Mr. Monk Stays in Bed

Season 4, Episode 3, Aired

Episode Summary

EDIT
go
Netflix
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
Hulu Plus
Subscription
9.5
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
505 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate Now!
When a pizza delivery man accidentally gives her a fifty-dollar bill as change, Natalie follows him to return the money, only to discover that he's been murdered. Or has he? The photo of the victim in the case folder doesn't match the man who delivered the pizza. But with Stottlemeyer and Disher concentrating on a high-profile case involving the murder of a judge and Monk suffering from the flu (and, worse, from an annoying get-well card that incessantly plays "Polly Wolly Doodle"), Natalie can't get anyone to investigate the delivery man's murder. Leaving Julie the unenviable task of watching Monk, she decides to solve the case herself--even if it means entering the murderer's house. Meanwhile, between nose-blowings and annoying demands, Monk deduces from the evidence the captain presents him that the man the judge was seeing is not married, an important step toward solving her murder.moreless
WRITE A REVIEW

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Watch Online

Netflix
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
Hulu Plus
Subscription

Fan Episode Reviews (15)

See All

  • Flimsy Story almost made me stop watching in the middle of it

    5.5
    "Mediocre"
    By bigarbel, Nov 30, 2011
    This is the second episode in a row that is really not on the level of all the previous ones.

    A flimsy story, no real detecting going on and very predictable from the minute the Captain is called away to tend to the case of the judge. What was that all about anyway, a chief commissioner (or something) comes to a crime scene to pull someone from the case because all the higher officers need to work on the case. Yet besides Stottlemeyer no other high ranking officer can be seen later. This was lazy writing just to connect one case to another.

    Then Nathalie sleuthing. I'm probably the only one here but I find her a very annoying character with absolutely no depth. The chemistry between her and Monk is not doing it for me and, yes, I thought Sharona was much better.
    What I don't get is that she goes and follow the pizza delivery guy in the middel of the night leaving her daughter and Monk behind without even a word.
    Again lazy writing just to make something happen.

    No, so far this season really disappoints me and I hope they get a grip and get back to being one of the best shows around. If not I'm afraid I'll lose interest by season's break
    moreless

  • Natalie carries the show and is crushed under it.

    4.0
    "Poor"
    By mnmopper, Oct 02, 2011
    Honestly, "Stays in Bed" was really a bad MONK episode. I can not believe that the writers put Natalie front and center in this episode. She's on even more than Monk which I don't mind the focus being taken off of Monk and in fact is one of the reasons the show has gone downhill. However Natalie is such a weak character that she can't carry an episode by herself.

    Also, Natalie is quite mean to Monk in this episode. She whines that he doesn't like Julie's get-well card. Then she is cruel because he won't help him with the pizza boy case knowing he's sick and is already working on another case. To make matters worse, she leaves him alone with an underage child to go investigating when Monk isn't feeling well. What a self-absorbed whiny woman!

    Stottlemeyer and Disher don't get too much to do because of the screen-time given to Natalie. It's nice to see them do some investigating, but the scene in the restaurant goes into some slapstick which makes MONK feel more like a cartoon than a prime-time show.

    Speaking of Monk, he gets some funny bits, but he really isn't well served here. He of course gets a heroic moment to save Natalie (Personally I wouldn't) in a sort of way similar to "Mr. Monk and the Earthquake" and the circumstances seem quite similar.....too similar.

    The mysteries are both interesting, yet with no strong character in the spotlight, a weak supporting cast, and some less than funny bits. In conclusion, "Stays in Bed" should have stayed in bed instead of waking up.moreless

  • Natalie plays a pivotal part but does not overshadow Monk in this episode.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By mysteryfan427, Sep 04, 2005
    "Mr. Monk Stays In Bed" is one of the funniest episodes of the show I have ever seen. I was laughing out loud during several moments, especially the table mixup with the Captain and Randy, Monk's belief that he has the Ebola Virus, the way he insists the tissue be disposed of, the "Polly Wolly Doodle" card, and so many other priceless moments.

