Good news and bad news for fans of USA’s Monk TV show. The network has renewed it for an eight season but has also announced that there won’t be a ninth year of dysfunctional sleuthing.
Monk tells the tale of Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a brilliant San Francisco detective who, after the death of his wife in a car bombing, has a nervous breakdown. After being a recluse for three years, Monk returns to the force, barely able to control his obsessive-compulsive disorder. Monk’s many phobias make it difficult for him to function but, because he’s hyper-aware of the world around him, he’s an incredibly observant sleuth.
Though they’re often irritated by his disorder, Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and Lieutenant Randall “Randy” Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) utilize Monk’s abilities when cases get tough. Monk is helped by assistant Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram) and later by Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard).
The TV show debuted on July 12, 2002 on the USA network. The show began as a modest success and grew its audience to an average of 6.1 million viewers in season six. This year’s episodes have been averaging five million viewers, 40% of which are from the desirable 18-49 demographic. The numbers are even more impressive when you consider that the series airs on Friday nights, a little-watched night of television.
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USA has renewed the series for an eighth season of 16 episodes but those will end the series. With the show’s viewership still growing, why finish it now? The decision to end the series is said to be a mutual one between all parties involved. Though they maintain that they want to end Monk while the show is still on top creatively, the reason for the cancellation comes down to dollars and cents. As the seasons have progressed, production costs have increased and the network likely finds it hard to justify episodes’ high pricetags.
USA’s Executive VP of Original Programming, Jeff Wachtel, assures that viewers won’t be disappointed by the final episodes. In a statement, he said, “Our fans have been extremely dedicated, and season eight should prove to be a very satisfying reward.” It’s rumored that the final episodes will bring the character full circle, centering around the killer of Monk’s beloved wife.
A special holiday episode of Monk is slated for November 28th and season seven episodes will continue in January 2009. Monk’s last 16 episodes are scheduled to begin airing sometime next summer. Stay tuned! 
I can not believe you would cancel such a witty and entertaining program. Monk is good clean real entertainment for all ages. This just brakes my heart.
I think USA sucks,,you have just taken away my last chance to watch USA at all,,you cancelled 4400 ,,,Johnny Smith in Dead ZOne,,and now Monk,,im not even bothering to watch the new shows on because they suck,,,so when Monk goes,,,so do i,,,and i do hope they are happy about it,,,I wish USA a slow and painful death,,,because they are stupid and deserve it,,,
I agree there should be 10 seasons , Mobi would like it better that way. I am so sad this show is going to be over. I can’t say I’ve watched it from the begining but ever since I discovered this show I have been an extremely loyal fan. I am going to f***ing cry when this show is over. I’m glad they’re not dragging it out but I just love this show so much. I’m a psych fan too but it’s not the same, **starts choking back tears**
Well, since i was a kid i have loved this show. Its such ashame to see it finish at the nineth season. Also monk would not be happy he would want it to finish on the tenth season so it would be a nice round number.
But i guess that over time things just have to change and people will find a new TV show and will not think so much about monk.
I’m sorry to see this go. I’ve been upset since the announcement, but since now its looming closer, it’s tough to accept that this is it.
I very rarely watch any television, and I would always either set my DVR for this show, or tune in on Fridays since it’s series debut. Very unfortunate, lets hope the new USA shows can live up to my expectations.
Another great family oriented show has bit the dust. Networks are only concerned about making more money, not quality programming. That is why there is so much reality tv on now. All that smut and trash that has women and men degrading themselves for money. Sometimes, not even money. Monk was a show that my family looked forward to. Just like NBC, USA has gone stupid. NBC has dropped “MEDIUM” to accommodate that unfunny Jay Leno. What has happened to tv? Cable and satellite are options to get those programs that are not suitable for regular viewing. I am all… Read more »
Only the good die young.
You spend money on other programs that that do not begine to have the quality that Mon has. I can’t believe that you thought this action through thoroughly.
Everything decent and funny and entertaining is always taken off. Monk is the only program my children and I can watch and look forward to watching every week. I would watch this show even if I didn’t have kids. I guess USA doesn’t have any thing worth watching now time to move on.
Well , i think that when money is spent money isbeing made, I think that many times good times come to and end because poeple become to greedy and I think the Monk show is great and hate to see it end, so when you loose a good show people will drift to different channels we are creatures of habit and that is bad for some channels,
I have to agree with all or most of the comments here. The shows on today, are strictly for the younger generations to watch and enjoy. The shows on the main networks really are bad. I think if the network execs. would start to survey the older generations vs. the younger ones they would find out who stays in to watch their programs on a daily basis and who just stays in on the night their favorite program is on. The reality shows are ruling the networks and I very seldom watch the main channels anymore. And worse of all… Read more »
Why cancel a successful show with a talented cast. So we can watch people lose weight? Try to dance? Swap wives? Renovate a house? Operate on an orangatan? Please, get real and leave the good shows alone. Did you forget the Emmys that were won? The ratings?
I will miss Monk! I know all good things eventually have to come to an end but just a few more seasons would have been great. I thought sure that as a tribute to the main character they would end the series on an even number. I mean how is Monk going to feel about 9 seasons?! He deserves to end on 10!
I have all the released seasons on DVD so Mr. Monk will live on in my home.
I hope they don’t mess with his character in the last episode.
please reconsider taking Monk off..So many people do not watch the main networks because it is all trash and I find such comfort in the shows on USA…
please dont cancel monk one of the best show’s on tv.