LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC has ordered six additional episodes of its midseason drama "Medium," while USA is giving "Monk" an eighth - and final - season.

The former order brings its season total to 19 episodes. While a return date has yet to be announced, it's believed "Medium" will return to its Monday, 10:00/9:00c home early next year.

As for "Monk," the show's final 16 installments will begin to roll out this summer. Said commitment is in addition to its upcoming holiday special on November 28 as well as the back half of its seventh season, which starts in January.

It's believed the decision to end "Monk" is tied to its rising production costs and wanting to go out on a creative high note. To date in 2008, "Monk" has averaged a stellar 5.0 million viewers - including 2.0 million in adults 18-49 and 2.5 million in adults 25-54. September also marked the show's launch into syndication - weekends on local stations across the country and five-nights-a-week on USA.

Andy Breckman, David Hoberman, Randy Zisk, Tom Scharpling and star Tony Shalhoub are the executive producers of the series, a co-production of Universal Cable Productions, Mandeville Films and ABC Studios.