LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Turnabout is fair play.

In an attempt to get ratings, struggling network ABC is poaching a successful series from cable. The network will air four weeks of USA's new series "Monk" on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET starting Tuesday, Aug. 13. The episodes will have debuted on basic cable the previous Friday.

"This represents an innovative approach to program development," says Susan Lyne, ABC's president of entertainment. "In the midst of a summer of reruns and reality programming, we will be broadcasting original episodes of a quality drama ."

"Monk" stars Tony Shalhoub as a San Francisco police detective who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder brought on by the death of his wife. Bitty Schram ("A League of Their Own") and Ted Levine ("Heat" ) also star.

The show's July 12 debut on USA was a hit, and since then the show has consistently ranked among the Top 10 programs on all of basic cable. The arrangement will provide ABC with an original scripted series at a reduced licensing fee while expanding the show's potential audience.

As part of the agreement, USA will not rerun any "Monk" episode in the days before its ABC air time.

While it is becoming more common for cable networks to show previously broadcast series -- such as USA's airing of NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" -- this deal is one of the first to rerun a cable series on a broadcast network.

In a similar arrangement, NBC recently announced that starting Saturday, Aug. 25 it will air episodes of Court TV's "Forensic Files" for four weeks as well, to help fill in before the start of the fall season.

Doug Herzog, President of the USA Network says of the "Monk" deal, "We're thrilled to generate greater awareness for one of the best shows on television. 'Monk's' success proves that basic cable has closed the gap with broadcast networks in delivering high-quality original programming."