(S07E09) What does it say about this special holiday episode of Monk that the wittiest, most clever and memorable minute was when they unfurled the promo for the series return in 2009, using the music from Magnum, P.I. and dubbing the show Monk, P.I.? The USA marketing guys really hit a home run with that ad; it was brilliant.

Sadly, "Mr. Monk and the Miracle" was a sub-standard episode and hardly worth the moniker of "special." The mystery was rather simple -- about the most complicated piece of evidence was the hand print in the refrigerator -- and when Michael Badalucco (The Practice) appeared as Leland's pharmacist, you kind of knew he was involved in some way. Yet while the show wasn't up to the best of Monk standards, it did have a moment or two to redeem it.