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!
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I just started watching Monk two years ago. One show and I was hooked and I cannot believe you are ending it! It figures though–all the crap that is on TV and you take off the quality shows. What will be next? NCSI? I hope you will continue to show reruns at least and still have marathons. I could cry at the thought that he will be on the last time tonight! Love you Monk!
noooooooooooooooo…. i watch monk all the way from Pakistan…… the show is like salad for the soul: light. oh well, hope the next show usa network puts on in the same slot is like monk..
Donna jeans is wonderful too, Great USA more of this! there will never be another Monk it was totally different.
Yes, there are many fans and I am a huge one I looked froward every friday nite at 9pm. and loved it even more when there would be a special and make a day off all Monks episodes. There is not many programs that are funny, spenceful, and learn something all in such a short time, and no foul langauge. I love the Mr Monk whole cast! everyone has been great!!! I am truly going to pray that I will be able to buy all the shows, Well guy’s it has been nice while it last. Maybe there will be… Read more »
Tony, (Monk) Recently my moms sisters died within 2 weeks of each other. (they were in their fifties). My mom was so crushed. Could not bare to stay home at Thanksgiving. She came to chicago to visit and as usual Friday night rolled around and there you were. She sat down and said “I don’t like to watch shows like this” then suddenly a laugh and the air was a little less heavy. When it was over, she said please call me every Friday and let me know it’s on. I said, “ok, but this will be the last” Her… Read more »
MONK PLEASE DON’T LEAVE US ,I ‘VE BEEN AT HOME EVERY FRIDAY FOR YEARS.THE NIGHT YOU CAME ON I SAID LET ME SEE WHAT THIS SHOW GOING TO BE ABOUT, AND I’VE BEEN HOOK SINCE. YOU CAN LEAVE IN ABOUT 20 YEARS OR WHEN I’M DEAD(LOL)THE WHOLE MISSISSIPPI WATCH YOU SO THERE 4 YOU CAN’T LEAVE
WE LOVE MONK!!! We look forward to every friday night so we can see the show. Cannot believe it is being cancelled! To whoever decided this………..BOO TO YOU!!
Monk,
Stop using those damn contaminated wipes! Then you won’t have to die!
I love the show and all the cast members. I dont know what I will do on Fri eve without Monk. I leave parties early so I dont miss a single show. I watch reruns every chance I get. Love Monkathons. You have given me years of laughs and tears. I can relate to your loss of Trudy. I watched you on Wings and loved you then. Good luck and hope to see you in another series.
I remember watching the advertisements for this new show called Monk and I had no desire to watch it, but then my little sister said she watched it and it was really good so I I watched one show to give it a try and I got hooked. Monk is one of the few shows on TV now that is clean so I loved it!
All good things must come to an end I guess, but I sure wish this show had been renewed for a few more seasons. The writing is genius, the acting superb, and Tony as Monk is entirely endearing. It’s one of my favorite shows of all time and I’ll miss it so very much. It sure was great while it lasted. Thanks to all involved in its making for many, many happy hours.
going to miss monk, looked forward ever friday to spend an hour with him.
Monk please dont leve me all my friends call me Monk jr, cuz im a clean freek well i love to clean but i cant b without u & your show u are a wondeful actor i fell head first when i first saw u on wings pleas pleas pleas dont go Love Pamela
I’m going to miss Monk so much and the rest of the cast too. If I knew I couldn’t watch it on Friday I made sure I taped it. I will miss you Monk!