Richards was offered the role of Adrian Monk, but he didn't like the script for the pilot so he turned it down. I love Richards as Kramer on Seinfeld, but I just can't picture him as Monk. I'm sure he would have been very funny in the role, but I don't think he would have handled the dramatic moments in the show as Brilliantly as Tony Shalhoub. To be honest, Tony played the part so well that it's hard for me to imagine anyone but him playing Monk.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 9 years ago

I don't think he turned it down over the script, I think he turned it down to do "The Michael Richards Show". Which interestingly enough, was him as a detective.

Tony Shalhoub nailed the role as Monk. Richards would have been great for comedic value, but wouldn't have made us care about the character as much.

[–] packersfan100 9 years ago

According to this article,http://mentalfloss.com/article/22854/11-famous-actors-and-big-tv-roles-they-turned-down he turned it down because he didn't like the pilot script because he felt the Monk character didn't offer enough comedic possibilities for him to work with.

[–] lechatnoir33 9 years ago

I doubt that Michael Richards as Monk would work, only Tony Shalhoub could play Monk and carry the essence of this character.

[–] scouter227 9 years ago

I agree, it would have been a different character. Probably more comic relief and less melodrama or, who knows, maybe M.R. can pull off melodrama.I wasn't aware that T.S. was capable of the pathos that he pulled off in Monk until we saw it in Monk.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 9 years ago

It would have worked for an episode, perhaps like the pilot. But definitely not for 8 seasons. Tony just did a great job with the role and turned him into such an iconic character.

Richards would have had him as a Kramer knock-off.

[–] NotAmyMerrick 9 years ago

There are very few actors skillfull enough to pull off a comedy about a man with mental health issues without making people laugh at his Illness or making fun of people with the illness.

Tony Shalhoub got everything perfectly right.

[–] jennygerms21-226-534587 9 years ago

Michael Richards would not have worked in my mind. He is great, but too...manic I guess is the word. I think part of what makes Monk so great is that he is such a straight man comedy wise .

[–] xfilesbell 9 years ago

From I understand the series was originally being developed by ABC, the network wanted Richards.. But he turned it down because for one he wasn't crazy about the role plus ABC was looking to move the show to USA.. Even though I can't see anyone else play that part other then Tony Shalhoub, I wish Richards would have filmed a pilot.. Just so we could see what the show would have been.

[–] jtkreis-148-306662 8 years ago

That's crazy to think about. If Michael Richards had taken the role of Monk then that would have been Tony Shalhoub up on that stage yelling at the black guys.

[–] southpole8700 8 years ago

How so? Tony Shalhoub isn't a stand up comedian

[–] scouter227 8 years ago

You don't need a stage to yell racist things. Get with it.

[–] jtkreis-148-306662 8 years ago

It was just a joke; like if they switched plac...

...actually, nevermind.

[–] scouter227 8 years ago

I can never tell when you're being sarcastic.

[–] BelleStar82 8 years ago

It would have been a different character, different show. It's not so much that "Monk" was a certain way and Shaloub just happened to nail it....I think it was more like Monk was broadly drawn and Shalhoub pretty much created/evolved the character. The writers then played up Shaloub's strengths and what worked beautifully, (like Monk missing Trudy is one example). If it was Richards, he would have focused on slapstick/physical comedy, which is Richard's strength. The writers then would have put Monk in more situations like that. Monk would have been quirky, just in different ways.

[–] avenger-16 8 years ago

I admire this series because of Tony Shalhoub's absolutely brilliant acting and simply cannot imagine anybody else in the role although I have never heard of Michael Richards so I suppose I can't judge what he would have been like in the role. What I do admire about this remarkable series is that one moment Tony Shalhoub can reduce one to hysterical laughter and the next moment he has you in tears - he is that good. I don't think that many actors would have been able to make this series as great as it is. Shalhoub has an air of vulnerability which works beautifully with the character and he is surrounded by a cast which is absolutely perfect.

[–] CarolTheDabbler (521) 2 years ago

I don't think that many actors would have been able to make this series as great as it is. Shalhoub has an air of vulnerability which works beautifully with the character....

Agreed. Did you ever see him as the cab driver in Wings? Not at all the same character as Monk, but a similar open-ness.

[–] pjpurple@verizon.net (5526) a year ago

Oh I loved him as Antonio Scarpacci! I was a fan of Monk right frim the start. But at first it was hard for me to get used to Tony Shalhoub without Antonio's accent!

Silly right? I knew the actor was not Italian. But he just nailed that accent so well that it was hard for me to listen to Adrian Monk for an episode or two without thinking of Antonio.

On Wings he nailed his lines in the same laid back honest way as Monk.

Antonio (coming in from the freezing cold and sitting at the counter) expresses how cold he is and Helen asks him if he wants something hot.
Antonio: No, I'd like a snow cone!!! LOL

The man could hit every note perfectly.

[–] Mustang (5256) a year ago

Whether he could have or not pulled it off isn't really the point. I think it was too soon after Seinfeld and playing Kramer and people would just see Kramer as a detective rather than Monk.