Tony Shalhoub has been described by "Monk" creator/executive producer Andy Breckman as "a godsend."
Classy 'Monk'  knows its roots
Creative team obsesses over  genius cop-turned-detective
By Cynthia Littleton HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

LOS ANGELES, June 19 -- USA Network's "Monk" is one show that knows where it comes from. It's part Sherlock Holmes, part Larry David and part "Columbo," according to creator/executive producer Andy Breckman. "Monk," which has its second-season premiere Friday, is indeed a classy gumshoe drama in the finest Universal tradition of "The Rockford Files," "McMillan & Wife" and, of course, Peter Falk's magnum opus. And like Falk's Lt. Columbo, there is no more finely drawn character in primetime today than Tony Shalhoub's obsessive-compulsive, genius cop-turned-detective Adrian Monk.