Monk Begins It's Final Season

Bad news for obsessive fans. The USA Network's hit show "Monk" is finally ending.

The series is pretty much your basic detective show with a twist; the main character Monk has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although this makes the detective's life pretty complicated, his ability to notice tiny details makes him the go-to guy for the more difficult mysteries.

According to Reuters, the final season will solve the mystery of the murder of Monk's wife, the event that kicked off the show eight years ago.

"Monk" is credited as the show that lifted the USA Network to the top of the cable ratings chart. Newsday writes that Tony Shalhoub, the actor who plays Monk, won three Emmys for his performance as the quirky detective, and is up for another one this year.

NBC Universal's cable-entertainment chief says that the appeal of "Monk" and shows like it is that it's an escapism show, but it has enough humor to keep it from being too dark and depressing. Its fans can "go to sleep at 11:00 without taking out a razor blade, and with a smile on their face."

According to USA Today, the decision to discontinue "Monk" came when it became clear that it was too expensive to continue.