What I'm Watching: Monk & Psych

Monk: Season 7, Episode 4 "Mr. Monk Takes A Punch" (B+)
Psych: Season 3, Episode 4 "The Greatest Adventure in the History of Basic Cable" (B+)

This is exactly the episode "Monk" needed right now to sustain itself after a somewhat lackluster start to the season. I especially love when guest stars form a friendship bond with Monk, such as this episode with the boxer calling Monk "Mr. M". Watching Monk try to pull it together and get in shape was highly amusing, and the finale with him running to stop the bad guy was a great capper. This is my favorite kind of "Monk" case resolution, when it's something small that you have to pay attention for - the guy who stole the paintings in that one scene where they were filming the commercial. The attention to detail is truly terrific. "Psych" could have stopped itself short a bit earlier before getting so incredibly ridiculous, but I still enjoyed the episode. Corbin Bernsen is a lot of fun, and I'd really like to see more of Maggie Lawson's Jules, who's been sidelined a bit this season in favor of the deserving and funny Lassie. It was also great to see Steven Weber, who impressed last year with a more dramatic turn on "Monk", though I do wish he had been given a bit more to do. Part of me suspects that this isn't the last we've seen of him.