Why did Natalie Teager get a different job in "Mr. Monk and the Badge"?

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In one of the final episodes of Monk, Mr. Monk is finally reinstated to the force and Natalie Teager leaves and gets another job.

Why would Mr. Monk no longer require the services of Natalie Teager?



Best Answer

According to Wikipedia, in this episode (based on the book Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu), it wasn't that Monk did not require her services so much as, perhaps feeling that she was no longer needed, she "reveals that she has an interview for a glamorous job with a concert promoter." Mr. Monk warns her that her new boss will not be as good as he was. In the end, she misses the excitement of working with him, and she returns to her job as he relinquishes his badge.

In the dialogue at the end, they disagree about whether she quit or was let go:

Monk: I pay $900 a week.

Natalie: I am not taking a pay cut, Mr. Monk!

Monk: Then you shouldn't have quit.

Natalie: I didn't quit, you let me go. Oh, God, you make me mad!

This episode was directed by Dean Parisot, whose only other episode was the pilot.

Interestingly, in the book, Natalie does not leave when Monk gets his badge back (which he only gets temporarily because he is operating as a scab during an unofficial police strike - "blue flu"), but continues working with him at his job. In the television series, they were trying to wrap up a lot of loose ends as the series came to an end, and one of those loose ends was Adrian getting his badge back. But once he had it back, he decides it is not for him. That storyline naturally had to consider what would happen to Natalie if Monk went back to regular work.




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Why did Natalie leave Mr. Monk?

Schram left Monk midway through the show's third season reportedly due to a contract dispute. Producers, however, insisted at the time that they simply wanted to take the show in a different direction. Whatever triggered her exit, it's apparently water under the bridge.

Why did Monk get a new assistant?

Midway through the series' third season, audience favorite Bitty Schram, who played Monk's no-nonsense nurse/assistant Sharona, made a precipitous departure. Reportedly, there was a contract dispute. "At the time I was developing my own series -- so when my manager said 'get in on this,' I resisted," said Ms.

Why did they replace Sharona on Monk?

Sharona Fleming - Bitty Schram But Bitty Schram was let go during the show's third season due to contract disputes, apparently she wanted a higher salary and the creators felt she was replaceable. We've always been miffed about that, but lucky for us, she returned in season 8 for the episode "Mr. Monk and Sharona".



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Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Anna Tarazevich, ANTONI SHKRABA, Anna Shvets, Anna Tarazevich