"Monk" was originally envisioned as an Inspector Clouseau type of show by an American Broadcasting Company (ABC) executive. Learning about it, co-creator David Hoberman came up with the idea of a detective with obsessive–compulsive disorder in 1998. This was inspired by his own bout with self-diagnosed obsessive–compulsive disorder. Initially, Michael Richards was considered, but ABC and Touchstone Television (now ABC Studios) worried that the audience would typecast him for more comedic roles after his previous work as Cosmo Kramer on the sitcom series "Seinfeld". Hoberman revealed that the casting sessions were "depressing". USA Network's executive vice president Jeff Wachtel stated that looking for the right actor to portray Monk was "casting hell". After two years of search, the producers still had not found an actor to play the part.