Monk is an American comedy-drama detective television series created by Andy Breckman. It premiered on the USA Network on July 12, 2002, and concluded on December 4, 2009, with 125 episodes broadcast over eight seasons. The series follows Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a private detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder and multiple phobias, 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. The show also incorporates elements of comedy and drama in exploring the main characters' personal lives and struggles.