All right. I came into the series with Natalie as Monk's assistant. Traylor Howard is a favorite actress or to be P.C. actor of mine, so I was thrilled to see her. My brother grumbled he liked the first girl better when I mentioned watching the show to him. I didn't have a clue 'cause I hadn't seen the first girl, and I continued to watch and enjoy Monk and Natalie.

Then I got to see a couple of episodes with Sharona during one of those USA marathons. Sorry, but the idea of watching one show all day doesn't appeal to me, but I did watch a few. Anyway, so I finally got to see Sharona in action. I liked her and the interplay between her and Monk. But my heart was still with Natalie...

Then I started watching the 3 pm and 4 pm reruns, starting about in the middle of Sharona's era, and enjoyed them all, both Sharona and Natalie. Now I am starting at the beginning...

Anyway, I don't know why Bitty Schram -- love that name -- left, but in watching the transition I think it turned

out to be a good thing. Sharona had helped Monk make strides with his problem and by the time Natalie entered the picture he was at a stage, I think, where he needed a different kind of help from his assistant. Someone a little less brash.

I love them both. And see neither one as better than the other. Sharona served her purpose and when it was done, Natalie stepped in nicely.

And I am not sure what purpose it would serve on the show to bring Sharona back.

Mind you, I haven't read Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants yet. I might see it differently after.

I think that many (but not all) of those who want to bring Sharona back are talking about a visit -- a chance to see how the two assistants get along with each other. This was perhaps the most intersting part of Two Assistants for me. They are both very different, and both really care for Adrian in some way. It's kind of like a new wife meeting the ex -- fun to watch them size each other up.

Finally some topical discussion.

I was very sorry to see Sharona leave the show. Natalie does a great job though. I would like to see Sharona come back at least one more time.

I love MONK and watch it regularly - but I think the series would be FAR better than it is and last much longer if they would get Bitty Schram back as the assistant - yes, in place of Natalie. Why settle for "good" when you can have "great"? Let it be everything it was meant to be - and more. The show could evolve into so much more. And the producers and writers know this - Bitty Schram had much more air time. There was a dynamism to the relationship which is sadly lacking with sweet, milk-toast, undiscerning Natalie. Natalie is almost as naive as Monk - leading him into all kinds of trouble. Uninteresting. And her character waffles. One minute she is sweet, the next she is making fun of Randy for having had a TERRIBLE skin condition - in front of his work colleagues and friends! Unfeeling and cruel. Nothing makes sense. I am confused, bored, and uninspired by Natalie.

The character of Natalie is far too bland for Monk's assistant. She doesn't have Sharona's backbone or independence. Can you picture Sharona calling him "Mister" Monk?!? Especially after 3 years. And everything the writers do to give Natalie interest (the daughter of wealthy blue-bloods) comes off as false and unbelievable. This is NOT a woman who was sent to Wasser and was raised with every advantage: she displays neither the education nor the sophistication. And, if she were, she certainly would not be Monk's assistant. There has never been a convincing explanation why a woman with this background is working for Adrian Monk. An explanation, yes. Convincing, no.

Sharona--and Bitty Schram's presentation of her--was the perfect juxtaposition to Monk's phobias and obsessions. She was outspoken, savvy, direct, opinionated, moral, conscientious, idealistic, dogmatic, stubborn, funny--with a heart of gold and uncompromising ethics. She was a woman without great advantages who had earned everything for herself. She had a weakness for men and all of her usual intelligence and discernment went out the door where men were concerned (interesting). Monk stepped in and became wise and discerning where he was generally naive and unperceptive in his own life when Sharona needed this from him. They saved each other through their flaws. They stretched each other and grew in the presence of each other (mostly Natalie and Monk just fumble around together. You roll your eyes at Monk. You roll your eyes at Natalie.) There was a pizazz to their relationship which would carry the show for many more seasons. And when there is pizazz, the writers feel it and react to it and create even more pizazz. It feeds on itself and takes on a life of its own. This is the relationship between phenomenal writers and actors.

I mentally fall asleep when Natalie comes on the screen. The actress is fine, but the character she is given simply is not the ideal contrast to Monk's. Sweetness without depth is not admirable - and she is only sweet some of the time! She is never funny. She is one of the most undefined characters on television. Bitty Schram and Tony Shalhoub had the right chemistry from day 1. USA should get Bitty back! They would make more money in the long run. Whatever dynamism and dogged-ness Ms. Schram had behind the scenes, she had in front of the camera as well--and it worked to the show's advantage.

Acutally Sharona in real life did not get along with the Characters and was forced off the show. I have watched the show from the begining and viewing it form that point have just gotten use to NAt but it took a long time. Her acting and character at first did nothing for me. My Aunt and Mom use to watch the show as well but stoped when they made the switch. They were unable to hang in there like I was. I'm a diehard fan and had to look past her weak character. Sharona was like an equal to Monk. I still miss her.

This has been discussed over and over again , but I really did like Sharona a lot. And I just realized the reason that she never called him Mr. Monk.
She was his nurse, right? From what I understand in seeing the "back story" on one of the DVD sets, Sharona was hired by Stottlemeyer to take care of Adrian. In time, she turned out to be his assistant. I don't know if he paid her himself. I'm sure he did, but we don't know how long they were "together" before the show started. Maybe she feels a friendship toward him.

Natalie, on the other hand (whom I LOVE and whom I think is VERY funny at times), is Adrian's assistant. Nothing more. A friend, yes, but in the beginning he hired her to be his assistant, so it's a form of respect that she calls him "Mr. Monk".

There have been sooooo many discussions about Adrian and a possible romantic relationship between him and Natalie or Sharona.

I like the "romantic tension" between him and Natalie. I can see that he really likes her, but of course, not enough to forget about Trudy and go with his feelings. I sense the same about Natalie. As Tony mentioned in his chat, he likes the romantic tension (not sure if that was the exact phrase he used; I don't think so) and wants to keep it that way.

I could never picture Adrian and Sharona as a couple. Nothing wrong with Sharona at all. She's beautiful and I would love for her to come back for a couple of episodes.

Sharona must have known Adrian a lot longer than Natalie, because she is always "yelling" at him (correcting him, etc-not really "yelling"), whereas Natalie is still learning his habits, and hardly ever questions them.

I think it's great that the show has been able to grow and change with the addition of Natalie (Traylor). The producers took a huge gamble in trying to fill Bitty's "position". I'm glad that they didn't recast her, but I'm also glad that she is still mentioned from time to time. The loss of Sharona could have been devastating to the show as a whole, but the producers did a wonderful job.

Andrea

Andrea

I agree with your observations but might want to alter the final sentence to read "but the producers and she did a wonderful job." I feel her performance in the final episode was her finest and a tribute to her overcoming many obstacles - especially the virulent opposition of some at the start - to finally achieve wide spread acceptance.

I found Sharona to be rude and thoughtless much of the time. What I (being from the south) call a "Yankee personality" -- brusque, harsh, abrupt, rude. If I was in the hospital and she was my nurse, I'd be scared to push my call button. She's my Nurse from Hell nightmare. Granted, she wasn't like that all the time, but watching one rerun each day while I eat lunch has really shown me how often she was downright mean to Monk. Natalie, on the other hand, is kind and thoughful. She's the nurse I'd want (yes, I know she isn't really a nurse).