    It was also a huge episode for Traylor Howard as Natalie. When Monk is sick, she feels the need to investigate and shows great courage in breaking into the killer's house. The actress is growing more and more into her role, and dare I say that I like her more than Sharona?

    Another thing I liked about it was that each cast member had their moments. Captain Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Disher weren't just there (as they are in many other episodes); they had one of the funniest scenes.

    Altogether this is a fine Monk episode.moreless

  • Mr. Monk investigates the death of a pizza delivery boy.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By rubencsj_2005, Aug 28, 2005
    This was the smartest Episode of the first half of Season 4. Cleverly thought and a great ending. Now that the mid-Season is over I up the rating to a 9. This episode is a fine example of what the show is about.

    It was obvious that the two cases shown were connected somehow but it was all played great. Monk was able to help solve it even when he was sick in bed. Natalie did his on-foot job. The fact that Julie's card helped him solve the muerder was a brilliant touch also. Great funny moments, great moment when the captain brought the evidence to Monk's house.

    Story: 9/10
    Acting:9/10moreless

  • Monk: (over the phone) "Is he a lawyer?" Natalie (seeing his degree): "How did you do that?" Just ... fun.

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By tjaman, Jul 25, 2005
    Natalie is being written very, very well.

    From the opening moments where she chases down the pizza guy for giving her too much change, on the basis that "This is a lot of money, and it comes out of his salary," she's a good mom and a good person. She went to a lot of trouble to get it back to him. Her character looks out of the little guy.

    The becomes even more dramatic when she discovers the murdered pizza delivery guy. In her estimation, his life is *as* important as a missing judge.

    Sadly, everyone in San Francisco is too distracted to help her in her quest for justice.

    The missing judge is one thing, along with the reallocation of resources, but the man was murdered. It's amazing that that fact could escape everyone's attention so immediately.

    Naturally, the case itself wasn't [i]that[/i] insoluble. The writing held, however, because of how the information got out -- Natalie tracking the case (that "Snowball" discussion thing was good, but she should've been ready to turn it right back on him: "Oh, you found a cat? What's it look like?") witnessing the disposal of the body, breaking into the guy's house -- that was some gutsy stuff.

    Julie, of course, is a little demon. That card ... oh, that was just evil. Obviously that's not how they work, but it was just ... what happens to irritants in Monk's world.

    I loved Stottlemeyer's comment: "You got sick? I'm impressed. A germ managed to invade ... you must be like the Mt. Everest for germs." It completely made up for him bobbling the confrontation with the disgruntled divorcee. First thing, Stottlemeyer, confirm you're talking to the right person.

    But yes ... who, then, would laugh? And the "tie food" comment *was* fun.

    The solve was cool -- Monk summing up for the perpetrator was wild. And there'd be other forensics. But absolutely, the pizza box was a great piece of evidence, and tracking it through that *irritating* card was fun.

    And, as an aside, Monk being sick is fun. The humidifiers and dehumidifier duking it out was great fun. And Stottlemeyer's impatience with his tissue nonsense was excellent, even if he was insensitive enough to set up a situation room at Monk's sickbed.

    Wonderful. Just ... wonderful. Good work from everyone on this one.moreless
WRITE A REVIEW
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

FILTER BY TYPE

Monk Forums


Add a Topic See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Monk Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 4 Episodes

See All
Ep 16
Mr. Monk Gets Jury Duty
Ep 15
Mr. Monk Goes to the Dentist
Ep 14
Mr. Monk and the Astronaut
Ep 13
Mr. Monk and the Big Reward
Ep 12
Mr. Monk and the Captain's...
Ep 11
Mr. Monk Bumps His Head
Ep 10
Mr. Monk Goes to a Fashion...
Ep 9
Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa
Ep 8
Mr. Monk and Little Monk
Ep 7
Mr. Monk Goes to a Wedding
Ep 6
Mr. Monk and Mrs. Monk
Ep 5
Mr. Monk Gets Drunk
Ep 4
Mr. Monk Goes to the Office
Ep 3
Mr. Monk Stays in Bed
Ep 2
Mr. Monk Goes Home Again
Ep 1
Mr. Monk and the Other Det...

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
TV.com Properties | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use