MovieChat Forums > Monk (2002) Discussion > Only 125 episodes in a 8 season span?

Only 125 episodes in a 8 season span?

posted 8 years ago by McGannahanSkjellyfetti
13 replies | jump to latest

That seems a bit low for that amount of time. Usually 8 season long shows would be closer to 180-190...

[–] scouter227 8 years ago

They only made 13 episodes in the 1st season & 16 in subsequent seasons.

[–] McGannahanSkjellyfetti 8 years ago

Why was there a low amount per season? I can understand about the first season going 13 episodes. That's pretty common, but I'm curious about the other seasons...

[–] scouter227 8 years ago

It might have been because they had a small writing staff.

In the original run, they would split the episodes into two halves, 9 in the first half and 7 in the second, and there would he a hiatus in between.

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

Since when is 16 episodes per season low for a cable network show?

[–] moderngamenewb 8 years ago

Psych did the exact same thing, with 16 episodes per season (though the last season only had 10 episodes), and would split the seasons into two halves.

[–] McGannahanSkjellyfetti 8 years ago

Is it average for a cable show? I didn't realize it was. I'm just use to shows going 24-25 episodes per season...

[–] Stratego 8 years ago

I think 13 episodes is even more common, some shows even have 10 episodes per season.

[–] squodge 8 years ago

You should try British shows - they're lucky to have even 10 episodes in a season.

Fawlty Towers - classic British comedy, yet only 12 episodes in its entirety (6 episodes per season, 2 seasons).

Jonathan Creek - essential viewing if you like "impossible crimes", this show never made it to double figures per season, and some seasons span several years. Altogether 32 episodes.

The IT Crowd - 4 seasons, 6 episodes per season. Seems almost unbelievable to fans that there were only 24 episodes made.

[–] cind5 8 years ago

And if I dismember correctly, Fawlty Towers were 4 years apart. It's funny about Fawlty Towers, it only lasted 12 episodes and is considered Britain's greatest sitcom. While in the U.S., they've made 2 remakes, Amanda's and Payne, both lasted 13 episodes and are consider complete and utter failures.

We live as we dream - alone.

[–] scouter227 8 years ago

I think we're just used to a television season being something like 25 episodes or so.

[–] squodge 8 years ago

I read somewhere that for US shows to be syndicated, they need 100+ episodes. So maybe the producers of Monk decided that they just needed 100+, not necessarily needing 200 episodes?

[–] Master (1494) 7 years ago

The way Monk was, and it rubbed off on me I wanted Monk To be 10 Seasons 10 episodes a season I would liked two more seasons 10 seasons of Monk perfect but I think usa network has some rule of 8 is enough

[–] TheDemon (598) 5 years ago

Quality always beats quantity.
Fawlty Towers
The Office (UK version)
Extras
Jack Irish
etc.