History Trivia / TheMonkees

** As mentioned in Troubled Production, if the band had their way, Michael would've sang lead on "I'm a Believer". Micky was supposed to sing "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" but boycotted the session as a protest against Don Kirshner, who instead turned to Davy, who ''did'' show up, to take over.[[note]]Micky stopped off in New York before embarking on his famous February 1967 trip to London, where he met The Beatles and his future wife Samantha Juste, as chronicled in the lyrics of "Randy Scouse Git". His understanding was that he was only supposed to dub the vocal for "A Little Bit Me", but when he was informed that Kirshner wanted him to do other songs as well, Micky said ScrewThisImOuttaHere and never showed up. It was this incident, more than anything else, that started the chain of events leading to Kirshner's ouster[[/note]]

* HitlessHitAlbum: ''Headquarters'', which reched #1 althought it had no singles released in America (though several tracks got Top 40 radio airplay, with "Shades of Gray" and "You Just May Be the One" as the most popular). However, "Randy Scouse Git"/"Alternate Title" got to #2 on the British charts.

** There were two bizarre [[StillbornFranchise stillborn attempts to create new franchises]] using the Monkee formula via movies, both from 1970. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toomorrow_(film) Toomorrow]]'', co-produced by none other than Don Kirshner, was a science fiction comedy starring a group fronted by a pre-stardom Music/OliviaNewtonJohn. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phynx The Phynx]]'', a project instigated by longtime Creator/WarnerBrosRecords executive Stan Cornyn, was a tongue-in-cheek story about the US government drafting four young men to start a rock band to act as a front for undercover operations.[[note]]There were even some slight arms-length connections with The Monkees, since Music/LeiberAndStoller, who'd written "D.W. Washburn", wrote the songs, ''Film/{{Head}}'' cinematographer Michel Hugo filled the same position for ''The Phynx'', and Creator/LouAntonio, who'd played Judd Weskitt in the "Hillbilly Honeymoon" episode, plays the government agent who organizes the band.[[/note]] Not only did they both use the MyspeldRokband trope, both bands also featured [[TokenMinority black drummers]]. Both films experienced a TroubledProduction and were given scant releases by their studios before disappearing. But they've both acquired followings based on their SoBadItsGood reputations.

** There were two bizarre [[StillbornFranchise stillborn attempts to create new franchises]] using the Monkee formula via movies, both from 1970. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toomorrow_(film) Toomorrow]]'', co-produced by none other than Don Kirshner, was a science fiction comedy starring a group fronted by a pre-stardom Music/OliviaNewtonJohn. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phynx The Phynx]]'', a project instigated by longtime Creator/WarnerBrosRecords executive Stan Cornyn, was a tongue-in-cheek story about the US government drafting four young men to start a rock band to act as a front for undercover operations.[[note]]There were even some slight arms-length connections with The Monkees, since Music/LeiberAndStoller, who'd written "D.W. Washburn", wrote the songs, ''Film/{{Head}}'' cinematographer Michel Hugo filled the same position for ''The Phynx'', and Lou Antonio, who'd played Judd Weskitt in the "Hillbilly Honeymoon" episode, plays the government agent who organizes the band.[[/note]] Not only did they both use the MyspeldRokband trope, both bands also featured [[TokenMinority black drummers]]. Both films experienced a TroubledProduction and were given scant releases by their studios before disappearing. But they've both acquired followings based on their SoBadItsGood reputations.

