Then there’s the bad news — she’s only appearing on one darn episode. I guess that’s better than none, though.

The network announced the news earlier this week with an accurate comment from series star Tony Shalhoub included: “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.”

I’ll say. As longtime fans will recall, Sharona left the series midway through the third season in 2004 when her character reconciled with her ex-husband Trevor Howe and schlepped across the country to New Jersey to move back in with him, her son Benjy in tow. Viewers were informed of the development after the fact, in a subsequent episode, and never received a fitting opportunity to say goodbye properly.

The real reason Schram, a best comedy actress Golden Globe nominee for the series that same year, moved on was allegedly due to a contract dispute that wasn’t resolved in her favor. However, the network maintains her departure was because of a change in “creative direction.”

In any case, it’s good Schram and Sharona will return for the last leg of one of USA Network’s most successful series ever and the one that put it on the “quality basic-cable programming” map. If only she were sticking around for multiple episodes, I could be thoroughly thrilled instead of just slightly happy.

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As sad as it is to say, we’ve finally reached the end of the road for the next-to-last season of Monk. “Mr. Monk Fights City Hall,” the Season Seven finale, premieres this Friday, February 20, at 9pm EST, and the next season will be the show’s eighth and last. So, let’s enjoy what we have now while we can.

The finale features the return of Adrian Monk’s rival in psychosis, Harold Krenshaw (Tim Bagley), when the parking garage where Monk’s beloved wife Trudy was killed is scheduled for demolition. Intent on preventing that from happening, Monk intervenes and takes his case all the way to city hall.

In the process, he not only bumps into Harold yet again, but he also quickly finds himself emboriled in another mystery, this one revolving around the disappearance of a city official crucial to preserving the parking garage. Jon Polito (Raising the Bar, Homicide: Life on the Street) guest stars, as well.

Follow the jump for a sneak peek featuring Monk, Natalie, and Harold, and a video of the episode promo.

Monk airs Fridays on USA Network at 9pm EST.

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Up first at 9pm EST on Monk’s “Mr. Monk and The Magician” is former Crossing Jordan star Steve Valentine. He plays a magician with the stage name The Great Torini who plays head games with Monk when the legendary detective suspects him of murder.

Next at 10pm is Psych with “Tuesday The 17th” and former Family Ties star Justine Bateman, who plays Victoria. Shawn and Gus get into all kinds of spooky weirdness when a childhood friend hires them to find a missing camp counselor who disappeared near their old sleep away camp grounds, which are now abandoned and seemingly haunted.

Follow the jump for promos for both perfectly timed episodes. And FYI: Although each show has been renewed for an additional season of 16 episodes, their current seasons end next Friday.

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Up for grabs are: (1) Monk Season Six on DVD, (2) a Monk Book, (3) a Monk Commuter Mug, (4) a Monk Hat, and (5) a Monk Key Chain.

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite Monk episode of all time. That’s it!

Well, I also need entrants to include a valid email address in the appropriate box when submitting the comment so I can reach the ultimate winner quickly (no need to leave it in the body of the comment, though). Just one entry per person is allowed, and also keep in mind that the prize package will only be shipped to an address in the United States.

Otherwise, everyone has until 11:59pm EST on Friday, February 6, to enter the giveaway, so have it.

Good Luck!

Watch Monk every Friday night at 9pm EST on USA Network. Visit the official website at monk.usanetwork.com and join other fans on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Monk/7524752958.

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I hope everybody else is as psyched as I am for the return of Tony Shalhoub and his magnificent crime dramedy Monk.

The place to be at 9pm EST tonight is USA Network, which will air the seventh-midseason premiere of the show, a fun episode called “Mr. Monk and the Other Brother.” And, you betcha — it appears Adrian Monk does indeed have another sibling besides John Turturro’s recovered agoraphobic Ambrose, a half brother named Jack Jr. played by Joy Ride etcetera star Steve Zahn.

The action gets rolling at the very beginning of the episode, when poor Monk, busy whipping himself up a stack of perfectly square pancakes one morning, realizes that someone is breaking into his apartment. That someone is Jack, who has just escaped from prison and soon informs Monk that he needs help bringing the person who framed him for murder to justice.

Monk, in a family frame of mind these days, eventually obliges, which in turn leads to a few investigative escapades before he ultimately gets to the bottom of Jack’s case as expected. Considering that Jack has a criminal past, knowing what happened doesn’t necessarily mean Monk clears Jack’s name like the escapee wants.

