The Monkees (1966–1968)

The misadventures of a struggling rock band.

Stars:

Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Davy Jones	...	Davy (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Micky Dolenz	...	Micky (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Peter Tork	...	Peter (58 episodes, 1966-1968)
Michael Nesmith	...	Mike (57 episodes, 1966-1968)

Storyline

Not very long running comedy about the extremely Beatles-esque band, The Monkees. The group of four (Micky, Davy, Mike, and Peter) encounter interesting events and tie-in their music with each episode to encompass fast-moving scenes of comedy.

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Plot Keywords:

the monkees | california | fictional band | psychedelic rock | singer | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

The Monkees Home Page

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Monkees

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Raybert Productions, Screen Gems Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (58 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The mis-spelling of monkeys in the name of The Monkees is an allusion to The Beatles and their mis-spelled name. The Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night was the inspiration for The Monkees.

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Goofs

In a number of second-season episodes, Micky's hairstyle changes back and forth from a straight hairdo to a curly "permed" look. This was due to the fact that second-season episodes were filmed at two different times, the spring of 1967 (when a number of the actual episode storylines were filmed) and then later that fall (during which time all the song performances were filmed). During the summer break, Micky let his hair grow out. The difference is perhaps most notable in the episode "It's a Nice Place to Visit," when at one moment Micky is performing a song with his hair curled, and is then seen leaving the stage with his hair straight.

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Quotes

Peter: Hey, look, guys! All the comforts of home!
Mike: Yeah, YOUR home, shotgun, not MINE.

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Crazy Credits

"The Christmas Show" ends with the Monkees giving the TV audience a Christmas wish of peace. The group then brings the crew-members on to the set and gives them all a very happy and raucous opportunity to give their loved ones at home a Christmas greeting, all while the closing credits play over this.

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Connections

Referenced in Kurt & Courtney (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Take A Giant Step"
Written and Produced by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
Performed by The Monkees

User Reviews

Why aren't these guys in the Hall of Fame?

I was 9 or 10 years old when The Monkees debuted on NBC. I have been a fan ever since. I even saw them in concert during the summer of 1967. I was very peeved at not being able to hear them due to the screaming girls. I thought girls must be the dumbest creatures on earth, but of course I changed my feelings before long. They were still dumb as far as I could tell, but they were cute, too. I saw the Monkees again when three of them (minus Nesmith) reunited in the mid-eighties and late nineties. The Monkees have been unfairly ostracized for decades. "They don't play their own instruments", their critics complained. They were not allowed to play on their first two albums. Don Kirshner, their egomaniacal producer, wanted total control. This ultimately got him fired by the band. He released More of The Monkees without permission from the band. If that weren't bad enough, the album's liner notes were pure Kirshner. Kirshner's egomania is all too apparent. He shamelessly name drops and barely mentions The Monkees at all. Michael Nesmith put his fist through a wall when the band met with Kirshner later. According to Micky Dolenz, Nez snarled, "That coulda been your face, motherf-----!" In any event, that was it for Kirshner as far as The Monkees were concerned. They finally had creative control of the music. For their third album, The Monkees Headquarters, they played on every song with minimal outside accompaniment. They credited the extra 2 or 3 musicians in the liner notes, something other bands (Beatles included) were not so forthcoming about. Micky Dolenz has never gotten the credit he deserves as a great rock vocalist. Just listen to No Time, Randy Scouse Git, Going' Down, Words, Pleasant Valley Sunday, etc. Each Monkey had talent. Micky had a great voice, Mike Nesmith was a good singer and musician, Peter Tork played about a dozen instruments, and Davy Jones was a superb showman and a pretty good singer. About 20 years ago, there was talk of a Monkees TV special. Davy was explaining how it would be set up. "Mike would produce, Micky would direct, and Peter would be in charge of the music." "But what would you do?" Davy was asked. "I would be the star, of course, and get all the girls!" When I see some of the acts who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the Sex Pistols?!) there is no doubt The Monkees deserve to be enshrined. They certainly are more deserving than many who are already in.