If you don't have an opening for the quirky detective series right now, don't despair. Given the mostly unimaginative programming you're developing for the new season, I'm certain a slot will open soon.

Hint to readers: Watch Monk whenever and wherever you get the chance. As I've reported to you these past three weeks, the uncommonly fun series starring Tony Shalhoub (Wings) as the defective detective is getting a brief run on ABC Tuesday nights this summer. The first-run episodes continue Friday nights on cable's USA Network.

The program about a former San Francisco police detective who now works as a private detective because of his psychological disorders was first developed for ABC. But the network never really had faith in the series, and the show only saw the light of day when USA became a partner.

Seventy percent of U.S. households have cable, and almost all of those can receive USA. But Monk is such a pleasantly engaging character and series that I want him and it to be available even to people who aren't tethered to the cable.

On tonight's episode on WEAR-TV3, which I watched Friday when it was shown on USA, Monk is tempted by the charms of a beautiful divorcée even though he still is partially paralyzed over the death of his wife four years earlier.

Last week's showing on ABC scored second place in the Nieslen ratings contest for the hour and helped the troubled network increase its audience by 24 percent from the previous hour. That's no small accomplishment considering the competition was American Idol on Fox.

Speaking of Idol, just three aspiring singing stars remain. After tonight's live performances (8 p.m. on WALA-TV10) and Wednesday's voting results, another one of the hopefuls will be eliminated. Next week, the finale.