Our dog is a “rescue,” and back when we first got her from the Humane Society (and she was extremely restless), we somehow realized that playing “Monk” episodes (the quirky, comedic detective series starring Tony Shalhoub) on our television would calm her down. Now whenever she needs to be left alone in our house, we switch on the TV to keep her company, and “Monk” still seems to work.
For whatever reason, our dog is restless this afternoon. Actually, she has calmed down in the last few minutes. At the moment she is dozing on our couch. But the reason she has calmed down is that I switched on the TV a little bit ago to play some Monk.
Here is the kicker and the reason I am writing this blog post. As the episode began, I noticed a familiar name flash across the screen. No way, I thought. I’ve seen all the “Monk” episodes multiple times, and that person absolutely did not appear in this particular episode.
But then I started thinking. Was it possible this actor might have played the environmentalist? A tiny, bit part that doesn’t last much beyond the opening credits?
And the answer is yes.
Believe it or not, especially if you recognize the “Monk” episode where the power goes out because a wanted terrorist who was once in league with the tree-hugging environmentalist) plants a bomb at the power plant to keep anyone from seeing him at a Willie Nelson concert on TV.
This guy . . .
. . . is THAT GUY!!!
(WHAT????? Mind blown.)
Judge Reinhold is an amazing actor, clearly! (Even aside from all due credit given to the hair, makeup, and wardrobe personnel!) I can usually spot actors pretty easily, even when they appear in very different roles, and I probably drive my family crazy by constantly pointing out “Oh my gosh, that’s the security guard from . . . the mom from . . . the teacher from (film/TV title)!”
But honestly, if I hadn’t noticed Reinhold’s name today at the beginning of this episode, I never would have known!
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Katherine Wikoff 
He was also in the Beverly Hills cops movies!
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I loved those movies!
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That’s mainly where I remember him from! Fun movies!
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Does Judge Reinhold fit the archetype of the classic “character actor”? It seems like it. I always found him infinitely appealing as an absurd caricature of wholesomeness or dorkiness, a total square.
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Your description fits him perfectly! That’s how I always thought of him, too. But I never really thought of him as the classic “character actor” type until this week. Seeing him in this tiny role was a revelation.
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Ah, “here come da Judge!” As I mentioned above, I mostly remember him from the Beverly Hills Cop movies. He was also in Ruthless People. He and Helen Slater kidnapped Danny DeVito’s wife, Bette Middler (acting as DeVito’s pawns). Another fun movie. It has the great line (by DeVito), “I hate the way she licks stamps!”
I’ve never seen a full episode of Monk. It’s one of those shows I’ve been keeping in my hip pocket (along with Bones) as something to watch if I ever run out of new stuff to watch. Everyone I know of who has watched it loved it.
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I remember liking “Ruthless People” but can’t remember anything much about the plot today. “Monk” is good, kinda grows on you. If Bentley is ever restless on an extended visit and nothing else is working, you might try playing an episode in the background 😂
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I’ll keep it in mind. (Bentley’s not a restless dog, though. Given what we know about the first few years of her life (with meth heads), it’s amazing what a mellow smart dog she is.)
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