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Actress Bitty Schram played Adrian Monk’s annoyed yet loving nurse in the procedural comedyMonk. For almost three seasons, Schram put up with Monk’s obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression from his wife’s death while also helping him out with his cases. However, Schram left midway through the third season.
Many reasons have been given for Schram’s exit. The actress had great chemistry with Tony Shalhoub’s Adrian Monk and the initial seasons had many memorable episodes where the two had some impressive banter. However, the character was revealed to have re-married her ex and moved to New Jersey, introducing a new assistant named Natalie Teeger.
Bitty Schram Played Sharona Fleming InMonkFor Three Seasons
Tony Shalhoub played the OCD-inflected and mourning Adrian Monk for eight seasons of the seriesMonk. The procedural comedy series was one of the highest-rated series on cable at the time and earned several awards during its eight-season run. After its finale in 2009, the show was revived with a film, Mr. Monk’sLast Case, which was released in 2023.
While later seasons of the show saw Monk growing close to his new assistant Natalie Teeger, played by Taylor Howard, the initial seasons had some of the most memorable moments of the series with Bitty Schram as Sharona Fleming. Monk’s loud-mouthed yet endearing full-time nurse was as annoyed with him as she took care of him.
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Schram mentioned in an interview withMovieWebthat she related a lot to her character, especially being from New Jersey. She said,
Well, she kind of is feisty, you know. I guess I could get that way. 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.
Schram was nominated for the Golden Globes for her performance as Sharona Fleming.
Why Did Bitty Schram LeaveMonk?
While many procedural shows have a sidekick for the main detective, Bitty Schram’s Sharona is different in a way that she seems to have more power in the dynamic between her and Monk. While Monk’s tantrums did get the better of her, he was still dependent on her for many of his basic tasks. Hence, her departure in season 3 came as a big shock to fans.
Midway through season 3, it was revealed Bitty Schram would be leaving the series, and Sharona’s role as a sidekick for Monk would be replaced by Traylor Howard’s Natalie Teeger. The series had already sown the seeds with the return of Sharona’s ex. The storyline was that Sharona would be moving back to New Jersey with her husband and son.
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The USA Network reportedly issued a statement regarding Schram’s exit saying that the show would be going in a new creative direction. The statement read (viaToday),
‘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.
While Schram’s management company also stated that the network and she had decided to split amicably, there were rumors that she had a contract dispute with the network. According to Today, the actress had asked for more money after she received a Golden Globe nomination, after which she left.
Actors Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford, who played Captain Leland Stottlemeyer and Detective Randy Disher, were also reportedly involved in renegotiations but they returned to the series.
Did Bitty Schram Return ForMonk?
Over five seasons, Tony Shalhoub’s Adrian Monk adjusted to Traylor Howard’s Natalie Deeger, and the two managed to solve quite a few cases. The two meet during a case where Monk finds out who were the intruders who broke into Natalie’s house. Natalie and Monk bond over their shared trauma of losing a spouse and she soon joins as his assistant.
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While Natalie grew to be a great assistant to Monk, fans still missed the incredible Sharona. So, in the final season, Bitty Schram returned to the show and reunited with her beloved ex-employer. The actors mentioned in an interview withMovieWebthat nothing had changed since Schram had left and that they picked off where they left off. Schram said,
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.
The actress also mentioned that getting back to the role felt like riding a bicycle. Though it had been years since she had played the role of Sharona, she said she got back into it very quickly and the dynamic between her and Shalhoub was the same as before. Tony Shalhoub also spoke to EW about how they managed to wrap up the series. He said,
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.
The season 8 episode revealed what Sharona had been up to in the years since she left for New Jersey. Some tension brews between her and Natalie before they reconcile and get along. Sharona and Monk reportedly even share a hug, something that Adrian Monk would usually despise. Bitty Schram also reportedly made an appearance through archival footage inMr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie.
Monkis available to stream on Peacock.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2416
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
