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I also asked Bitty if she gave much thought thought to how the character of Sharona would react to the character of Natalie as she was going in.

" Well, no...," Bitty told me, "I didn't really know what the script, what they had planned until I got the script. I got it like a week before, then I thought about it once I got the script because I didn't really know what they wrote for me to come back and stuff like that and what they had the relationship thing."

"But once I read the script and then I can make choices on how to play that and how to play my relationship with Natalie. But I didn't know until I had more information."

"But for me being back on the show, I was really happy to do it and I thought it ended really, really well. I couldn't, I just thought it ended the way it should have and I was very, very pleased with it and very pleased to be working with everyone again on that show, I really was."

She continued, "Well, I think what me and Tony or Sharona and Adrian - I think it is the same dynamic. I just think there's a little Monk, like with Natalie added in there, I think there's, I mean I think it just, it may change the dynamic a little, but I think we still have the same relationship. But I'm (as Sharona) very competitive with her. Like for vying for - because you know, I've always loved him no matter what. And I think that's the core of making it work. You know what I'm saying? Of all the humor and making the depth that we try to get within the humor. But I think my relationship with Natalie is a competitive one vying for his attention."

Tony added, "Loyalty, really, vying for Monk's loyalty I think."

Bitty: "Yes, or like who's more special."

Tony Shalhoub: "His favorite." "Yes, exactly," Bitty continued, "like his favorite. Because I think we both care about him. I think we're both coming from the same place, just a different approach. And so I think with her, with Natalie thrown into the mix, I think it's - our relationship is still the same, but I think it's just an added element to it. I thought it worked well, and I liked when we did fight a little. I liked that, the little cat fight."

Catfight?

Tony said, "Yes, They're fun to love. That was a nice conflict and where they've - but they do come together, the two characters do come together, Natalie and Sharona. Their common ground is that they have enormous affection for him (Adrian Monk), but they're also driven crazy by him. That's another thing that they share. Their approaches to taking care of him are what create the conflict."

Looking back, what was Bitty's favorite episode?

"Oh God, that's always a tough one. I never know how to answer that. I liked a lot of them, I like the one with John Turturro. I always liked that one, with Tony and his brother - ' The Three Pies,' yes. Because I love the dynamic with Tony and John Turturro in that. I love the brother, so that's my favorite because of that."

Bitty is also working on a new television project she hopes will be a series, and when asked, she said,"Well, it's very simply put, it's a very controversial concept. How can I explain this? It's like... I don't how to just explain it without giving it away. And I don't think I really should give it away right now. It's very media orientated. It's kind of... do you remember the film Network?

Tony Shalhoub: "Have I mentioned that I'm available?"

Bitty: "Oh, Tony, it would be up your alley I think. I really do think so."

Tony Shalhoub: "Just throwing that out there."

Bitty: "It's actually very, it's a very manly piece. You wouldn't think a female wrote - it's a lot of men in their 50's and - but there's women, too. It's a huge ensemble, but it's very manly orientated, very much so.

A Dramedy?

Bitty: "It's a dark satire. It would be - it's very HBO. It could not go on - honestly, it could not go on major - well, I shouldn't say that, but it's a very HBO feel. Let's put it that way. But it's a dark satire."

We asked about the location. Unemployed actor tony Shalhoub was very interested...

"In New York City," Bitty said, "Yes, but you know what, though, Tony. Just so you know, I just want to make clear to everyone this is not like signed, sealed and delivered. I'm in a process, right in the middle of a process of making that. So I just want everyone to know like this isn't like signed, sealed and delivered. I would be humiliated, but we're in a process right now if that makes sense.

Tony: Well, I'm a very patient person.

Bitty: "Just so you know, Tony... I mean, it would be shot in New York City. Just so you know."

Tony: " Just putting out the feelers..."

- Joe Hummel

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