EMMY-AWARD NOMINATED DAN HEDAYA TO GUEST-STAR IN A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EPISODE OF THE USA NETWORK HIT SERIES "MONK"

EMMY-AWARD NOMINATED DAN HEDAYA TO GUEST-STAR IN A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EPISODE OF THE USA NETWORK HIT SERIES "MONK"

Special to Premiere on Friday, November 17 at 10pm/9 Central

NEW YORK, NY � October 10, 2006 � USA Network announced today that Emmy-Award nominated Dan Hedaya ("Cheers," "NYPD Blue") will guest-star as Adrian Monk's father, Jack Monk, in a special holiday episode of MONK, the critically-acclaimed original series starring Emmy�, Golden Globe� and SAG award winner Tony Shalhoub. The announcement was made by Jeff Wachtel, executive vice president of original programming for USA. The episode will premiere on Friday, November 17 at 10:00pm/9 Central on USA Network. MONK remains one of the highest-rated original scripted series in basic cable history.

In this special holiday episode, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is preparing to spend a quiet Christmas at home until his father Jack (guest-star Dan Hedaya) - whom he hasn't seen in forty years - rolls into town! But dad's not sticking around - he's a truck driver with a tight delivery schedule. Leaving behind Natalie's holiday party and all that is familiar to him, Monk joins his estranged father on the road. While trying to repair the relationship, Monk discovers that his father is entangled in a dangerous mystery, and the two men must put aside their differences to solve the case.

Hedaya is one of the most recognizable and beloved character actors in television and film. Although probably best-known for his role as Nick Tortelli in "Cheers" and "The Tortellis," he has also starred in HBO's "The Second Civil War" and guest-starred in "NYPD Blue," for which he received an Emmy nomination, and has been featured on such programs as "The Book of Daniel," "Yes, Dear," "St. Elsewhere," "Hill Street Blues," "L.A. Law," "Family Ties," "ER" and "Law and Order." He has also appeared in a long list of diverse and notable films, including Norman Jewison's "The Hurricane" opposite Denzel Washington, "Dick" as Richard Nixon, as well as "The First Wives Club," "A Civil Action," "Alien: Resurrection," "Marvin's Room," "Nixon," "Daylight," "The Usual Suspects," "Blood Simple," "Reckless," "Running Scared," "Commando," "Wiseguys," "Joe Versus the Volcano," "Pacific Heights," "The Addams Family," "Benny & Joon," "Mr. Wonderful," "Rookie of the Year," "Searching for Bobby Fischer," "Maverick," "To Die For," "Clueless," and lent his voice to the animated feature film, "Robots." His stage performances have included roles on Broadway in such plays as "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel," opposite Al Pacino. He also starred in the New York Shakespeare Festival's productions of "Museum," "Henry V" and "Hamlet," at Lincoln Center, and opposite Sigourney Weaver in "Conjuring an Event," at the American Place Theater.

Tony Shalhoub ("Big Night," "Wings," "Men in Black," "Cars") has earned three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and two SAG Awards for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Adrian Monk, a brilliant detective who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Monk's psychological disorder costs him his position as a legendary homicide detective on the San Francisco Police Force. Due to the tragic unsolved murder of his wife, Monk has developed an abnormal fear of germs, heights, crowds and virtually everything else, which provides an unusual challenge to solving crimes � not to mention his day-to-day existence.

Traylor Howard ("Two Guys and a Girl," "Me, Myself and Irene"), Ted Levine ("Memoirs of a Geisha," "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford") and Jason Gray-Stanford ("Taken," "Flags of our Fathers") also star.

MONK is executive produced by David Hoberman ("Raising Helen," "The Shaggy Dog," "The Negotiator"), Andy Breckman ("Saturday Night Live," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Rat Race"), Tony Shalhoub and Randy Zisk ("House M.D.," "Desperate Housewives"). Fern Field ("Kane & Abel," "Heartsounds") and Tom Scharpling ("The Best Show on WFMU") serve as co-executive producers. Anthony Santa Croce ("Carnivale") and John Collier ("King of the Hill") are producers. MONK is from NBC Universal Television Studio in association with Mandeville Films and Touchstone Television.

For photos from the special holiday episode of MONK, as well as all USA Network projects, please log on to the NBC Universal Media Village at http://www.nbcumv.com/.

USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 basic cable network across the board in 3Q06, USA Network is seen in 90 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

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