Tony Shalhoub and Bitty Schram – Monk

Moderator Thank you. Our first question will come from the line of Frederic Germay of Media Boulevard Magazine. Please go ahead.

F. Germay Hello. Thanks for taking the time to be with us today.

T. Shalhoub Thank you.

F. Germay My first question is to prepare for your role as Adrian Monk on the USA series, Monk, it’s reported that you did a substantial amount of research with a Los Angeles psychotherapist specializing in obsessive-compulsive disorder. What was that experience like? Did you have to study someone with OCD?

T. Shalhoub Well, the psychologist that I spoke with and had sessions with just gave me a lot of information and a lot of reading material. And that combined with some videos that I was able to find, videos of people who suffer from OCD, I was able to kind of build the character off of that information. It was really kind of standard research that you would do for prepping for any role, really.

F. Germay Alright, thank you. And my follow-up question would be what can you tell us about the upcoming series finale?

T. Shalhoub Well, I can’t tell you too much other than the writers have – they’re going to solve the Trudy mystery and have … resolution there. But I’m really not at liberty to give away too much of that information. And after eight years on Monk, it’s had a devastating effect on my memory, so even if wanted to, I probably couldn’t tell you because I really don’t remember how it goes.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Jamie Steinberg of the Starry Constellation Magazine. Please go ahead.

J. Steinberg Hi. It’s a pleasure to meet both of you.

T. Shalhoub You, too.

J. Steinberg Tony, I was wondering, what was it like for you and Bitty to work together again?

T. Shalhoub Well, that was fantastic. It was great. It felt like we just picked up right where we left off and we didn’t miss a beat. And the only difficulty for me was that I look a lot older and Bitty looks exactly the same.

B. Schram Well I’m not sure about … You’re being too kind.

J. Steinberg Was the chemistry that Adrian and Sharona always had easy to revive, Bitty?

B. Schram Oh, yes, absolutely. It was honestly like I never left. I swear, it’s exactly what he said. It’s a bizarre phenomenon, but it’s true. I mean I heard, I don’t know why that Seinfeld thing on Curb Your Enthusiasm came out and I heard stuff like a remark that Jason Alexander said. Like they never, like riding a bike, and it’s true. It’s like you never leave. I don’t know, it’s like it’s . . .

T. Shalhoub Bitty and I both looked at each other while we were doing the first scene, which is the scene – the first day was the scene where she returns. And we just looked at each other and laughed because it just felt like no time at all had passed.

B. Schram It’s very true. I mean honestly it felt like I never left. Even with the crew, with everyone. It was bizarre, but in a good way. You know, I mean it’s good. It never leaves you, never.

J. Steinberg Thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Rosa Cordero of Accidental Sexiness.com. Please go ahead.

R. Cordero Hi. I’m very excited to see Sharona come back on the show. I have some questions. I saw some pictures of a wedding taking place. I wonder, Tony, if you can give us any information on that.

T. Shalhoub No. Okay, yes. I’ll give you some information. A wedding takes place on the show. A man and a woman become wed. That’s about all I can tell you.

R. Cordero Thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Josh Bozeman of TheBlueSite.com. Please go ahead.

J. Bozeman Hi guys. Thanks for taking the call today.

T. Shalhoub Okay, thank you.

B. Schram Thank you.

J. Bozeman This is really for both of you. Playing the two characters over the years – and especially you, Tony. I know you said you studied the OCD and everything. What did you come away with, what lesson did you come away with about people dealing with mental health issues?

T. Shalhoub Well, I mean I think the biggest thing is that sometimes this is true I think for people who suffer from OCD but also just for everyone I think in our culture. Sometimes our neuroses or out idiosyncrasies or what we view as our shortcomings or our problems can actually be used as our strengths. And if you can figure out a way to turn your liabilities into assets, with Adrian Monk of course it was his obsessive attention to detail that drove him and others crazy, but also allowed him to be really good at his job. So that’s what I came away with.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Stefan Blitz of ForcesofGeek.com. Please go ahead.

S. Blitz Hi, how are you guys?

T. Shalhoub Fine.

S. Blitz Tony, this question’s for you also. Bitty, your response is also valuable. Is it difficult putting away the character that you’ve played now for so long and I mean, Bitty, you’ve left and come back. And is it, … do the same thing?

