I like Nat, as to identifing with her actually thats suppost to be there, both of them lost someone they loved deeply, but part of the problem is he see's "Sharona" in her single mom with a child.
I thought it was bad storyline when they had sharona move to jersey to re-marry her ex husband, i mean how many times did they bring this guy back and she kick him out because he was scheming for something.
Then basically from one ep to the next she not only does that but its not even seen, nice farwell to Bitsy on that one.
Course USA isn't playing nice either, see Bitty, Jason and Ted all asked for raises and the network wouldn't really negotate with them, so they held out, suddenly they find their filming an ep without any of the 3 in there, so they drop it and gee their back on set ready to go, except for bitty who suddenly is let go, both sides citing creative moves.
Tony is a great actor, and funny as heck, but you know something, this show wouldn't be the same with out Ted (Captain) and Jason (Disher), and of course Monks sidekick, They give the show the boost it needs imo.
As to the not so neruotic, from the commerical advertisements of monk, it goes something like this.
"All new episodes of monk will show us all new obsessions <cut to monk> Monk: I don't...Think so"