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 end Monk. There are so many shows on T.V, that has gotten OLD, and they kept being played. Why is it that the BEST one has to go? Can,t you eliminate at least 20 of your 200 Law and Orders? That is one that REALLY has to go. There are so many, that it takes a hole day to show them all. Monk should be airing in some of those times. Then we will be talking t.v. I was hoping to one day soon, be able to watch episode 200. Thank,s. I hope you can change your mind.… Read more »
Monk is brilliant. Don’t end it.
It is so sad that networks don’t obey the voice of the people who watch their commercials. Monk is so cute and funny that I even like watching the reruns.
This is one of the few shows on television I watch, I really wish USA would reconsider the choice of ending Monk. I’m truly disappointed.
I will miss Monk after it’s gone, and will continue to be happy to turn off the shows with unredeeming qualities.
Discovered how to cure my Monk addiction. Late last night after an unbearably rough day, evening and night, I took out my Season 6 DVD to watch an episode of Monk,. hear my beloved theme song and intro, and smile and try to calm down from the horrors of that day. Shock. The theme song that always made me smile had been replaced by a piece of rap slop. This was the first episode I absolute hated from start to finish. Now I know how to deal with withdrawal of my beloved Monk shows. Just have to put on “The… Read more »
You have got to be kidding me! I am a Major in the Army; this series is one of the things that kept me sane while I was deployed to Iraq. When I would get off my 12 hour shift, I would watch my Monk series CDs. Those Monk CDs were given to me as presents for my birthday and Christmas while I was in Iraq. Once I redeployed and got pregnant, I watched the reruns so much that my son recognizes the theme song today. At 17 months, when he hears the song, he will stop what he is… Read more »
one of the best shows ever… esp… Ray “the machine” Regis
Monk is the only reason why I even watch tv! They can’t cancel it! It is THE most hilarious show I have ever seen and they should at least give us a season 10 to make the number even. Monk is the greatest show ever and apparently “one of the most successful shows on basic cable”. Can’t they do a less expensive show?
Ruh-Roh, I had just decided that I could hang on as long as there were new Monk episodes coming.
So very sad to see Monk is ending.
you cannot cancel monk because monk is the only reason my sister and i are talking. we both loved monk. when monk is gone, my sister and i have no reason to call each other anymore. Back to the way we were, hardly hear from one another for years.
Well, it looks like the decision makers at network channels have as much brains as we have jobs, insurance and money – LITTLE TO NONE!! To cancel such a great show like Monk due to “expenses” is ridiculous, because what they typically replace them with is a show I will not watch – what will that do for their “bottom line” when they lose many, many viewers?? You don’t replace a steak with ground chuck — you end up with people going elsewhere for their meal.. I am tired of great shows getting cancelled and being left with all of… Read more »
OMG, I watch this show my accident one night because I happen to come upon it and I LOVE IT. It is so funny. I laugh so hard at Monk that I just now heard the final season and I ran to my computer to see what was up with that. Oh no I am going to be so sad to see it go. 🙁
They shouldn’t end Monk. It’s one of the rare shows that catch your attention.
i’m so sad that Monk is ending. it’s one of the best family-friendly show on tv. Yes, a show does not have to have adult language & situations to be entertaining. I’ve always admired the creators & actors for presenting a funny smart entertaining show that the whole family can watch. It should be a nice even 10 seasons. best wishes to the cast & crew.
OH PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
DON’T END MY FAVORITE SERIES. I’M STUCK IN THE HOUSE IN A WHEELCHAIR(MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS). MONK IS THE REASON I GET UP IN THE MORNING.
Monk can’t be cancelled! My three year old son absolutely loves the theme song! I have to agree that in the spirit of OCD and Mr. Monk there must be a tenth season!