T. Shalhoub Do you want me to go first? I really just finished shooting yesterday, so I don’t really feel that it’s left me yet. I don’t know how long that is going to take, so I think I’d have to answer that question in a few weeks.

B. Schram As for me, I think it’s similar to the question I answered before. It never leaves, even though I came back for a brief moment. It was as if I never left and it’s honestly it’s not – what was the question again? I’m so sorry, what was . . . I knew the question but I kind of, I forgot it as I was answering it.

S. Blitz Was it difficult to put the character away?

B. Schram To put it away, is that what you said? I get it. And does it come back. No, because it kind of like it just comes back. I can’t explain it, but it just does. No, it wasn’t and it wasn’t hard . . .

T. Shalhoub I think it has a lot to do with the writing, the way these writers work, the language, the rhythm, the music of the dialog. It sort of, kind of infects you and lives inside of you and it’s just, it really does become a part of you.

S. Blitz And a quick follow-up is would either of you want to revisit these characters again?

B. Schram You know, I think I capped out on it. You know what I’m saying? Like if I had a reason, I would be more than happy, you know, but I think I’ve explored all I could explore with that character. You know what I’m saying?

S. Blitz Yes.

B. Schram But I would, if I had to go back to it, I love the character and I love the chemistry and I absolutely love working with Tony because he knows how much I respect his work and I would have no problem going back to it if I have to. But I think I’ve explored what I had to explore with it.

T. Shalhoub I don’t know. I never say never, really. I don’t know how likely it is that we’ll have the chance to go back to these characters. I honestly can’t say as it’s really not up to me. But I never say never.

S. Blitz Thank you very much.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Joe Hummel of PopCultureMadness.com.

J. Hummel Hi guys. Thanks for talking to us today.

T. Shalhoub Sure.

J. Hummel Actually, both of my questions are for Bitty. Did you give much thought to how the character of Sharona would react to the character of Natalie as you were going in?

B. Schram Well, no. I didn’t really know what the script, what they had planned until I got the script. I got it like a week before, then I thought about it once I got the script because I didn’t really know what they wrote for me to come back and stuff like that and what they had the relationship thing. You know what I’m saying?

J. Hummel Yes.

B. Schram But once I read the script and then I can make choices on how to play that and how to play my relationship with Natalie. But I didn’t know until I had more information.

J. Hummel Got it. And my second question is did you watch the show much after you left?

B. Schram No, I honestly I didn’t but you know, that had nothing to do with me leaving because when I was on it, I didn’t really watch it because it’s hard for me to watch. Like it’s just hard for me to watch anything. I honestly have never really even watched some other things I’ve done. I don’t like doing that to be honest. So it has nothing to do with – it’s just my neuroses.

J. Hummel Okay, yes, because I thought the two of you got along really realistically really well in the episode.

B. Schram Oh no, we always have good – absolutely. We always do. Most definitely.

J. Hummel Okay, thank you.

Moderator Thank you. Now we’ll go to the line of Troy Rogers of the TheDeadbolt.com.

T. Rogers Hi Tony. Hi Bitty.

T. Shalhoub Hi.

T. Rogers Tony, when you look at Monk now, what feelings do you have for the character as compared to day one?

T. Shalhoub Day one, yes. Well day one I was, I had no idea what I was doing and I didn’t really have an understanding of where the writers and where I was going to take this character, how it was going to evolve. But now, of course, having done 124 episodes, I was really, really gratified to see that we made this character really multifaceted and full of contradictions and I think pretty well rounded. So, and as an actor, that’s something that you really always look for.

T. Rogers Okay. And second question, I want to know is it easier or more difficult going into a season knowing it’s the last?

T. Shalhoub It’s both. It sort of alternates back and forth. On the one hand, it’s easier because you’re just, you understand that there’s going to be resolution and there’s going to be a finish line, an end point. And then on the other hand, it just becomes such a family, you know, and you know you’re going to miss these people, these relationships and this sort of collective creative energy.

