The period dramedy TV show,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, doesn’t just boast amazing jokes and gorgeous sets, but also Tony Shalhoub’s best performance sinceMonk. Shalhoub’s breakout role of Adrian Monk, the offbeat detective and protagonist of the crime proceduralMonk, has been a defining part of his career. It’s unsurprising thatMonkis still considered a benchmark of the procedural genre,with its vivid characters and the anchoring lead performance from Shalhoub, whose work is what sets the series apart compared to contemporaneous projects. However, it isn’t just the crime genre that has benefited from Shalhoub’s work.
Shalhoub understands Adrian Monk better than anyone, which is a large part of why he was the perfect choice to portray the iconic character. However, he brings the same dedication and energy toThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The actor has a clear understanding of how best to balance comedy with quieter, serious moments, and this is a vital part of the tone for bothMonkandMaisel. ThoughMaiseldoesn’t feature a murder of the week,the more serialized storytelling will be a refreshing change for fans ofMonk.
Tony Shalhoub Shines As Abe Weissman In The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Abe Weissman Is His Best Role Other Than Adrian Monk
Created by the writers and creators ofGilmore Girls,The Marvelous Mrs. Maiselhas the same theatrical style and atmosphere that makes Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino’s work so iconic. CastingShalhoub as Abe Weissman, the father of Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan),the budding stand-up comic and titular character, was a stroke of genius. Though the role is somewhat against type, Shalhoub is just as hilarious and scene-stealing as Abe as he was when he played Monk for so many years. He brings a dynamic energy to the ensemble.
Abe is an important part ofevery season ofThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as his relationship with Midge is a huge part of her life and the way she relates to the world. Though she has grand ambitions and wants to be a star, she’s anchored to reality by her family, who struggle to accept their new lives as she tries to get famous.The scenes between Shalhoub and Brosnahan are some of the best of the series,reminding the audience of how much is at stake for Midge and giving Abe permission to want more from his life.
Tony Shalhoub’s Performance As Abe Weissman Is Very Different From Monk
The Characters Don’t Have Much In Common
Whereas Monk lives in fear of the unexpected and more challenging parts of the world, Abe wants to make a statement and be remembered. Abe is more academically oriented and finds joy in theater criticism, letting his daughter’s work in the arts be a catalyst for his own passion for life outside of the bureaucracy of university life. Additionally, since the tones of the two series are starkly different, Shalhoub shows a very different side of himself as Abe than he did playing Monk. However,this does a great job of showcasing his range.
It’s true that both men enjoy a good routine, but Abe watches as his love of sameness grows stale in the later seasons ofMaisel. SinceMaiselis a serialized show, it dedicates far more time to character development and evolution than an episodic series likeMonk. However,this isn’t to say that Adrian never evolves; he just doesn’t go through the major changesthat the audience witnesses from Abe. Shalhoub gets to explore more variations in his character as Abe, pushing himself to his limits.
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Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Is The Best Show For Monk Fans Who Miss Adrian
Abe Will Remind Monk Fans Of What They’ve Been Missing
Despite the differences between Abe and Monk,fans ofMonkshould start watchingMaiselto get more of Shalhoub and his amazing work.Shalhoub’s favorite episodes ofMonkfocus on exciting cases and see Monk challenged by the world around him. This is similar to Abe’s experience throughoutMaisel. It’s clear through Shalhoub’s work in both series that he enjoys strong writing and witty dialogue. If audiences feel similarly, thenMaiselwill scratch the same itch asMonk, as both feature incredibly clever scripts.
Monkhas been off the air since 2009, but the recent release of the spinoff movie,Mr. Monk’s Last Case, sparked renewed interest.
Monkhas been off the air since 2009, but the recent release of the spinoff movie,Mr. Monk’s Last Case, sparked renewed interest in the classic procedural. While it’s uncertain whether we’ll see yet another project that features Monk on screen, this is far from the only way that fans can watch more from Shalhoub. His work inThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselhas been just as significant for his career, and takes Shalhoub out of his comfort zone in new and exciting ways.
