2008 Winter TV Preview: Monk

Monk - Season 6 (Pt. 2)

Premieres: Friday, January 11 at 9:00 p.m. EST

Network: USA

Creator(s): Andy Breckman

Starring:: Tony Shalhoub, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard

Website: USANetwork.com

It's a gift…and a curse. So sums up the obsessive-compulsive behavior that sets Mr. Monk (Tony Shalhoub) apart from a gazillion other TV detectives. The series continues its sixth season Friday, January 11th, with Mr. Monk Joins a Cult.

Mr. Monk’s OCD issues and phobias were exacerbated by the tragic death of his beloved wife, Trudy, killed in a still-unsolved car-bombing several years ago. Snakes, crowds, heights, milk, germs, you name it, are all part of Monk's neurotic life and cost him his job with the San Francisco Police Department.

But because of his photographic memory and OCD-eye for detail, his former boss, Capt. Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), still calls on Mr. Monk to help solve stubborn cases. He's just got doubts about the Monkster's abilities to carry a gun or subdue a perp, which is why he hasn’t reinstated him to the force.

The fact is that Mr. Monk would never leave his apartment without the help of assistant Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) and her daughter, Julie (Emmy Clarke). These two not only do much of the dirty work when it comes to crime-solving, they also bring him groceries, toothpaste, and all those other life necessities.

I love the quirky Mr. Monk and can't wait for this show to return. The likeable little series has clearly struck a chord with viewers. Sure, it's smart, funny and well written. But maybe we like it because we see a little of ourselves in Mr. Monk, a guy who irons his shoelaces and avoids doorknobs like…well, like the plague.

With his starched shirts and coasters on every table, he's the anti-Columbo and the perfect antidote to yet more CSI-type shows.

For the full 2008 Winter TV Premiere Schedule: CLICK HERE

Here's a peek: