 Critic David Bianculli included it on his list of the best programs to air episodes that day , comparing it to " Who shot J.R. ? " and " Who Shot Mr. Burns ? " . Melanie McFarland from Seattle Post @-@ Intelligencer commented that the idea of Monk shooting Santa Claus was " hilarious " . Michael Storey of the Arkansas Democrat @-@ Gazette called it " a hoot and well worth your time " , while United Feature Syndicate 's Kevin McDonough deemed it " exceptional " . Cinema Blend 's Kelly West said it had not enough of the " touchy @-@ feely stuff " expected in a Christmas @-@ themed episode , and that it was not " all that different from any other episode in terms of the story " , but felt it was " full of laughs and definitely worth watching , if only to see Monk throw down with Santa . " 
