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USA schedules more 'Monk'

Eighth season may be Shalhoub show's last

By DANIEL FRANKEL

USA Network has picked up the eighth, and what it calls the final season of 'Monk.'

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USA Network has picked up the eighth, and what it calls the final season of "Monk."

Cabler has ordered 16 episodes of the series, an early prodiginator of its "Characters Welcome" brand of original skeins, with premiere skedded for next summer.

With the earlier renewals of "Psych," "Burn Notice" and "In Plain Site," USA has now re-upped all of its established originals.

Starring Tony Shalhoub, a three-time Emmy winner for his role as a brilliant detective who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, "Monk's" seventh campaign earlier this year scored average ratings increases over season six in adults 18-49 (up 13%) and total viewers (up 20%).

In fact, the series scored its best marks ever on Feb. 22, when it drew 7.6 million viewers.

"Monk" is exec produced by David Hoberman, Andy Breckman, Randy Zisk, Tom Scharpling and Shalhoub.

Series is from Universal Cable Prods. in association with Mandeville Films and ABC Studios.