T. Rogers Okay, great. Thank you.

Moderator Next we’ll go to the line of Kenya Jones with Aced Magazine. Please go ahead.

K. Jones Hi. Thank you for talking for us today. I have two questions for both of you. My first question is are you satisfied with the way the series is ending and what’s next for both of you?

B. Schram I don’t know how the series is ending with the last two, but from my experience, because I don’t know the story lines. But for me being back on the show, I was really happy to do it and I thought it ended really, really well. I couldn’t, I just thought it ended the way it should have and I was very, very pleased with it and very pleased to be working with everyone again on that show, I really was.

T. Shalhoub Do you want to talk about what you’re going to do next?

B. Schram Oh, thank you Tony. Next, well I wrote something. I’m in the process of – it’s a long story. I don’t know how to say it. I wrote a pilot myself, and we’re in the middle of getting that off the ground. So it’s like a series type thing.

T. Shalhoub Well, as far as the finale of the series, I’m very, very happy with how it’s come out and in fact the last, not just the last two episodes, but the last five or six where there’s a lot of things revealed. I just think it’s some of the strongest stuff we’ve done in all this time. So yes, the answer is I’m very, very, very happy. It was incredibly satisfying for me and I know I’m guessing that it will be for the viewers. And as far as my, what’s down the road for me, I guess I’ll be stalking Bitty until she gives me a part in her pilot I guess.

B. Schram I would be more than . . . Tony, I never thought of it. It’s a good idea.

T. Shalhoub Well, you’d better start thinking about it.

B. Schram Okay, so here we go.

T. Shalhoub It’s really why I arranged this phone call. …

B. Schram And why we have 20 PR people here. This is very smart – very, very smart.

T. Shalhoub That’s right. Because you’re in such an awkward position. You can hardly say no.

B. Schram I can’t say – you have it all on tape.

T. Shalhoub Okay.

K. Jones Thank you very much.

B. Schram Thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Concepcion Allen at Blast Magazine. Please go ahead.

C. Allen Thank you. My question basically involves Monk’s family. I think some of the more memorable episodes of the series have always been being kind of a bit of his background. Will we get a chance to see more of them return or perhaps even his mother?

T. Shalhoub Not really in the last – really, Trudy resurfaces in a big way. I mean, you know the memory of Trudy and that’s kind of the way the writers have mapped it out.

C. Allen And this one’s for Bitty. It’s a follow-up question. We all know that Sharona’s coming back, obviously. How will the story lines play out as far as her relationship with Monk and Natalie’s relationship? Like how do you feel that she’s going to kind of come across as?

B. Schram How I’m going to come across as relating to Tony’s and Natalie’s relationship?

C. Allen Yes, because the dynamics obviously between Natalie and Sharona have always been different. How do you feel she’s going to kind of come back now that she’s returned? Is it going to be the same dynamic, or is it going to be a little bit different?

B. Schram Well, I think what me and Tony or Sharona and Adrian – I think it is the same dynamic. I just think there’s a little Monk, like with Natalie added in there, I think there’s, I mean I think it just, it may change the dynamic a little, but I think we still have the same relationship. But I’m very competitive with her. Like for vying for – because you know, I’ve always loved him no matter what. And I think that’s the core of making it work. You know what I’m saying? Of all the humor and making the depth that we try to get within the humor. But I think my relationship with Natalie is a competitive one vying for his attention.

T. Shalhoub Loyalty, really, vying for Monk’s loyalty I think.

B. Schram Yes, or like who’s more special.

T. Shalhoub His favorite.

B. Schram Yes, exactly. Like his favorite. Because I think we both care about him. I think we’re both coming from the same place, just a different approach. And so I think with her, with Natalie thrown into the mix, I think it’s – our relationship is still the same, but I think it’s just an added element to it. I thought it worked well, and I liked when we did fight a little. I liked that, the little cat fight.

T. Shalhoub Yes. They’re fun to love. That was a nice conflict and where they’ve – but they do come together, the two characters do come together, Natalie and Sharona. Their common ground is that they have enormous affection for him, but they’re also driven crazy by him. That’s another thing that they share. Their approaches to taking care of him are what create the conflict.

