Broadcast no. 46 (Dec 11 1967), "Monkees on the Wheel" benefits from its supporting cast of stand up comics (all Vegas regulars), David Astor's crime boss matching Micky's James Cagney impression, Pepper Davis doing a Vic Tayback impersonation as henchman Biggy, and Rip Taylor stealing scenes as the exasperated manager of the roulette wheel, where nobody seems to lose (Taylor would return to play Wizard Glick in "Mijacogeo"). Dort Clark ("Monkees a la Carte," "The Picture Frame") is back to represent the cops, and sparkling Joy Harmon, also previously seen in "The Picture Frame," flirts endlessly with Micky, so long as his 'magic fingers' roll in the cash. Watch for leggy Sharyn Hillyer, who had just finished her stint on STAR TREK ("A Piece of the Action"). At one point, Nesmith gets his nose tweaked by David Pearl (a regular Monkey stand-in), who calls him 'Wizard Glick!' (stay tuned for "Mijacogeo"). This was the second and last appearance for Harry Nilsson's "Cuddly Toy" (behind a different video featuring the band members playing the same instruments they do on the record), but the debut of "The Door Into Summer" (recorded May 29), a suitable song about greed, composed by producer Chip Douglas (who previously wrote "Forget That Girl") and Bill Martin (who previously wrote "All of Your Toys"). Both tracks marked the last time in the studio that Micky Dolenz played drums, with Nesmith on guitar, and Tork on piano. 50th in production, filmed Oct 25-27, concluding with a gag featuring Micky and Mike in costume for the very next to be shot- "The Monstrous Monkey Mash."
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