Business As Usual: ‘Monk,’ ‘Psych’ Deliver in Season Premieres

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USA Network’s venerable dramedy Monk continued its remarkable ratings run, drawing 5.6 million viewers for its July 18 seventh-season premiere.

The premiere episode of the series, which stars which stars Tony Shalhoub (pictured) as an obsessive-compulsive detective, matched the Jan. 2008 debut episode for the second half of the show’s sixth season. That season finished as the show’s most watched ever, averaging 6.1 million viewers over six episodes—including a 6.8 million viewer performance for the sixth-season finale.

Monk, one of cable’s longest-running hit series, is expected to air its landmark 100th episode Sept. 5, according to USA Network.

Meanwhile, Monk’s Friday night series mate Psych drew 4.8 million viewers in its third-season debut. The July 18 episode of the series, starring James Roday and Dule Hill as unorthodox private detectives, bested the 4.6 million take for its sophomore season premiere.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.