The TV show Monk is an American police procedural comedy-drama and detective mystery series that aired from July 12, 2002, to December 4, 2009, on the USA Network, totaling 125 episodes across eight seasons

. The series stars Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, a brilliant former homicide detective with the San Francisco Police Department who develops severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and multiple phobias after the unsolved murder of his wife, Trudy

. Monk is no longer able to serve on the police force due to his condition but works as a private detective and consultant for the police, helping solve unusual cases while investigating his wife's murder

. His OCD and phobias often complicate his life and work but also contribute to his extraordinary attention to detail and crime-solving abilities

. The show also features his assistants Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram) and later Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), as well as Captain Leland Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Randy Disher from the police department

. Monk was critically acclaimed, winning multiple awards including eight Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe

. A follow-up film, Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie , was released on Peacock in December 2023, with the original cast reprising their roles

. In summary, Monk is a unique detective series blending mystery, comedy, and drama centered on a troubled but brilliant detective overcoming personal challenges to solve crimes