TV Hot Spot: News

NBC Offers "Psych" & "Monk" Larger Audience!

Post by: Sal


Source: The Futon Critic

NBC will provide USA Network hits "Monk" and "Psych" -- two of basic cable television's most successful and popular series -- with a broad new platform from which to expand their loyal audiences when it repurposes both series starting with upcoming new episodes to be shown first on USA in January 2008 and then again on Sunday nights on NBC beginning in March 2008, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios and Bonnie Hammer, President, USA Network and SCI FI Channel.

"These two tremendously popular USA series are a great fit with NBC's current programming strategy and brand," said Silverman. "This is another example of how the NBC Universal family is finding terrific synergies as we share our creative assets."

"This is an excellent opportunity to showcase these two critically acclaimed cable hits," said Graboff. "It's a win-win situation - the shows, both produced by our own Universal Media Studios, receive additional exposure while providing great programming for NBC."

"The USA audience has embraced 'Monk' and 'Psych' from the get-go, making them two of the biggest hits in cable history," said Hammer. "We're thrilled to share them with NBC viewers who may be missing a couple of the best shows on television."

On USA, "Monk" is telecast on Fridays (9-10 p.m. ET) and on Universal HD (11-12 p.m. ET). "Psych" follows on Fridays (10-11 p.m. ET). All new episodes of "Monk" and "Psych" return to USA on Friday, January 11, 2008.

Last summer's sixth season of "Monk" averaged 2.0 million adults 18-49 and 2.4 million adults 25-54, making USA the #1 network, broadcast or cable, in the time period on those nights in 25-54. Last summer's second season of "Psych" averaged 2.1 million adults 18-49 and 2.3 million adults 25-54, making USA the #2 network in the time period in both demos, ahead of all cable competition and ahead of all broadcast networks except ABC.

Both series also ran original holiday episodes on USA December 7, with "Monk" ranking #1 among all ad-supported cable telecasts that day with 1.6 million adults 18-49, 1.8 million adults 25-54 and 4.5 million viewers overall from 9-10 p.m. ET. The holiday episode of "Psych" ranked #2, averaging 1.6 million adults 18-49, 1.7 million adults 25-54 and 3.7 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m.

"Monk," the critically acclaimed original series starring Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Tony Shalhoub, remains one of the highest-rated original scripted series in basic cable history.

Title star Tony Shalhoub ("Big Night," "Wings," "Men in Black," "Cars") has earned three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and two SAG Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Adrian Monk -- a brilliant detective who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Monk's psychological problem costs him his position as a legendary homicide detective on the San Francisco Police force. Due to the tragic unsolved murder of his wife, Monk has developed an abnormal fear of germs, heights, crowds and virtually everything else, which provides an unusual challenge to solving crimes -- not to mention his day-to-day existence.

Traylor Howard ("Two Guys and a Girl," "Me, Myself and Irene"), Ted Levine ("Heat," "Moby Dick") and Jason Gray-Stanford ("Taken," "A Beautiful Mind") also star.

Guest stars last season included Sarah Silverman ("The Sarah Silverman Program," "The School of Rock") as Adrian's biggest fan -- and sometime stalker, Marcie Maven; Sharon Lawrence ("Desperate Housewives," "NYPD Blue") as Captain Stottlemeyer's girlfriend, Linda Fusco; and Tim Bagley ("Knocked Up," "According to Jim") as Monk's nemesis, Harold Krenshaw.

"Monk" is executive-produced by David Hoberman ("Raising Helen," "Bringing Down the House," "The Negotiator"), Andy Breckman ("Saturday Night Live," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Rat Race"), Tony Shalhoub, Randy Zisk ("House," "Without a Trace") and Tom Scharpling ("The Best Show on WFMU"). "Monk" is from Universal Media Studios in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television.

The #1 new show on cable in 2006, "Psych," stars James Roday ("The Dukes of Hazzard") as young police consultant Shawn Spencer, who solves crimes with powers of observation so acute the precinct detectives think he's psychic -- at least that's what he lets them believe. The series also stars Dul Hill (NBC's "The West Wing") as Shawn's best friend and reluctant sidekick, Gus, and Corbin Bernsen ("Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," "L.A. Law") as Shawn's disapproving father -- who ironically was the one who honed his son's "observation" skills as a child. Also featured are Timothy Omundson ("Judging Amy," "Deadwood"), Maggie Lawson ("Crumbs," "Inside Schwartz") and Kirsten Nelson ("Everwood").

"Psych" is executive-produced by Steve Franks ("Big Daddy"), Kelly Kulchak and Chris Henze. The series is from Universal Media Studios in association with Tagline Pictures.



Take Care,

Sal