Longtime fans are going to love this episode probably about as much they love all of them — it’s why we watch. So, don’t forget to settle down at 9pm tonight for Monk’s latest adventures.

Monk airs Fridays on USA Network at 9pm EST.

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First up is Team Tony Shalhoub at 9pm EST, who bring us “Mr. Monk and the Miracle.” Neither Adrian Monk nor Captain Stottlemeyer believes in miracles, until a little intervention from fate.

In the case of the OCD detective, he decides to take on an inspiring mystery involving the murder of several homeless men’s friend, courtesy of Natalie’s intervention. And Stottlemeyer experiences renewed faith when a fountain at a monastery appears to get rid of his chronic pain.

Following at 10pm EST is Psych and “Christmas Joy.” Shawn and Gus’ title happiness over supposedly saving Christmas is almost ruined when the mall Santa they help a young girl get out of jail turns out to be a common con artist, as is the child.

Thankfully, Gus’ sister Joy (Faune Chambers; note the second title connection) convinces the guys to foil the crooks’ planned holiday heist, which just might happen if Joy and Shawn can prevent Gus from learning about their past hookup. Good luck with that!

Also of note: the lovely Phylicia Rashad returns to play Gus’ mother during the episode directed by John Landis, while father duties are taken over from last year’s Ernie Hudson by this year’s equally capable Keith David.

Preview both episodes in the trailers below. They’re definitely looking good.

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Says network executive vice president Jeff Wachtel: “We want to build to a spectacular conclusion for this wonderful show. By many measures, Monk is the most successful series in the history of basic cable television — and it was certainly the original tentpole of our ‘character’ brand. Our fans have been extremely dedicated and season eight should prove to be a very satisfying reward.”

I certainly hope so. We all knew the good times had to end at some point, but I still feel bittersweet tears welling up already. At least it’s reassuring that the series will exit on a ratings and quality high. And then there’s always the near daily repeats and frequent Monkathons.

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Meanwhile, today at 9pm EST, USA Network will present “Mr. Monk Gets Hypnotized.” When Adrian undergoes hypnosis as a new form of therapy, he suddenly begins acting like he’s nine years old again. Hopefully, the regression will help him solve the main crime.

Or, perhaps the show will take a week off since the kicker on last week’s hallmark 100th episode, “Mr. Monk’s 100th Case,” was that the detective actually solved two crimes instead of one. That amount put him at 101 cases solved, an odd number he can’t very well retire on, as he wanted to do when he thought he had reached an even success rate of 100. Richard Schiff, formerly of The West Wing, guest stars.

Then, at 10pm, Schiff’s fellow West Wing colleague Gary Cole guest stars, along with Spin City’s Alan Ruck, on the “Gus Walks Into a Bank” episode of Psych. Ruck plays a bank robber who forces Shawn into negotiation duties when he holds Gus and other bank customers hostage. Cole, on the other hand, plays the familiar role of a badass lawman, which is always all good.

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Onboard for the guest star-filled extravaganza are a slew of familiar faces and few new ones, too. They include newcomers Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) and Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives), as well as returning guests John Turturro as Monk’s agoraphobic brother Ambrose, Tim Bagley as Monk’s nemesis Harold Krenshaw, Sarah Silverman as Monk’s biggest fan Marci Maven, Jarrad Paul as neighbor Kevin Dorfman, Howie Mandel as former cult leader Ralph Roberts, and Shalhoub’s real-life wife Brooke Adams as flight attendant Leigh Harrison.

There are also a few shifty criminals nabbed thanks to Monk’s brilliance, such as Sharon Lawrence’s Linda Fusco, Andy Richter’s Hal Tucker, David Koechner’s Joey Krenshaw, Ricardo Chavira’s Jimmy Belmont, and Angela Kinsey’s Arlene Boras.

This one is going to be a blast, so if you’re a Monk fan, you won’t want to miss it.

Monk airs Fridays on USA at 9pm EST.

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Two winners were selected at random for the Monk/Psych Giveaway, and they are:

Justin, who likes Monk and Psych because, unlike some other TV shows, they’re both well-written and well-acted series.

Stephen, who likes Monk because it’s a “pretty tripping show.”

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who entered. This giveaway would not have been possible without the generosity of USA Network and Electric Artists.

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