** There were two bizarre [[StillbornFranchise stillborn attempts to create new franchises]] using the Monkee formula via movies, both from 1970. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toomorrow_(film) Toomorrow]]'', co-produced by none other than Don Kirshner, was a science fiction comedy starring a group fronted by a pre-stardom Music/OliviaNewtonJohn. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phynx The Phynx]]'', a project instigated by longtime Creator/WarnerBrosRecords executive Stan Cornyn, was a tongue-in-cheek story about the US government drafting four young men to start a rock band to act as a front for undercover operations.[[note]]There were even a couple of slight connections with The Monkees among the creative team, since Music/LeiberAndStoller, who'd written "D.W. Washburn", wrote the songs, and ''Film/{{Head}}'' cinematographer Michel Hugo filled the same position for ''The Phynx''.[[/note]] Not only did they both use the MyspeldRokband trope, both bands also featured [[TokenMinority black drummers]]. Both films experienced a TroubledProduction and were given scant releases by their studios before disappearing. But they've both acquired followings based on their SoBadItsGood reputations.

** ''Pool It!'', the 1987 reunion album. For starters, Nesmith declined to take part, meaning it wasn't a full reunion. Then Creator/RhinoRecords and the band seemed to have different visions for the album. Rhino was looking for a PowerPop album that would please old fans and appeal to younger audiences alike (something along the lines of Music/{{Squeeze}}). The band (Davy in particular) wanted a contemporary-sounding chartbuster. Davy even made the unaffordable and unrealistic suggestion that Rhino hire Music/QuincyJones to produce! The label approached Music/NickLowe to produce, but he was busy and reluctantly said no. Lowe's frequent collaborator Dave Edmunds was asked, but wasn't interested. The job ultimately went to Roger Bechirian, who had worked with the likes of Lowe and Music/ElvisCostello, but had a spotty record overall as a producer (he was better-regarded as an engineer). While they managed to book the prestigious Cherokee Studios in Hollywood for the sessions, the material wasn't anywhere near top notch. The majority of the songs were written by various cronies of Bechirian, ranging from good to dreadful. Davy was still envisioning the album as the Monkee version of ''Music/{{Thriller}}''. According to Rhino honcho Harold Bronson, Micky [[YokoOhNo brought in his then-wife and deferred most of his decision-making to her]]. Bronson secured the rights to cover the Wreckless Eric PowerPop classic "(I'd Go The) Whole Wide World" specifically for Davy to sing, but he turned it down (Micky does the vocal on the finished version). Then, as luck would have it, Series/TheNewMonkees were recording at the same studio, and great pains were taken to avoid a confrontation between the two groups. The end product only made it to #72 on the ''Billboard'' album chart.

** ''Series/ThePartridgeFamily'' was an attempt by Screen Gems to reuse the successful methodology they'd found with The Monkees, although the show's premise was based on the real-life family pop group Music/TheCowsills. It worked for a while.
** There were two bizarre [[StillbornFranchise stillborn attempts to create new franchises]] using the Monkee formula via movies, both from 1970. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toomorrow_(film) Toomorrow]]'', co-produced by none other than Don Kirshner, was a science fiction comedy starring a group fronted by a pre-stardom Music/OliviaNewtonJohn. ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phynx The Phynx]]'' was a tongue-in-cheek story about the US government drafting four young men to start a rock band to act as a front for undercover operations. Not only did they both use the MyspeldRokband trope, both bands also featured [[TokenMinority black drummers]]. Both films experienced a TroubledProduction and were given scant releases by their studios before disappearing. But they've both acquired followings based on their SoBadItsGood reputations.

** The selection process for the group was famously long and arduous, with a number of future notables auditioning, including Music/PaulWilliams, Music/HarryNilsson, Music/VanDykeParks, Danny Hutton and [[Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung Stephen Stills]]. Stills was turned down as he wasn't considered "telegenic enough", nor did he really have the chops to do comedy. However, Stills would go on to recommend his friend, Peter Tork, to Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider. Williams would eventually write "Someday Man" for the Monkees and Nilsson contributed "[[Music/PiscesAquariusCapricornAndJonesLtd Cuddly Toy]]".

* ChannelHop: The show originally ran on Creator/{{NBC}}. The Saturday morning reruns were broadcast on both Creator/{{CBS}} (1969-72) and Creator/{{ABC}} (1972-73). