Bitty Schram’s character, Sharona Fleming, was one of the most important characters in Monk, yet she exited the series in season 3. Sharona was a nurse and the first personal assistant to Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). While Monk was Sharona’s employer, she genuinely cared for him, and was fully aware of all his phobias and his eccentricities. At the same time, Sharona was unafraid to speak bluntly to Monk and refused to infantilize him despite the many things that make him uncomfortable.
Sharona was often a highlight of Monk‘s best episodes because of her dynamic with the titular detective. She was also a single mother raising a son, Benjy (Kane Ritchotte). Monk even became a father figure for Benjy, including an episode where he tells Benjy that he did not need to be his father to believe or to be proud of him. With Sharona being a fixture of the procedural series, and her son being important as well, her sudden departure in season 3 was surprising, and is a harsh reality of rewatching Monk.
Bitty Schram Left Monk Reportedly Due To A Contract Dispute
Two Others Stars Reportedly Wanted Their Contract Renegotiated As Well
A dispute over renegotiating contracts reportedly led to Schram’s abrupt departure from Monk (via Today). According to this report, Schram was not the only Monk cast member looking to renegotiate her contract at that time. Ted Levine, who played Captain Leland Stottlemeyer, and Jason Gray-Stanford, who played Lieutenant Randy Disher, were also looking to change their contracts in 2004 when season 3 was still in full swing. Schram, Levine, and Gray-Standford had all been series regulars up to that point.
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The renegotiations presumably went in a favorable direction for Levine and Gray-Standford as they continued to be series regulars in season 3 and throughout the rest of Monk‘s ensuing seasons, as Stottlemeyer and Randy continued to work closely with Monk on many of his cases. Schram, on the other hand, did not have her contract extended, despite her central importance to Monk and to the series itself. This was a significant shift that both the characters and viewers needed to navigate.
The Official Reason Sharona Left Monk Was A New Creative Direction
USA Network And Bitty Schram’s Management Firm Shared Similar Statements
With the contract dispute only being the reason that Schram reportedly left the series, the official reason was the show deciding to go in a new creative direction. At the time, a USA Network spokesperson shared that “‘Monk’ has decided to go in a different creative direction with some of its characters. Bitty will not continue with the cast and we thank her for her notable contributions and wish her the very best.” Those contributions included a Golden Globe-nominated performance in 2004.
Schram starred in several movies and series after leaving
Monk
, including an episode of
Kitchen Confidential
, but none of those roles were as acclaimed as her Sharona performance.
Schram’s management firm, Untitled Entertainment, had a similar message to that of USA Network. Their statement was that “Bitty Schram and USA Network have amicably decided to go their own separate ways… She wishes everyone connected with the show continued success and looks forward to pursuing the various opportunities before her.” Schram starred in several movies and series after leaving Monk, including an episode of Kitchen Confidential, but none of those roles were as acclaimed as her Sharona performance.
Traylor Howard’s Natalie Replaced Sharona From Season 3 Onward
Natalie Was Much Different Than Sharona
After Schram’s exit, Traylor Howard joined the series to play Monk’s new personal assistant, Natalie Teeger. Natalie was also a single mother and her daughter, Julie (Emmy Clarke), developed a nice relationship with Monk just as Sharona’s son Benjy did. However, Natalie’s personality and her approach to working with Monk were noticeably different. Natalie was far more patient with Monk than Sharona ever was with him, although she was not afraid to speak up when she thought Monk had gone too far or if he was being unfair.
Traylor Howard’s first episode was season 3, episode 10, “Mr. Monk and the Red Herring.”
Even the way Natalie and Sharona addressed Monk highlighted the stark differences in their attitudes towards their employer. Sharona always called him “Adrian” while Natalie always called him “Mr. Monk,” a sign of deference that Sharona never showed him. It was important that Natalie be distinct from Sharona so she did not feel like a pale imitation of her and was instead a completely different character who had her own approach to working with Monk. This decision saved Monk and contributed to the show continuing to be successful all the way to the end of season 8.
Bitty Schram Returned As Sharona For An Episode Of Monk Season 8
She Met Natalie In This Episode
Season 8, episode 10, “Mr. Monk and Sharona” saw Schram briefly returning to the series and meeting Natalie. As Shalhoub explained while speaking with Entertainment Weekly, “We couldn’t think of a better way to help wrap up the series than with the return of Bitty’s character. Bringing some closure to Sharona is long overdue.” Since season 8 was the final season of the procedural series, it was the last opportunity to bring Sharona back.
Monk
is available to stream on Peacock and Netflix.
Sharona returned to San Francisco because of her uncle’s death, which turned into the episode’s case after Monk believed the death involved foul play. Having both Sharona and Natalie in the episode contributed to some amusing scenes, including Sharona arguing with Monk about him paying Natalie more than he ever paid her. Some tension did form between Natalie and Sharona, but they ultimately respected each other, with Natalie crediting Sharona for being the one who miraculously helped Monk after his wife’s death, and Sharona emphasizing that Natalie was a worthy successor.
Why Bitty Schram’s Sharona Wasn’t In Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie
She Only Appeared In A Flashback From The Pilot Episode
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie brought back many familiar characters, including Natalie, Stottlemeyer, and Randy. Sharona did appear at the beginning of the movie via a flashback from the original show’s pilot episode “Mr. Monk and the Candidate.” Schram did not reprise the role for the movie, though. Monk creator Andy Breckman, who wrote the movie, explained that Sharona was not in Mr. Monk’s Last Case because they “had to be a little selective” about whom to include in a story that would only last for 90 minutes.
Show/Movie | Tomatometer Score | Popcornmeter Score |
|---|---|---|
Monk (2002-2009) | 89% | 88% |
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023) | 96% | 80% |
Despite her absence, Sharona is still mentioned in Mr. Monk’s Last Case. Since she and Randy became a couple during Sharona’s return in Monk season 8, Randy was able to explain that she stayed home to take care of her son’s baby. Sharona ideally would have been in the movie as well, but at least a small update was provided about her and about Benjy. Given the positive reception to Mr. Monk’s Last Case, it is possible that there could be another Monk movie or a sequel series, which could give Schram another opportunity to play Sharona again.
Source: Today, Entertainment Weekly
Starring Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk follows the titular detective, a private investigator with OCD who helps solve crimes with the San Francisco Police. On the side, he also investigates the death of his wife, who was killed by a car bomb. Bitty Schram, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford also star.
- Release Date
- July 12, 2002
- Seasons
- 8
- Directors
- Randy Zisk , Jerry Levine