B. Scram And wanting to be special to him.

C. Allen Okay. Well thank you.

B. Schram Thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Christine Nyholm of Examiner.com.

C. Nyholm Hello, Tony and Bitty. Thanks for talking to us.

T. Shalhoub Sure.

C. Nyholm And my first question is for Tony and it is about I was on a conference call with you this summer and you had mentioned that you had filmed – you made a film in Door County. And I was wondering if there’s any news on that, if it’s going to be released or how it’s going or . . .

T. Shalhoub Well, it’s funny you mention that. I just came from a lab where they had just finished the color correction on the movie. So we’re sending it out to various film festivals. We don’t have distribution yet, but the movie’s in great shape. The mix has been done and the music’s in and it’s all color-timed, so we’re hoping that we’ll get some positive feedback from some of these festivals and find a distributor by going that route. But thank you for asking. It’s called Feed the Fish (the feel good film of the winter).

B. Schram The title’s Feed the Fish. I like that.

C. Nyholm Yes. And so could you just tell us a little bit more about it. I know, just a little description of it.

T. Shalhoub Sure. It’s I guess it’s a comedy and it’s sort of a fish out of water story, sort of a failed children’s book writer lives in Los Angeles has kind of hit bottom, relationship’s gone south and his career’s gone south. He gets talked into going to this place in Wisconsin called Door County, which is near where I grew up. Anyway, he goes there. It’s the dead of winter, he leaves sunny Los Angeles and goes to stay with his friend. His friend is getting ready to, training to do a polar bear plunge. And so he goes there, and he’s just way, way out of his league and it’s a fish out of water thing. It’s freezing, the people are strange, the whole environment is strange, so it’s kind of a really sweet movie. I love it.

C. Nyholm I look forward to seeing it, hopefully.

Moderator Thank you. Next we’ll go to the line of Lena Lamoray of LenaLamoray.com.

L. Lamoray Hi Tony and Bitty. What has been your favorite episode so far and why?

B. Schram Oh God, that’s always a tough one. I never know how to answer that. I liked a lot of them, I like the one with John Turturro. I always liked that one, with Tony and his brother.

T. Shalhoub Three pies.

B. Schram I love that one. The three pies, yes. Because I love the dynamic with Tony and John Turturro in that. I love the brother, so that’s my favorite because of that.

T. Shalhoub Yes, that’s one of my favorites, too, I’d have to say. Although I have to – all told, though, I think down the road if you were to ask me this question in a month or two, I’d have to say the last. The finale is going to become my favorite because it’s been such an enormous – as I said, it’s a two-parter and it’s a big, big story and so much is really up there. I think that’s going to be a good one.

L. Lamoray Great. Now are you doing a Christmas episode this year?

T. Shalhoub No, because our finale airs December, well the first part airs on Friday after Thanksgiving and then the last part, the second part airs on December 4. So we’ve luckily dodged the Christmas episode for one season. That’s always been a little tricky.

L. Lamoray Okay, thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Beth Ann Henderson of NiceGirlsTV.com.

B. Henderson Hi, thanks for spending time with us this afternoon. I wanted to ask Bitty, what were the similarities between you and Sharona and what were the differences?

B. Schram I guess the similarities would be, well she kind of is feisty, you know. I guess I could get that way. I guess I could get that way and she, I think she could have a tough exterior, but she’s kind of mush inside. And I think that’s more me, I do. I mean I do, like I just think her strength or whatever just comes from survival mechanisms. It’s not really like what she is if she didn’t have to be. You know what I’m saying? And I think the differences – I think I have more culture than her. I’m a lot smarter than she is. She doesn’t go to New York and see plays, you know what I’m saying? She’s just stuck in Jersey, you know. Even though I am from Jersey. Not to put Jersey down, I like Jersey, but I think I’m more cultured. How about that?

B. Henderson Okay.

T. Shalhoub I’d have to agree with that.

B. Henderson Well thank you. And I look forward to the pilot.

B. Schram Thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Teresa Murray of the Monk Fun Page. Please go ahead.

T. Murray Hi, Tony and Bitty.

T. Shalhoub Hi.

T. Murray My question is for both of you. What’s your favorite Monk/Sharona moment?

B. Schram That’s a hard one. Because everything’s a – you do so much and you work so many long hours, it become a blur, right? It’s hard to remember those things.

