 A number of actors were considered for the title role when  development of the show moved to the USA Network, including  Dave Foley (I) (qv), John Ritter (qv), and Henry Winkler (qv).  The three finalists for the role were Stanley Tucci (qv),  Alfred Molina (I) (qv), and Tony Shalhoub (qv). When Tucci and  Molina were unavailable, Shaloub became the obvious choice.  Stanley Tucci (qv) appears on this episode as an actor portraying  Monk in a made for TV movie.