USA’s Monk may be leaving the air after its eighth season wraps up, but there is a bit of good news in store for longtime fans.
Monk centers on Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a brilliant San Francisco detective who has a breakdown following his wife’s murder. After a three-year absence, Monk returns to the force to help do what he does best: solve crimes. Of course, for someone suffering from severe OCD, that’s no easy task — but it’s usually Monk’s OCD that ends up helping him solve the case. Series performers also include Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard, Stanley Kamel, Bitty Schram, Emmy Clarke, Kane Ritchotte, and Hector Elizondo.
The show premiered in 2002 and was a surprise hit for the USA Network. One of the most endearing aspects of the show was the close relationship between Monk and his practical nurse/assistant, Sharona Flemming (Schram).
Schram left the series in the middle of season three due to a contract dispute, though producers insisted they just wanted to “take the show in a different direction.” Her spot in the cast was filled by Traylor Howard as Monk’s second assistant, Natalie.
Sharona’s absence was explained by having the character move back to New Jersey with her son, after remarrying her ex-husband Trevor Howe. She is mentioned but not seen at the end of season six when everyone believes that Monk has died. She apparently sent flowers and attended the funeral with her son, Benjy.
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In the novel Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants by Lee Goldberg, the character returns to San Francisco after her husband has been accused of murder. Monk eventually clears him and Sharona returns to her husband with the knowledge that her eccentric friend is being well cared for by Natalie. It’s a bit of closure that TV viewers didn’t get — until now.
Schram is reprising her role as Sharona for an episode of the Monk TV show’s final season. It’s unknown how the writers will reintroduce her but one scenario invloves Natalie and Sharona exchanging war stories about the detective.
Shalhoub is excited about his former co-star’s return. The two ran into each other last April when Kamel (Dr. Kroger) passed away.
Shalhoub said, “We couldn’t think of a better way to help wrap up the series than with the return of Bitty’s character. Bringing some closure to Sharona is long overdue.”
Season eight of Monk is expected to premiere this Summer. Shalhoub says the writers are hard at work wrapping up unresolved storylines. It’s unknown where in the final 16 episode run Schram’s appearance will fall but it’s certainly a nice way to help end the series.
Image courtesy USA.
I am very sad and upset at the same time. Monk will show its finally season and a lot of other garbage will continue to polllute television.
I will miss this program dearly.
HELLO TO ALL THE CASTS AND STAFF OF THE SHOW.. PLEASE DONT LEAVE THE SCENE…. WE ALL LOVED YOUR SHOW ESPECIALLY THE TANDEM OF ADRIAN MONK AND SHARONA!! THEY ARE SO GREAT TOGETHER. ITS VERY HEARTWARMING WATCHING YOU GUYS!! AND WE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED THAT BITTY HAD TO LEAVE BUT WE ARE VERY MUCH EXCITED FOR HER COMEBACK!!!!!!^_________^
The first 2 seasons of Monk were entertaining, and many viewers believed that issues concerning OCD (disease and disorder) would be tastefully addressed. However, Monk’s OCD was used solely for laughs. By the third season, episodes became more and more predictable and less and less entertaining. Tony Shaloub probably realized that fact and opted not to take his character in a new direction.
I look forward to the show which reunites Shaloub and Schram. As happens so frequently in Hollyrock with contract disputes, one actor gets the goldmine while another actress gets the shaft.
I love this show! Watch it on HD at 4:00 am USAHD Close Captioned since hubby is asleep Then again at 7:00 USA with full volume. Ted and Tony are the best!!! The show will be missed. Anything out on blueray yet?
It is a shame that in a time when families are becoming more and more fractured, that a show that brings people together in a humorous, yet serious way is leaving the air. My family and I will miss our Friday night family times watching, and rolling on the floor laughing, at Monk. If there is a way to keep it going, please consider doing just that. There is very little on television that a whole family can sit down and watch together.
Tony Shaloub decided not to do Monk anymore. USA would never cancel a cash cow like Monk!
As someone with OCD, I have mixed feelings about the show. It’s extremely comical, but it almost treats OCD as a quirk, not as an illness that causes severe stresses and anxieties. I see the show for what it is, but feel that it hasn’t really *helped* the OCD community with the attitides towards OCD and how it should be treated.
My wife and I have a daughter with OCD and this program helps us to see that good can come from OCD. Please don’t cancel. It so very entertaining.
My Family and I love Monk. We watch it as often as we can. Every friday night on USA and on all the other chanels it comes on. We specifically enjoy the marathons on SleuthTV. we wish that it was not coming to an end.
Tony does such a great job as Monk! I LOVE watching him and his reactions to his “things”. Monk is the only show that I will not miss. If there is any way you could keep Monk on the air, please, please, pleeeeeeeze do!
Every time that there is a series that my wife and I enjoy, it suddenly is taken off the air. I don’t get it. The star of the series needs to think of how many people will be put out of work and into the unemployment lines. I hope Tony Shalhoub will reconsider. There are so few shows worth watching.
Love, love, love the show. My whole family watches. We will turn off any other program when Monk comes on. I wish it came on at a more convenient time. We love the marathons. I think the murder scenes could be made a little less graphic and I would keep sex talk and skin to a minimum since families watch, but otherwise, great job.
Please don’t take Monk of the Air, because it is so hard to find a show that everybody in my family likes. Monk is wonderful to watch on Friday nights as a family. Monk is a great show!
WHY IS ALL THE GOOD SHOWS GOING OFF THE AIR??? I JUST LOVE THIS SHOW ESPICALLY IF BITTY SCHRAM *SHARONA) IS COMING BACK !!! THIS SHOW IS DIFFERENT THAN YOUR USUAL DETECTIVE SHOWS, I THINK THAT WHY ITS SOOOOOOO GREAT. KEEP IT ON THE AIR. REALLLLLLY TIRED OF THOSE REALITY SHOWS!!!
how can one not decide
have you lost the ability to think
just vote for ross perot
Why are you quitting when the show is doing so well? Do the actors want to leave? There are so few shows that are family friendly and well written that I think it is a shame to stop. My husband also agrees.