T. Shalhoub I think I would have to go back to season two and we did an episode called “Mr. Monk Goes to the Circus.” Was it the circus? Yes. And Bitty, Sharona in that episode revealed that she had a fear of elephants.

B. Schram I remember that.

T. Shalhoub And there was this really great runner where Monk, after she’s taken care of him and been sensitive to his problems and his issues and he has no, he’s so out of touch. Monk is so out of touch. He doesn’t really give her any, he just gives her no sympathy at all when he finds out that she’s got this fear of elephants. As if why could you be afraid of anything so ridiculous. I think there was a lot of good back and forth in that episode, in those moments.

B. Schram And when he squirts the watermelon or something. I thought it was your head or something like that. Or I don’t know . . .

T. Shalhoub Yes. There was a guy, a guy gets his head … Right.

B. Schram That was funny.

T. Shalhoub That was a good one.

B. Schram Yes, this is hard. I can’t remember. We’ve had a lot of good moments.

T. Shalhoub Well also I think there’s a – I would just, not to speak for you, Bitty. But also I think that first moment of the pilot, the first couple of beats of the pilot.

B. Schram With the stove?

T. Shalhoub With the stove and Sharona’s – so much of the tone of the show and the dynamic of these two characters, the dynamic between these two characters was illustrated in that opening. And her kind of firm and yet really, really supportive . . .

B. Schram You know what – that whole pilot I liked. That was really good, the pilot, the way Dean did that pilot.

T. Shalhoub Yes. We had, we felt very, very good about it. We knew that we were onto something good there.

B. Schram Yes. And we had lots of good moments in that pilot, too. I think so like the way we worked with Dean. I thought that was very special, that whole pilot I thought.

T. Shalhoub Yes. Does that answer your question?

T. Murray It does. I have a follow up one, though. So, aside from Bitty, tell me who was your favorite eighth season guest star?

T. Shalhoub Aside from Bitty, I can’t think of anybody who even comes close. We had Daniel Stern in the UFO episode, and he was terrific to work with. I had never worked with him before, and he was delightful and really, really helped to ground an episode that could have gone a little too goofy. So he was really important to that show.

B. Schram He’s a good actor.

T. Murray Thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Courtney Shnicki of Raked Reviews. Please go ahead.

C. Shnicki Hi. How are you guys doing?

B. Schram Good.

C. Shnicki This is really a question for both of you. When you both saw the script and idea for the show for the first time, did you ever think that eight seasons later this is where it would be and this is how huge it would be?

T. Shalhoub You mean when we started, is that what you’re talking about?

C. Shnicki Yes. When you first saw it, did you ever grasp how large this show could grow and the fan base and the awards?

T. Shalhoub No. The answer for me is you just never know in TV these days. Sometimes you can do something that you feel is really good and worthwhile and it just for some reason it doesn’t translate or it’s the wrong, it’s ahead of its time or behind its time or whatever and the television landscape is very, very tricky and unstable. So you, when you try to be a realist about it, you just, you have to remain just cautiously optimistic at best.

B.Schram I would never have thought this. I just thought it was going to be a TV – remember, Tony, a TV movie. It was supposed to just be that.

T. Shalhoub Exactly. There was talk of, because it was a two-hour pilot there was some talk of it just being a one-off or there was some talk that maybe they would do one of these kinds of TV movies a year or we just, we didn’t really know if it was going to turn into a series.

B. Schram Yes, we really had no idea.

C. Shnicki Well, it’s really great that it’s grown and Tony, this is really a follow-up question for you. You’ve won three Emmys, you’ve got a Golden Globe. Is it strange now to turn on the TV and find yourself on Nick at Nite on Wings?

T. Shalhoub On Wings. Oh my God. It’s funny you say that, because Wings has been showing on USA a little bit, so sometimes if I’m flipping channels and there’s me on Wings and then they’ll do a promo of Monk during the commercials of Wings and I look like my own father or something. It’s awful. It’s really hard. I can’t watch that for very long.

C. Shnicki Well thank you very much.

Moderator Thank you.

