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After eight successful season, neurotic detective Adrian Monk, so expertly played by Tony Shahloub, is turning in his hand wipes.  Monk represents one of the first times USA Networks developed their own, original content, a game they’ve gone on to perfect with several hit series, all of which owe some debt of gratitude to Andy Breckman’s creation.  And while we may be sad to see Mr. Monk, Ms. Teeger, Captain Stottlemeyer and Randy disappear from the airwaves fly off into syndication, we can be grateful that, unlike so many television series, they decided when it was time to go.  They were not forced out or given an ultimatum.  Rather, it was time to give Monk some closure and allowed the pained detective to unravel the mystery of who killed his wife – and why.

If you’ve found yourself lax in keeping up with the final series, you can still brush up and be ready for Friday nights series finale.  Really all you need to know is that Adrian Monk has been poisoned on orders from the man who killed his wife.  Things aren’t looking good for the Detective, as you can see in this preview scene from the final episode.

If I were a betting man, and I am, I’d say that Mr. Monk manages to find his way out of that bad to extract justice on the man who obliterated his life.  It would be just slightly too depressing to end the series with him dead, so I’m of course pulling for his recovery.  And so as all good things must come to end, I took a few moments to recollect my favorite Monk memories.  To be honest, I wasn’t the biggest fan during the Sharona years, but found myself becoming more involved with the show over time.  So, without further blubbery, here are my four favorite monk moments.

1. Mr. Monk’s Vacuum Love Affair.  As a neatfreak, when Mr. Monk happens to get his hands on a new, bagless, laser powered vacuum, he is understandably overjoyed.  Overjoyed to the point that he does his best Fred Astaire.  Check out the clip at USA Networks.
2. Mr. Monk & The Other Detective.  When Monk is paralyzed in terror by some dog poop, Jason Alexander comes on the scene as the anti Monk; a slovenly private investigator who somehow has all the answers.  Check out a scene here.
3. Michael Westen Gets Burned.  Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan makes an appearance as a pilot trying to evade Monk.  Monk not only get his man, but shines the plane while he’s at it.  Check it here.
4. Mr. Monk hits 100.  For the 100th Episode, the show took a fun turn and had Monk the star of the reality show “In Focus” as they follow him on a case.  Just try not to laugh at this scene where Monk and Natalie confront a showman Vampire at a theme restaurant who has some pretty bad timing on his jokes.  View it here.

I’ll be sad to see Monk go off the airwaves, but thanks to the staying power of syndication, DVD, and Netflix, he’ll never be more than a few button clicks away.  Be sure to turn into USA Friday at 9pm to catch the series finale of Monk and give him the send off he deserves.

What is your favorite Monk moment?