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whadu · Level 49: GameShark **Posts:** 37005 **Timestamp:** Sat Jul 19, 08 2:42 AM

NY Daily News: Joining the close-knit cast of a show that's been on the air for six years is tough, especially if you're replacing an actor who just passed away.

But that didn't scare off Hector Elizondo. He'll star in season seven of "Monk," beginning Friday on USA, taking over the role of Adrian Monk's psychiatrist from Stanley Kamel, who died of a heart attack in April.

Elizondo and Tony Shalhoub, who stars as Monk, had no trouble forming the tight bond that therapists and patients often have.

"There was no problem," Elizondo says. "Also, we've been around the block. It's not rocket science as long as the writing is good, and they make sure that it is. They know how to do this now. They've worked out the kinks."

Though it's not likely that Monk and Dr. Neven Bell (Elizondo) will hit it off nearly so well. Monk - a deft detective who suffers from a severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder - doesn't react well to change. But Elizondo didn't need to study with shrinks to prepare for the part.

"I've been living in the world, paying attention, with a lot of crazy people around," he explains. "I've played many a doctor, I've played therapists before. I don't think there's a profession I haven't played. I was a doctor on 'Chicago Hope' for six years. It always surprised me that the doctors really wanted to be actors and the actors all want to be doctors."

Elizondo's perfectly content where he is now, though. The 71-year-old, West Harlem-born actor has had a career spanning 45 years. His most memorable role was the hotel manager in 1990's "Pretty Woman," which led to a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor.

In the 1960s, he got his start in a couple of Off-Broadway plays and TV shows, including "The Jackie Gleason Show" and "All in the Family." By the '70s, Elizondo was scoring roles in major movies, including 1974's "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three." He starred as one of four gang members who hijack a Manhattan subway train and demand $1 million from the city.

Director Tony Scott is doing a remake of "Pelham," due out next summer, but Elizondo doesn't think it'll live up to the original.

"Why mess with a classic like that?" he says. "It's too bad. It's one of the best movies of the '70s. I just saw it again and it holds up very well. The movie was terrific and they shouldn't mess with it."

One remake Elizondo is excited about is "Diego Ascending," an adaptation of the Israeli film "Bonjour, Monsieur Shlomi" that he's planning to produce with Salma Hayek. It'll be a family film about a Latino teen torn between school and caring for his family.

Elizondo has also been active in Alzheimer's awareness. His mother died of the dementia-inducing disease in 1974, and Elizondo blames the stress of caring for her for his father's death shortly after.

"It was the dark ages as far as Alzheimer's was concerned," he says. "There was no one to turn to. Now, there's a community of caregivers out there."

Source: Nydailynews.com

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Change is afoot on 'Monk,' while mom pays visit on 'Psych'

News-Leader:
The man who hates change is about to make a drastic one. Impulsively, he buys a house and moves.

That can only go badly. This hour will fuel everyone's worst homeownership nightmares; it also may stop Monk from ever attempting a change again.

Brad Garrett is the villain, but one of the key people is Stanley Kamel, who is only there indirectly. He died (of a heart attack at 65) in April after years of playing Monk's much-needed therapist.

That loss fuels Monk's sudden desire for change. And the search for a new therapist (Hector Elizondo) demonstrates the show's ability to juggle humor and warmth.

Tonight's Might-See: "Psych" season opener, 9 p.m., USA Network.

Nothing seems to shake Shawn. He views even this job -- helping Gus' doubting boss -- with calmness and a smoking jacket.
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Now, however, comes something to unsettle him: His mom is back.

As played by Cybill Shepherd, she's a therapist who works with cops. (There are some brief bursts of humor there.) What she doesn't realize is that she created a gap between her son and her ex-husband.

There are moments when the humor gets too broad and the drama is too blah. Still, "Psych" is entertaining enough to be half of a solid Friday block.

Other choices include:

"The Animal" (2001), 7-9 p.m., Fox. Did you ever wonder what would happen if you were transplanted with lots of animal parts? Rob Schneider stars in the movie, which attempts humor.

"Ghost Whisperer," 7 p.m., CBS. A recently deceased person gets way too pushy about his request. Now Melinda feels her life is in danger.

"Fatal Attraction" (1987), 7-9:30 p.m., AMC. Here's the movie that reminded us why it's important to not have a weekend fling when a spouse is away, even if we meet a really sensual stranger. Glenn Close's brilliant performance gave a bad name to cheating; Michael Douglas made us feel for (and with) the guy.

"Numb3rs," 8 p.m., CBS. Charlie digs into a plane's computer, trying to learn what caused a crash.

"Live From Abbey Road" (8 p.m.) and "Help" (1965, 9 p.m.), both Sundance Channel. First, the historic little studio where the Beatles recorded becomes the site of performances by Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall and Hard-Fi. Then we get a fresh chance to see the Beatles' second film, wonderfully directed by Richard Lester.

"Flashpoint," 9 p.m., CBS. Last week's strong opener left Lane (Hugh Dillon) with lingering doubts.

Source: News-leader.com

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The Monk-Psych Double Team Returns

TV Jots: Starting at 9pm EST on USA Network tonight, everybody's favorite detectives on Monk and Psych will return to solve more cases during their respective new seasons. I've watched the premieres for both shows and assure all viewers, whether longtime fans or newcomers, that the summer continues to look spectacular when it comes to USA's winning roster of crime dramedies.

Monk begins the night of programming with the seventh-season premiere “Mr. Monk Buys a House,” an episode that essentially serves as a fond and fitting farewell to Stanley Kamel's character Dr. Charles Kroger. The actor who played the psychiatrist from the beginning of the series passed away in April of this year, leaving a huge void that some feared could not be filled.

Although there will never be another Kamel or Dr. Kroger, Adrian Monk's (Tony Shalhoub) new therapist Dr. Neven Bell, played by veteran actor Hector Elizondo, gets off to a promising start with our resident OCD sufferer. The rapport between the two characters is spot-on from their first scene together, which is a relief and a reflection of the two actors' talent.

Another familiar face on the episode is 'Til Death's Brad Garrett, who stops by to guest star as a handyman with a really big knack for spotting flaws in construction. Monk hires Honest Jake — yes, that's his name — to fix one of the inevitable problems in the detective's recently purchased home, and let's just say, the residence gets a very new look very fast.

There's less home improvement — okay, no home improvement — involved in Psych's third-season premiere “The Ghost in You,” but that doesn't mean nothing needs repairing. If you've already heard that Moonlighting icon Cybill Shepherd has been tapped to portray Shawn Spencer's (James Roday) previously unseen but always present mother Madeline Spencer this season, then you can guess what I mean.

The Spencers are one of those families people would pay to have dinner with if they were real, just to get a front-row seat to the guaranteed melodrama. The episode doesn't disappoint on that front.

It also scores when it comes to the main plot, which revolves around Shawn's best buddy Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill). Of course, viewers have always known that Gus has a legitimate occupation, something Shawn can't claim. The premiere gives us a closeup view of Gus on the job, but, unfortunately, he's having a very bad time.

Thanks to Shawn and Gus' sleuthing success, word gets around to Gus' boss that he pursues a time-intensive side hobby solving crimes. An ultimatum is delivered, and suddenly a very reluctant Gus finds himself trying to unravel the case of The Ghost in His Boss' House.

Yeah, it's good times, as is the entire episode, pretty much, and it makes me happy to have Shawn and Gus and Monk and all my other Friday-night USA faves back.

Source: Tvjots.com

Hector-Elizondo,

Monk

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