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! 
Monk has been one of the most entertaining, human, funny, sad, etc. intriguing and stress-releasing series that has been a part of my viewing pleasure since it began. I want to thank all of the cast and crew for providing a window of whimsey into a mostly hurry up and rush life. Monk gave me and my family a familiar escape from the world as a whole and we fell in love with him:) Nothing lasts forever, but I’ll be one of the first in line to purchase the entire series (hint…)!
I hope they don’t cancel – they just can’t. I know I am not the only person who likes to watch the “crime” shows that have the MUCH NEEDED COMIC RELIEF. I have watched them all but I just can’t take any more total gloom with child molesters, child murderers, etc. So – I stopped watching those shows, you know the ones i’m talking about, they are all good – but depressing. Anyway, If you want the crime fighting shows with comic relief they are starting to show up and very worth watching: MONK – NCIS – THE MENTALIST, OK,… Read more »
Monk had always been one of my favorite shows. Last night’s episode was one of the worse I have ever seen. Monk seemed so arrogant and rude. What a way to leave.
First I want to thank all of cast members and behind the scens folks, what TALENT,you gave me somethin g to look forward to. I wouldn’t even answer my phone when MONK was on. I am 68 and believe me when I say I got a LOT of my friends Old and young hooked on your show. ALL of my family watch it. Your whole cast was SO GREAT ! I too wish them the very best. Bobbi Clark
I am soooo disappointed. It is one show that I look forward to watching every week. I even watch all reruns and the all day marathons. I cannot say that about other shows. I love Monk and the cast. It is a very entertaining show with creative episodes. Why cancel a popular show??? Get rid of other shows and keep Monk. I’m so disappointed in the network.
What is wrong with you …………Get rid of in Plain sight …..Sell sydo on Jag, and Wings…..Bug god all mighty Keep Monk. 3 days a year I look forward to Tv that is Monday WWE RAW (USA) Thursday(BURN NOTICE ON USA) and the best night of all MONK AND PSYCH. I swear if you take my Monk I quit Usa all together…..I want to see Adrian Grow, Love agian, and find about Trudy eventually…….Not Rushed like this……Crap. Serious….TBS here I come. Becuse if I wanted to wate time watching tv I would watch the stdo on tbs break room. Let… Read more »
What are you thinking. There are MANY shows that should be shredded BUT never MONK. It’s one of the finist creative show I’ve seen. Monk makes me laugh along with Randy!!!! This is the WORSE decicions made in ages. Everything cost money!!! But monk is worth every penny of it. These are great actor’s let them alone!! Let them be creative and cut another going no where show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh this is terrible! I love Monk so much! I just started watching the show a few months ago and now I find out it’s canceled! I may as well just throw my television away.. Monk is the only thing I watch!
Grrr. I make my finacee watch Monk with me so my goofy little idiocincrasies don’t seem so…..goofy. Now who will I use as an example.
I am just glad I was able to watch such an entertaining show with such a talented cast that had perfect chemistry. It is such a hard thing to find anymore on t.v. I look forward to the final episodes and wish everyone involved with MONK the best of luck in the future!
I’ll be very sorry to see go. I can take it as long as there’s a very dazzling end to the Trudy saga. That way there’s a finite aspect to the DVDs I plan to buy. I hope all involved remember the very mediocre ending to the original Star Trek (cancelled due to budget concerns, in part). USA is kind of a refuge in a time of pure garbage from nearly every other station – TVLand in particular. Welcome to DVD, Adrian!
To be honest, I’m somewhat relieved; I really love the show, but I’ve always been concerned that they might just keep making it until it sucks and gets cancelled, like so many other shows. At least this way, it’ll hopefully end on a high note (and eight seasons is a good run, hey!). 🙂
AWE MAN! What a bummer! At least I’ll have MONK library to cherrish.
But, serves them right for dropping Bitty Schram. What a BABE!! ;)…
It seams those execs got a nice rythm of misdirected choices.
Kudos! on the casting ’till that point.
In response to V.A., though, I bet I could convince MONK that 8 is better than ten because its is an even multiple of 2, which in itself is an even number.
Cheers!
I think it’s only fair to Monk to get 10 seasons! unless he gets cured or something! 🙂
Very creative series! Well done! XD
Ohhhh, those networks and their so-called money issues, never mind the fans. Because of the increasingly crummy programming, Monk is one of the very few television shows I consider worth watching. Some of my happiest days have been Monk marathon days. Yes, like some of the other people who’ve commented here, I’ll need to buy the DVDs then I can create my own Monk marathon days. But I will surely miss the anticipation of new stories. Doggone USA Network. You STINK!!!