"Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers" was the first episode to use The Monkees' status as an out-of-work band competing for work against other groups, in this case 'The Four Swine,' whose unscrupulous manager (Andre Philippe) tries to use every trick in the book to keep them from showing up for the finals. Louis Quinn and Vic Tayback play the two kidnappers, winding up with such a huge throng that they fear having to write 40 ransom notes! Apart from another repeat of "Last Train to Clarksville," plus the second appearance of "Let's Dance On" (from the pilot), there is the introduction of "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," one of their most covered tracks, already issued in May 1966 by Paul Revere and the Raiders, on the LP MIDNIGHT RIDE (recorded Jan 4 1966). Composed and produced by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (recorded July 26, the day after "Last Train to Clarksville"), it would soon be issued as the B-side of their second single, "I'm a Believer," which would not be recorded until Oct 15 (both appear on the second LP, MORE OF THE MONKEES, not issued until Jan 10 1967). The fourth broadcast (Oct 3), "Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers" was ninth in production, filmed July 25-29.
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