As distributors of the show, ABC and Touchstone, could not find a lead actor, it entered in development hell. This situation remained until Jackie Lyons, a former ABC's executive who joined USA, recommended "Monk" to her boss, Wachtel. Trying to change USA's reputation of "a muscles-and-mayhem" network, Wachtel and then USA president Doug Herzog, decided to charge on "Monk", "a cerebral series". Watchel wanted to cast Tony Shalhoub, "someone who could bring the humor and passion of Monk to life", as Monk. Shalhoub initially was not interested, but after his manager's insistence and the fact the pilot director was Dean Parisot, he accepted. Parisot declared, "The pilot was a strong collaboration between myself, David Hoberman, Andy Breckman and Tony Shalhoub."