"Monk" boots Bitty Schram

[mac56]

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14843,00.html



Bitty Schram, who plays Adrian Monk's care-giving sidekick, won't be helping the detective handle his obsessive-compulsive behavior any more.

Executives for USA Network confirmed the surprise departure of Schram, who had earned a Best Actress Golden Globe nomination for her role opposite Emmy and Globe winner Tony Shalhoub, from the show, which is the top-rated drama on cable.

The net blamed the usual creative differences for the split. "Monk has decided to go in a different creative direction with some of its characters," the network said in a terse statement. "Bitty will not continue with the cast and we thank her for her notable contributions and wish her the very best."

Schram's management, Untitled Entertainment, released a statement of its own: "Bitty Schram and USA Network have amicably decided to go their own separate ways...She wishes everyone connected with the show continued success and looks forward to pursing the various opportunities before her."

The announcements did little to stop the Hollywood trades from trying to figure out the real reason behind Schram's departure. Industry scuttlebutt suggests that Schram may have lost out in a bid for a higher salary. There have also been rumors that the personality of the character and/or actress had worn thin.

- - -

Damn. She was one of the best things about that show.

[mrboba1]

1. so long, Monk,

we hardly knew ye...

(I can't believe that the show will survive w/o her)

[mac56]

2. Sadly, I agree.

I love that show. But I fear without Sharona, it'll jump the shark.

[Susang]

3. No fucking way!

The relationship between her and Monk IS the show. They are fucking idiots for letting her go. She was a great comedienne and actress and played off of Tony Shalhoub wonderfully. Morons. :mad:

[AgadorSparticus]

4. they're crazy for letting her go. this show will go to crap w/o her.

[GOPisEvil]

5. Damn, there's no crying on "Monk" either. That sucks.

[Pithlet]

6. It's the end.

The show won't last long, now. The quality had gone down a little, anyway. It won't even be the same show, and that's a shame. I really liked it :(

[mac56]

7. Actually, I thought the quality this past season was quite good.

Mostly because of the Sharona character, though.

Well, it had a good run.

[Pithlet]

9. I agree about Sharona's character

And the show is still good, but I think some of the scenes with Monk went over the top this season. They're starting to play his disability for cheap gags.

[mac56]

12. I had kind of the opposite impression.

To me it seemed like they began featuring other characters with obsessive traits of their own, and showed that Monk's OCD wasn't quite so bad compared to lots of other "normals". Better, in fact, because he could still function so well and do such amazing things.

[madmax]

8. DON'T DO THIS TO ME MONK!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a HUGE fan of Monk. I've fallen in love with every character. This is breaking my heart. :cry:

Bittttttyyyyy bring back Bittttttyyy... :mad:

[Susang]

11. We should start an email campaign

Ala Cagney and Lacey. Deluge them with letters and email about their decision. Make them renew her contract.

[Infomaniac]

10. My favorite character

Sharona was my favorite character. Monk's character provided most of the physical comedy while Sharona's biting lines provided most of the laugh lines. I don't think the show can survive without her.

[mac56]

13. A great quote from "Jump The Shark"

I honestly don't see how "Monk" can survive losing Bitty Schram. If it does, it will be irreparably scarred. The first half of the third season of the show was wildly uneven anyway, and instead of focusing on tougher crimes for Monk and Co. to face, it made all the characters (including Monk) into increasingly ridiculous caricatures. By the end of midseason, the continued relationship between Monk and Sharona was one of the best (if not only) things the show had going for it. In addition to losing the one real strong relationship between Monk and any other human being on the show, the audience also loses a person in the cast to identify with-let's face it, Monk may be many things, but he's certainly no Everyman. And the only other main characters, Stottlemeyer and Disher, aren't in a position in the show to understand Monk the way Sharona does. It has been mostly through Sharona that we have learned about Monk, and it has been mostly through Sharona that Monk has grown as a character. Truly a shame.

www.jumptheshark.com

They sure know how to wreck a good thing. Oh well, never make anything your favorite.

[madmax]

14. I always thought the last episode would be Monk

marries Sharona and adopts Benjy. Yes, I'm a hopeful romantic.

:cry: MY Sharona!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

15. I wonder if maybe they'll reinstate him...

...and maybe partner him up with the guy who played the security guard in the episode where Monk went undercover at that Walmart type store. They had good chemistry. I wonder if maybe they are adding him to the cast. I hate it that sharona is leaving, but maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised?
Duckie

[realisticphish]

16. yeah i was wondering that too

i really liked that guy, but i doubt that he would compare to Sharona. ill still watch it without sharona, but im not highly optomistic


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat