Why Did Sharona Leave Monk?

In the early 2000s, Monk became one of the hottest detective shows. It chronicled the exploits of Adrian Monk, a brilliant yet emotionally challenged detective, as he solved bizarre crimes while living with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

From the start, fans responded to the relationship between Monk and his assistant, Sharona Fleming, played by Bitty Schram. But halfway through the show, Sharona hightailed it out of the room, leaving fans wondering: Why did Sharona leave Monk? In this article, we’ll explain what caused her departure, and how the show carried on without her.

Who Was Sharona in Monk?

Sharona Fleming was introduced in Season 1 of Monk as Monk’s strong, outspoken, caring nurse-assistant. She guided Monk through his OCD, helped him through emotional low points and often prodded him to confront his fears. Sharona was not to be intimidated by monk or anyone else, and her personality brought a great deal of spirit and heart to the show.

She was also a single mother, raising her son, Benjy, at the same time she was working with Monk. It made her character relatable to a lot of viewers, particularly when so many of them admired her strength and loyalty.

Why Did Sharona Leave Monk?

Sharona departed from Monk during Season 3, and the show addressed her absence by saying she had moved back to New Jersey to remarry her ex-husband and raise her son there. That was the on-screen explanation, but fans were more curious about the off-screen reason for the actress's departure.

In fact, the actress who played Sharona — Bitty Schram — left the show over a contract dispute. She and her representatives had reportedly requested a higher salary, feeling her role was just as essential as those of other the main characters in the show. Unfortunately, the network and producers didn’t see it that way, and Bitty was out.

The producers issued a statement saying that while they appreciated her work, they felt that the show needed to take “a different creative direction.” Fans, however, felt that the problem was more money than creativity.

How Did Fans React?

Many fans were shocked by Sharona’s sudden departure. She’d become such a vital part of the show’s heart and humor that her absence created a noticeable hole. Most viewers were disappointed, feeling the handover was jarring. Some claim they stopped watching the show for a bit because they missed the chemistry between Monk and Sharona.

But eventually, the majority of fans adjusted to the changes, particularly once they were introduced to Monk’s new assistant, Natalie Teeger.

Who Replaced Sharona on Monk?

After Sharona’s departure, Monk acquired a new assistant, Natalie Teeger, portrayed by Traylor Howard. Natalie was a different type of character — calmer, more polite, more nurturing than Sharona was. Fans initially felt ambivalent toward her — and she took a while to grow on people — but she eventually won viewers over with her soft-spoken encouragement and recognition of the challenges posed by Monk’s condition.

Natalie proved to be a different type of energy and Monk grew during their time together, so Natalie still managed to keep things interesting in Monk's later seasons.

Did Sharona Ever Return?

Yes! In the final season of Monk, she returned for one episode. In the eighth season, 10th episode, “Mr. Monk and Sharona,” she came back to visit Monk while going through a bit of a crisis. Fans were happy to see her again, and the episode offered viewers a sense of closure. So while she did not end up remarrying her ex-husband after all, that was what many fans hoped would have been the case.

Her return was a lovely bookend for longtime viewers, and it closed the door on her storyline in Whispering Pines nicely as the show exited.

Final Thoughts

Sharona’s exit from Monk was one of the biggest stories of the series. Though the show justified it in terms of the story, the actual reason turned out to be more about behind-the-scenes conflicts like disputes over contracts. We missed her in turn, but the show didn’t miss a beat with Natalie Teeger, and ultimately, Sharona got a proper sendoff.

Regardless of which assistant fans preferred, there’s no denying that Sharona made a big impression and helped cement Monk’s early success.