"Getting Davy Jones" is one of the best remembered episodes, due to the welcome presence of former Monkees heartthrob Davy Jones, who just recently passed away at age 66. Not only that, but he sings his best known solo song, "Girl," written by Norman Fox and Charles Gimbel, which was issued as an unsuccessful single, and prominently featured as the movie theme for the soon to be released Sandy Duncan feature film "Star Spangled Girl" (playing over the opening credits). Being the president of the local Davy Jones fan club, Marcia believes that she can get him to perform at her school prom, but finds it nearly impossible to even get near him (Tina Andrews makes her television debut). She (and we) catch him recording his latest single in the studio, and he is able to hear her pleas through the microphone, later showing up in her home with a promised copy of his new album, "Davy Jones" (issued by Bell Records earlier that year, with Neil Sedaka's "Rainy Jane" the lone chart hit). 15 year old Maureen McCormick's delightfully star struck demeanor is truly genuine, so it's easy to see how any Davy fan would identify with (and envy) her situation. Of the four Monkees, Davy was easily the most accessible, going on to contribute a memorable cameo (plus Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork) to 1995's "The Brady Bunch Movie." Maureen McCormick went on to be a very fine singer-performer in her own right, and portrayed Barbara Mandrell in the 1997 TV movie "Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story" (I always thought she did a better job with the song "Ben" than Michael Jackson ever had). The posthumous reissue of Davy's 1971 LP now includes the non-album single tracks "Girl" and "I'll Believe in You," so his entire output through Bell Records, the immediate descendant of Colgems, is now easily available (by the way, "Girl" is a noticeably different version than the one featured in this episode). Alas, no one remembers the "Barbara Lost" episode of MY THREE SONS, which Micky Dolenz did only a few months later, perhaps because no songs were featured.
6 Reviews
Davy Jones!!
safenoe6 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I love this classic Brady Bunch episode, and I would have loved to have seen Marcia with Davy Jones at the prom, but alas it didn't happen until nearly a quarter of a century later in The Brady Bunch Movie, where Mr Jones turned up to the prom and was a sensation singing Girl.
It's hard to believe Mr Jones is dead but his memory lives on especially in this fine Brady Bunch episode.
It's hard to believe Mr Jones is dead but his memory lives on especially in this fine Brady Bunch episode.
Valley Vibes
Far_Out14 March 2021
This ep was among the most powerful examples of creating a personal SoCal dream existence that I experienced as a wee lad growing up in New England. Many years later, I ended up living within a very few miles from the famed Brady Bunch house in the San Fernando Valley. The Universal Studios were within a 10 minute drive (Hollywood USA. The entertainment capital of the world). It wasn't the enchanting life for which I had hoped, but the weather sure lived up to every expectation!
Maureen was wonderful in this ep. For me, it was her best one with the possible exception of the broken nose ep. She represented the millions of teen girls who were gaga over Davy (credited as David Jones). Given the now-known difficulties she experienced as a youth, this ep had to be an incredibly fun time and escape for her.
Three things struck me about Davy's performance of "Girl": They had him sing the entire song. No way that happens today, given the time compression and the super-short attention spans of viewers. I also listened closely to the backing music, which was most certainly created by the Wrecking Crew (Check out the documentary film about them). They were the session players who were responsible for most all the pop music backing of that era. They actually used the famous piano line from "Daydream Believer" on this song! Finally, Davy's West End stage training was in evidence as he gesticulated and danced/grooved as if he were on stage while singing the last stanzas in the "studio."
I give this ep a 10. It is iconic well beyond just the Brady Bunch series. Heck, it helped seal a California dream for this young denizen of the Commonwealth.
Maureen was wonderful in this ep. For me, it was her best one with the possible exception of the broken nose ep. She represented the millions of teen girls who were gaga over Davy (credited as David Jones). Given the now-known difficulties she experienced as a youth, this ep had to be an incredibly fun time and escape for her.
Three things struck me about Davy's performance of "Girl": They had him sing the entire song. No way that happens today, given the time compression and the super-short attention spans of viewers. I also listened closely to the backing music, which was most certainly created by the Wrecking Crew (Check out the documentary film about them). They were the session players who were responsible for most all the pop music backing of that era. They actually used the famous piano line from "Daydream Believer" on this song! Finally, Davy's West End stage training was in evidence as he gesticulated and danced/grooved as if he were on stage while singing the last stanzas in the "studio."
I give this ep a 10. It is iconic well beyond just the Brady Bunch series. Heck, it helped seal a California dream for this young denizen of the Commonwealth.
