It took me quite a while to get into Tony as Monk. I just couldn't warm up to the character, but lately I've become more of a "Monk" fan.

Last week I saw an episode where Monk was talking to his therapist, and he was complaining about his life....his failed relationships, his career disappointments, etc.....and it struck me that Tony seems to have carried a lot of his "Antonio" characteristics over to Monk. I used to think of Monk as an entirely different character than Antonio Scarpacci, and he IS different in some ways....but there are a lot of similarities too!

Has anyone else noticed this?

I actually haven't noticed that. Well, I haven't watched "Monk" more than (wow, my computer is completely spazzing out right now and not keeping up with my typing) seven or eight times or so, but I always thought he was completely different than Antonio. In the episodes I've seen, I never really noticed much of a similarity.
I like "Monk", though. It's a good show, and Tony is hilarious as Monk. I don't watch it often, because I always forget when it's on.

~Krista

Yeah I know a synopsis to one of the episodes airing next season in Monk..

To make a long story short. Sharona pursuades him to go undercover as an italian mob man to solve a murder.. He uses that famous Antonio accent we've come to like very much.. So stick out for that next season.