TVSquad

(S07E01) It seems like only yesterday when Monk, the ultimate obsessive compulsive Sherlock Holmes, began on USA Network, and now here it is the start of its seventh season. In all that time, for a man who doesn't like change at all, Adrian Monk has had to endure quite a bit of upheaval. The untimely death last April of actor Stanley Kamel, who played Monk's security blanket/therapist Dr. Kroger, was written into this premiere episode, in -- what I believe -- was a very subtle, graceful way.

Monk's sudden displeasure with his home is rooted in his discomfort in his life now that Dr. Kroger is gone. The ultimate egotist, in that Monk cares most for himself, Adrian is desperate to throw himself into work to avoid the irritating piano-playing coming from the little girl across the street and disturbing the sanctuary of his home. Kudos to the new therapist, Dr. Bell, for connecting the dots and quickly sizing up why Monk finds the music so displeasing.

On Friday, July 18th, the seventh season of Monk will premiere on the USA network. For some this is incredibly good news, particularly since the show will be celebrating its 100th episode come September. For others, season seven is three or four seasons too many. It's these people who think Adrian Monk should retire to a Feung Shui-styled, completely dust-free room to live out his remaining days lamenting about his lost love Trudy.

Fortunately, Tony Shalhoub doesn't want Monk to retire. In a recent interview the actor who plays the obsessive-compulsive Mr. Monk said that there is plenty more to explore about the character and the people around him. This is especially true thanks to the revelations of the season six finale, which opened up a whole new avenue for Monk to find the killer of his wife. That, and the introduction of a new therapist into Monk's life (due to the sudden death of Stanley Kamel), have the seventh season looking interesting.

Ladies, your dreams have come true. It looks like you will have a chance to date television star Brad Garrett. He's executive-producing and starring in an online dating reality show called, duh, Dating Brad Garrett.

Garrett is best known for his nine-year stint as Ray Romano's brother in the popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. He is currently entering his third season as one of the stars of the Fox sitcom Til Death.

"An online dating show seemed like a logical choice given that I'm in the midst of a midlife crisis and averse to pain, which makes getting my ear pierced out of the question," Garrett said. "And since I'm not picky about my choices, I hope women of all sizes, shapes and colors will be compelled to submit their videos."

Women can submit videos to the Crackle.com site at Crackle.com/DateBrad. I wonder if he'll be more popular than Tila Tequila?

Fox has made the call, and it's a big "see ya later" for Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton. But their loss is someone else's gain. The pilot for the Jason Bateman directed comedy series The Inn has been picked up for a 13-week commitment, while Back to You has been axed. The Brad Garrett-Joely Fisher sitcom, Til Death, meanwhile, has been given another year.

Bateman, who starred in Arrested Development -- the Emmy-award winning comedy that the network dumped unceremoniously because of low ratings -- was behind the camera for The Inn pilot. The show, which is about the haves and have-nots in a fancy, five-star New York City hotel, has a promising cast of funny folks including Niecy Nash (Reno 911!), Jerry O'Connell (who looks like Jason's twin), and the really hilarious Jesse Tyler Ferguson (remember him on The Class -- he was so funny!).

Fox has picked up the back nine episodes of the new comedy, 'Til Death, starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher. Even though the show hasn't done much in its Thursday night timeslot, Fox thinks there is an audience out there for this sitcom. Fox thinks that 24 and American Idol will draw in more viewers to the network when they begin in January.

The network has also ordered six more episodes of Standoff, starring Ron Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt (and Gina Torres for all you Firefly fans). A rep for the network says it didn't order the full back nine (considered a full season) because there isn't going to be any room for a full season once 24 and American Idol begin.

'Til Death will stay off the air for an extra week after the World Series because star Brad Garrett is holding up production. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Garrett was very unhappy with the latest script. That's actually a good reason to postpone a show... to make the script better. Unfortunately for Brad, it might not matter that much. The show is taking a beating on Thursday nights against Survivor and Ugly Betty. It'll be interesting to see that episode when it does get made, to see what Garrett considers a 'good' script.

(S01E01) A lot of times when a big show, especially a sitcom, goes off the air, we see a series of spinoffs, or almost spinoffs, leading from it. When Everybody Loves Raymond left the airwaves at CBS, you could have seen it coming that Brad Garrett's character would have been perfect to have on his own. Well, howabout the best of that world, plus a whole new gig. FOX's 'Til Death plays Eddie, a schoolteacher whose new neighbor is a newlywed (12 days in or so) who also happens to be the new vice principal at the school Eddie works at.

If you'd seen any of the advertisements for the show, then you have probably gotten a pretty good idea of the style of humor on the show. That isn't to say that you know all the jokes already at all, but it's fun to see the complete and total difference between Eddie, his wife Joy (such a happy name!), and newlyweds Jeff and Steph (oh so cute with the rhyming names!). Even with all the jaded comments that Eddie makes about marriage, he and Joy have a really great time together, even if it is while they are eating snack food on the couch and watching Ellen together. You can actually see the money lines just flowing out of this show, with about halfway through the premiere being the moment when Jeff sees that all the things Eddie believes will happen to their marriage aren't just figments of his imagination. No pool table for you, young man!

Since that Everybody Loves Raymond spin-off didn't pan out for Brad Garrett, The Hollywood Reporter is saying that he may be jumping networks to co-star in a new comedy called 'Til Death. It's about a newlywed couple who move in next door to a couple that has been married for a long time. Garrett will play the husband in the long-term marriage. It was written by Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith, creators of CBS' The King of Queens.

Yep. A co-starring role seems like the right fit for him. Brad Garrett in a lead role would be too much... Brad.