Monk is an American police procedural comedy drama detective mystery television series that originally ran on the USA Network from July 12, 2002, to December 4, 2009, with 125 episodes broadcast over eight seasons.

It follows Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a private detective with obsessive–compulsive disorder[1] and multiple phobias (including apparent mysophobia or "germophobia"), and his assistants Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram) and Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard).

Monk works with the San Francisco Police Department in solving unconventional cases while investigating his wife's unsolved murder.

First envisioned by ABC as an Inspector Clouseau-type police show, the series' premise of a detective with obsessive–compulsive disorder originated with David Hoberman in 1998, while Andy Breckman, who is credited as creator, wrote the pilot episode by taking inspiration from Sherlock Holmes.

Subsequent episodes of the first season were filmed in Toronto, Ontario, and the remainder of the series was shot primarily in Los Angeles, California.

The final episode held the record for the most-watched scripted cable television drama from 2009 to 2012 (subsequently broken by The Walking Dead) with 9.4 million viewers.

[3][4] Adrian Monk was a brilliant homicide investigator with the San Francisco Police Department until the death of his wife Trudy exacerbated his obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) to the point he could no longer serve on the force.

After refusing to leave his house for over three years, Monk, with the help of his nurse and assistant Sharona Fleming, begins working as a private detective and consultant for the police while continuing to investigate Trudy's unsolved murder.

Monk helps Captain Leland Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Randy Disher solve baffling cases and undergoes therapy with the goal of being reinstated on the police force.

[5] While Monk's personal challenges and compulsions often cause problems and frustration for both himself and those around him, his observational skills and keen attention to detail enable him to solve cases through unconventional means.

His 312 phobias include germs, needles, birds, heights, dentists, milk, death, snakes, lightning, mushrooms, crowds and enclosed spaces.

[6] According to an interview with executive producer David Hoberman,[27] ABC first conceived the series as a police show with an Inspector Clouseau-like character with OCD.

[31] Although set in the San Francisco Bay Area, Monk is for the most part shot elsewhere except for occasional exteriors featuring city landmarks.

[34] During the first season of Monk, the series used a jazzy instrumental introduction to the show by songwriter Jeff Beal, performed by guitarist Grant Geissman.

[36] NYC actor Colter Rule was hired by USA Network to do all radio and TV promotions for the series from its inception, lending an ironic, understated tone that contributed to the show's early popularity.

Tony Shalhoub reprises the title role, as well as original main cast members: Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, and Traylor Howard as their respective characters.