With the early cancellation of some new series, and others already struggling creatively or in the ratings, the unqualified success of offbeat detective series "Monk" stands out in sharp relief. While viewers gravitate to "Monk," either on USA Network or in reruns on ABC, simply because they enjoy the show and Tony Shalhoub's quirky character, those who produce and schedule programming should be watching "Monk" for other reasons.

It has validated a new way of doing business, using cable as a farm system for network TV rather than vice versa.

"Monk" has proven so popular - averaging 6.72 million viewers in ABC reruns against powerful competition - that it should be rewarded with bigger budgets,
stronger guest stars and elevation to first-run major-network status.  Its standards already are impressively high.

Last week's first-run episode on USA Network, with Willie Nelson as himself, was a wonderful example of how "Monk" has grown - and the direction it needs to
take. Shalhoub's obsessive-compulsive Monk, like Peter Falk's schlumpy, polite "Columbo," cries out for worthy adversaries.

Last week, Nelson's quizzical-yet-accepting reaction to Monk was a treat, as was the music and the more expensive-looking location shooting (inside a
concert hall and Nelson's actual tour bus). This Friday night at 10 on USA, in the show's debut-season finale, Monk goes flying for the first time - in an
airplane filled with such high-caliber guest stars as Garry Marshall, Brooke Adams (from "Days of Heaven" and Shalhoub's real-life wife), Gates McFadden
from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and Tim Daly from "Wings."

It seems that lots of people are getting on board with "Monk," which is as it should be. Even though ABC put its reruns of the show in the Thursday-night
death slot opposite "Friends" on NBC and "Survivor: Thailand" on CBS, "Monk" has delivered almost twice the average audience this season as the doomed
"Push, Nevada," which follows it. Next month, ABC will move the reruns to Mondays at 8 p.m., where it will face tough competition from CBS comedies.

Shalhoub as the title character, and Bitty Schram as his often acerbic assistant, give the sort of performances for which you watch TV. Give this show
a bigger budget and a better time slot, and "Monk" could be a mainstay for years.