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 just finished watching the final episode of my all time favorite show, “MONK”! I can not believe you are ending one of the finest shows ever created for TV! KUDOS to the writers, producers, directors, actors, & above all to Tony! This series had it all, humor, drama, a great cast, & a very creative storyline! This brilliant series was a ” ray of sunshine” amoung the garbage that fills our airways! Please consider making a 2nd series of Monk? I have been a great fan of Tony’s, since, “Wings”, another favorite, with a brilliant cast! Thank you for… Read more »
The last epidsode was nice, but we are still going to miss the show 🙁
now we can only hope for a reunion show, or maybe Monk the movie!
awww noo dont go. why do the best shows get canceled??
ps the final episode was awesome!! made me cry
i love monk its totally awesome and i will miss it so much butt it was fun wile it lasted and i hope tony go’s on to do even more cool shows.
i left a comment which they said it was under moderation-whatever that means—-sadly i must say ciao mr. monk. i will miss you like crazy. introduced my family especially my grandchildren to you and we always had someplace to go on fridays. i predict that you will come to your demise propably in an explosion and you will finally join your beloved trudy for all eternity. auvoir, aufvedasaine., so long ,goodbyyyyyyyyye lidia
I will miss you Mr. Monk!
I love monk. just watching the marathon all day is making me sadder and sadder. I will miss monk like crazy.
I love MONK and I am big fan of him. Today is a sad day for my family. We are going to miss you Mr. Monk and the cast too, you need to stay with us!!! My family can’t wait for Fridays, to watched Monk. Can you please stay with us and continue with this wonderful program. Is the best in the tv. How great is Mr. Monk, you made are family stay together every Friday…. We will miss you!!!!!! Thank you for the great time.
WE WILL MISS YOU………WE WILL MISS YOUUUUUU……….
please dont leve me im a big fan so much that all my friends & family call me Monk jr even tho im old enough to b your grandmother lol please dont go i need u more than u can ever understand , i first fell head over heals over u when u was on the show wings stop and think what will happen to all your fans pleas dont leve us we love u dearly i will miss u the most u changed my life for the better Pamela Newman
I’ll bet it’s those stinkin’ wipes that are the source of his poisoning.
sadly, i must say ciao mr monk, i will miss you like crazy. i turned my whole family especially grandkids on to your show and we always had a place to go on fridays. i regret to predict that you will also meet your demise probably also in an explosion and you will finally join your beloved trudy . auvoir, farewell. goodbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye lidia
No, I don’t think Monk should end. With the finale you have set up and after he finds out who killed his wife; I believe you should come on with him having regained all of his confidence and with all of his knowledge and vigor, he truly can become a super sleuth; one like television has never known; the new MONK! I know he can do it because even with all of the hang ups with this current character, the new character can be an exceptional James Bond MONK! This would be great! Dont let it end this way. Thanks,… Read more »
I came as a late fan to Monk. It had been on for a year before I knew it was the USA network. But once I saw it, I was hooked. Luckily USA replays its episodes during mornings during the week ends and have episode marathons and was able to catch up and became a regular fan. Mind you, I am a graveyard shifter. I don’t usually watch prime time TV because I am usually sleeping before work. However, the show made me change my schedule so I was sure to be up on time for my “breakfast” and my… Read more »
i have all of your tv series you will miss a lot i hate that you are being kill off the show i was hope for you too found love with your parted ps hope too in some other tv show mrs.oneal
monk is one of the greatest shows of all time.. even kids love it for a fact. its so realistic and cancelling it would be like cancelling our friday nights. its the highlight of everyweek after coming home from a tiring day at school or work. we have to save it somehow..lol…just tell everyone to watch monk tonight it would make the cast feel better!!!! MoNK Fan
GET EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO WATCH MONK TONIGHT…………………..PLEASE !!!