B. Schram Thank you.

Moderator Ladies and gentleman, if there are any follow up questions, please press *1. And we do have some follow-ups. We’ll go back to the line of Frederic Germay of Media Boulevard Magazine. Please go ahead.

F. Germay Hi. And this question goes for both of you. Obviously to ask you what your overall favorite experience working on the show would be a particularly difficult question. But here’s a slightly easier and more general question. What was one of your favorite experiences working on Monk? And this goes to both of you.

T. Shalhoub I would have to say last season we had Gena Rowlands on as a guest star, and that was an enormous honor for me to be able to not just work with her but get to know her over the course of that episode. And because when I was a student studying theatre and acting and she was an idol of mine and has remained. So that was, I felt after I did that episode that I could just basically retire.

B. Schram Oh, she’s great, Tony. She is …

T. Shalhoub Yes. And she was also nominated for an Emmy for our show. So that was one of the highlights for me. There were many, though there are many highlights, but that was huge for me.

B. Schram And I guess for me if I was doing that episode that I would have the same answer as Tony with the Gena Rowlands. I wasn’t there, but one of the highlights for me was working with Willie Nelson.

T. Shalhoub Oh, yes, I forgot about that.

B. Schram Willie Nelson, because he’s such a legend. He’s just such a legend and that was a highlight for me. Very simple and . . .

T. Shalhoub Also very gracious, incredibly gracious.

B. Schram Oh, yes, he’s a true artist. Willie Nelson was just great. Yes, he was gracious and for me, that would be it, too.

F. Germay And my follow-up question is for Tony. Has any of Monk’s OCD triggered you to have slight OCD tendencies? Do you have to actively make any effort to be filthier than normal, not to take on … Monk habits subconsciously?

T. Shalhoub No, I don’t think – to be honest, I don’t think I’ve taken on many more than I already have to begin with. I just, just that my eyes were opened to more of the things that I – I became more aware of the things that I already had.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Jamie Steinberg of The Starry Constellation Magazine.

J. Steinberg I was wondering what was it about now that made you decide to return to the show.

B. Schram Oh, they just simply asked me.

J. Steinberg It was that easy?

B. Schram It was that easy, oh yes. I was just like, yes, sure. It was that easy, yes. Yes, it was nothing like – it was that simple, yes.

J. Steinberg What would you like to say to everyone who’s a fan and supporter of Sharona?

B. Schram Oh, I would first of all like to thank them so much for their support and for watching and actually liking – it makes me feel like I do my job, so I thank them for that. And I wouldn’t be here without them, so it’s all about the audience that we’re trying to – it’s all about the audience because without them we’re nothing, right? So I’m just very thankful for their support.

T. Shalhoub I think they’re going to really like this episode this week. Especially the Sharona fans, the hard core Sharona fans. But I think everybody’s really going to like this one. It’s got a lot of juice.

J. Steinberg Wonderful. Thank you both again so much.

B. Schram Thank you.

Moderator Thank you. And next we’ll go to the line of Sheldon Wiebe of Eclipse Magazine. Please go ahead.

S. Wiebe Hi guys. First, Tony, I want to say congratulations on Monk’s successful eight-season run. You should really be proud of that achievement. And for Bitty, I was just wondering if you could give us some idea of the concept for your pilot, like the underpinning idea for the series.

B. Schram Oh, you mean the thing I wrote?

S. Wiebe Yes.

B. Schram Let me think. Well, it’s very simply put, it’s a very controversial concept. How can I explain this? It’s like, this is, I don’t how to just explain it without giving it away. And I don’t think I really should give it away right now. It’s very media orientated. It’s kind of – do you remember the film Network?

S. Wiebe Yes.

B. Schram It’s very like the, it’s a modern day Network, if that makes any sense to you.

S. Wiebe Cool. Thank you.

B. Schram Like a modern day Network.

T. Shalhoub Have I mentioned that I’m available?

B. Schram Oh, Tony, it would be up your alley I think. I really do think so.

T. Shalhoub Just throwing that out there.

B. Schram It’s actually very, it’s a very manly piece. You wouldn’t think a female wrote – it’s a lot of men in their 50’s and – but there’s women, too. It’s a huge ensemble, but it’s very manly orientated, very much so.