Great episode!!!
nanz-593285 November 2019
MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA AND DAVY JONES
tcchelsey4 September 2023
Phil Leslie wrote this famous episode, who penned lots of sitcoms, especially the ADDAMS FAMILY. It's also an episode actress Maureen McCormick will forever be asked about in her career.
Even if you are NOT a Brady Bunch fan, chances are you have at least heard of singer Davy Jones making a surprise guest appearance on this show. The episode may, in fact, rate as one of the most popular of any 70s sitcom. And that's a lot of competition.
It was a perfect fit for Marcia to have a crush on Davy Jones, and also be president of his local fan club. The big catch here is to get the famous guy over to her high school to sing? ... Marcia joins forces with Greg as they plot their strategy, which is not that EZ...
In a clever scene, thanks to Alice and Sam (who has food connections) they discover he's staying at a hotel in Hollywood, so Marcia and Greg dress up as waiters to gain access to his room --only to meet his manager. Next, Marcia races to a recording studio to meet Davy --but is kicked out! More confusion, more frustration, until through shear TV LAND luck -- Davy is knocking at her front door.
It's all goofy, but somehow makes sense, ESPECIALLY if you grew up on this kind of stuff back in the day.
Not to forget the same thing will happen, a few years later, with Bobby and Joe Namath. Yes, Joe would be knocking at the same front door!
Look fast for funny lady Marcia Wallace as Marcia's high school teacher in a small part, about a year before stardom on the BOB NEWHART SHOW.
Interestingly, Davy Jones was making apperances on LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE, which was also shot at Paramount, so he probably was destined to catch a spot on this show.
A gotsta' see from SEASON 3 (1971), and a tribute to our late MONKEES hero. Davy is missed.
Forever on dvd and remastered blu ray.
Even if you are NOT a Brady Bunch fan, chances are you have at least heard of singer Davy Jones making a surprise guest appearance on this show. The episode may, in fact, rate as one of the most popular of any 70s sitcom. And that's a lot of competition.
It was a perfect fit for Marcia to have a crush on Davy Jones, and also be president of his local fan club. The big catch here is to get the famous guy over to her high school to sing? ... Marcia joins forces with Greg as they plot their strategy, which is not that EZ...
In a clever scene, thanks to Alice and Sam (who has food connections) they discover he's staying at a hotel in Hollywood, so Marcia and Greg dress up as waiters to gain access to his room --only to meet his manager. Next, Marcia races to a recording studio to meet Davy --but is kicked out! More confusion, more frustration, until through shear TV LAND luck -- Davy is knocking at her front door.
It's all goofy, but somehow makes sense, ESPECIALLY if you grew up on this kind of stuff back in the day.
Not to forget the same thing will happen, a few years later, with Bobby and Joe Namath. Yes, Joe would be knocking at the same front door!
Look fast for funny lady Marcia Wallace as Marcia's high school teacher in a small part, about a year before stardom on the BOB NEWHART SHOW.
Interestingly, Davy Jones was making apperances on LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE, which was also shot at Paramount, so he probably was destined to catch a spot on this show.
A gotsta' see from SEASON 3 (1971), and a tribute to our late MONKEES hero. Davy is missed.
Forever on dvd and remastered blu ray.
How about the flipside!
kqueen-7510217 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is at the top of my list of all time favorite Brady Bunch episodes! I first saw it as a kid in the seventies, a time in which I could see both the Monkees and the Bradys in copious reruns. The plot is simple: Marcia makes a promise, then anxiously tries to figure out how to make good on that promise. And everything works out in the end.
Davy sings his song "Girl" in its entirety, and I was disappointed as a Monkees fan to find out it was never included on his album. Of course things changed after the song gained popularity due to the Brady Bunch Movie. Davy even started singing the song on stage in the nineties, and I was thrilled to be in the audience to hear him!
The scenes Marcia and Davy Jones share are just precious, and her excitement at meeting him is palpable and oh-so-relatable. This is a must-see Brady Bunch episode!
Davy sings his song "Girl" in its entirety, and I was disappointed as a Monkees fan to find out it was never included on his album. Of course things changed after the song gained popularity due to the Brady Bunch Movie. Davy even started singing the song on stage in the nineties, and I was thrilled to be in the audience to hear him!
The scenes Marcia and Davy Jones share are just precious, and her excitement at meeting him is palpable and oh-so-relatable. This is a must-see Brady Bunch episode!
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