Everybody Loves Monk, But Tony Shalhoub’s Other Emmy-Winning Show Is Just As Good

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 since Monk. Shalhoub’s breakout role of Adrian Monk, the offbeat detective and protagonist of the crime procedural Monk, has been a defining part of his career. It’s unsurprising that Monk is 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 to The 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 both Monk and Maisel. Though Maisel doesn’t feature a murder of the week, the more serialized storytelling will be a refreshing change for fans of Monk.

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 of Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has the same theatrical style and atmosphere that makes Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino’s work so iconic. Casting Shalhoub 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 of every season of The 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 of Maisel. Since Maisel is a serialized show, it dedicates far more time to character development and evolution than an episodic series like Monk​​​​​. However, this isn’t to say that Adrian never evolves; he just doesn’t go through the major changes that the audience witnesses from Abe. Shalhoub gets to explore more variations in his character as Abe, pushing himself to his limits.

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 of Monk should start watching Maisel to get more of Shalhoub and his amazing work. Shalhoub’s favorite episodes of Monk focus on exciting cases and see Monk challenged by the world around him. This is similar to Abe’s experience throughout Maisel. It’s clear through Shalhoub’s work in both series that he enjoys strong writing and witty dialogue. If audiences feel similarly, then Maisel will scratch the same itch as Monk​​​​​​, as both feature incredibly clever scripts.

Monk has 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 in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been just as significant for his career, and takes Shalhoub out of his comfort zone in new and exciting ways.