S. Wiebe So it would be a dramedy?

B. Schram It’s a dark satire.

S. Wiebe Oh.

B. Schram It would be – it’s very HBO. It could not go on – honestly, it could not go on major – well, I shouldn’t say that, but it’s a very, it’s a very HBO feel. Let’s put it that way. But it’s a dark satire.

S. Wiebe Well I hope it sells. I’ll be looking forward to it. Thank you very much.

B. Schram Thank you.

Moderator We have a follow-up from the line of Troy Rogers with TheDeadbolt.com. Please go ahead.

T. Rogers Hi again. Now, Tony, do you have a sense that you made an impact in the OCD community?

T. Shalhoub You know, based on mail that we’ve received from people who suffer from this disorder and from various other people like doctors and people in academia, impact is kind of a big word. But I definitely think that it’s, they seem to have embraced this character and maybe in some ways Monk has kind of become a poster boy for those who suffer. But it’s, the feedback has all been so positive. I hope that it’s had some effect in maybe destigmatizing the disorder and allowing people to see it as something not as just a mental, debilitating mental illness. But this character suffers but still can do his job well and still contributes and is sort of a contributing member to society. And I hope that people can see other sufferers in the same way.

T. Rogers Okay. Well what has Monk taught you on a personal level?

T. Shalhoub I guess it’s made me a little bit more – I tend to take my time with examining certain things or I feel like it’s made me somewhat more observant and less quick to jump to conclusions or to make snap judgments. It’s kind of slowed down my processes in that way, just allowing me to kind of pore over something a little for longer periods. And I think that seems to have been, be of some value.

T. Rogers Excellent. Thanks a lot.

Moderator Thank you. Now we have a follow-up from the line of Christine Nyholm of TheExaminer.com.

C. Nyholm Hi again. My question is really for both of you. Is there ever any thought of making the relationships more than friendship and turning them romantic — with both Sharona and with Natalie?

T. Shalhoub Any thought on my part or on the writers’ part?

C. Nyholm On the writers.

B. Schram We came close, Tony. There was some – Tony, remember when we had to kind of try to kiss or something and …

T. Shalhoub We were posing as a married couple. Yes.

C. Nyholm I think I remember that one.

B. Schram That was funny.

T. Shalhoub That was good. I don’t want to answer that too directly because some of the upcoming episodes start to speak to that. And I wouldn’t want to reveal anything prematurely.

C. Nyholm Thank you.

Moderator And our last question will come from the line of Teresa Murray of The Monk Fun Page. Please go ahead.

T. Murray Hi again. Tony, what will you miss most about Monk?

T. Shalhoub I miss the people. It’s always about the people — the crew and the production team and the directors and of course the cast. It’s just, we’ve just all gotten very close and love spending time together. And that’s kind of what gets you out of bed really early in the morning and putting up with these long, long days. You just do it because of the people and for the people and it’s been a great way to keep all these people working. But I just have one – I do have one question, if I may, before we finish.

Bitty, where do you think that pilot will shoot? I mean where will the show shoot in case that would be a factor as to whether I’d be able to. You know, would it be Canada or would it be . . .

B. Schram In New York City. Yes, but you know what, though, Tony. Just so you know, I just want to make clear to everyone this is not like signed, sealed and delivered. I’m in a process, right in the middle of a process of making that. So I just want everyone to know like this isn’t like signed, sealed and delivered. I would be humiliated, but we’re in a process right now if that makes sense.

T. Shalhoub Well, I’m a very patient person.

B. Schram Just so you know, Tony. I mean, it would be shot in New York City. Just so you know.

T. Shalhoub Just putting out the feelers. Thank you all for your time today.

C. Fehskens Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately that’s all the time that we have for today. I’d like to once again thank Tony and Bitty for being with us. You can catch the return of Sharona on Monk this Friday at 9/8 central and new episodes each Friday leading up to the December 4 series finale on USA Network. Transcripts of this call will be available within 48 hours, and we thank you so much again for joining us. Have a great afternoon, everyone.

T. Shalhoub Thank you.

B. Schram Thank you.