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! 
PLEASE………don’t cancel Monk. It is one of the very few programs that has drama and comedy that everyone in the family can watch. REAL comedy is something that can make people laugh until they cry without having to use foul language, naughty suggestions, sexual scenes, or ridicule. Monk meets that criteria in a big way. My very favorite Monk was the one with the monkey. I laugh every time I remember Monk trying to sell the house he was only renting. Tony has given Monk life in a way no one else could. With the stresses that this nation faces… Read more »
I enjoy Monk ever since the beginning. Don’t end a good thing!
No, no, no, noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!! I don’t want Monk to end! It’s an amzing show. It’s the only thing on TV worth watching. Please don’t end it.
“Monk” is such a great show! It is very original and the cast is awesome. This show never disappoints. I am so sad and upset that this will be the last season of the show. I always have looked forward to sitting down and watching another great episode every week very years….. USA network and/or NBC…please continue to keep Monk full episodes online so that all the devoted viewers can still have a good laugh once in awhile.
I can’t believe Monk won’t be on anymore. I love this show! Its what I look forward to every friday night. Please consider special movies or something for Monk fans! They have such a terrific cast who seem to really enjoy each other. So sad!!
Monk is one of the best shows on TV. The whole cast is brilliant which doesn’t
happen often. Silly reason to stop a show, what about some stimulus money,
great use when people need uplifting and fun things to watch.
I have only recently discovered the monk episodes on austar tv in Australia in the last six months. I had never seen the show before. I can’t wait to see every episode I can. It is so unique and different and to learn that the show will be axed because of costs was a very sad thing indeed. Im sure Australian fans and those around the world will miss the show like myself and my wife. It is by far the best show on tv and paid tv. The star who plays Monk is such a talented actor and brings… Read more »
Monk is the best show ever!!!!! I can’t believe they’re quiting
I love Monk.
Its and outrage that this show is being cancelled but it would have been better if the producer Tony Shaloub would have come out and said that he is thankful for everything that has happend but ufornunately the show has to go to a premature ending due to insufficient funds but we will be airing one last season. The thing i have been waiting for is who killed trudy and what going to happen to Monk in the Future.
U morons don’t know a good thing when u have it !!!!!! Take Monk off and put on some show or some stupid ass supposed comedy instead of keeping a good show that everyone can watch. No wonder why this Nation is in the toilet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bill
The end of great tv has now been inacted. My entire family watches MONK, we love the show, the plots, the characters, the cast of people. Everyone enjoys having a program to look forward to each week and MONK is our program. I agree with the previous blogs, Monk is a modern day classic, in the same catagory as I Love Lucy, Honeymooners, Andy Griffith and the more modern classics like Frasier and Sienfeld. However, Monk is also extremely helpful in that people with OCS can see that they are not just a person with a problem but a person… Read more »
Have really enjoyed this show. Everyone could watch this one. Sorry USA network is unwilling to go 2 more years to the 10th year on this classic detective story.
Unusual characters be hanged………who is more unusual than Monk? Time to move on as other viewers have said. New Networks…New Horizons.
not to mention this new stuff on USA like that show about the people is witness protection and the new one, i think it s about a doctor – those are terrible! can we at least keep pysch?! but i imagine without monk to help hold up that type of comedy, pysch’s days are numbered.
I am so upset that Monk is being cancelled! I am faithful viewer and have been since the start in 2002. It is the ONE and ONLY show on television that my entire family can sit and enjoy. with all the junk on tv its nice to be able to have a show that is so entertaining – i mean LOL funny that i can watch with my children and is relavant to us as parents as well as our teenage children. wonderful show. it will be greatly missed and the most dissappointing of all is that usa hasnt even… Read more »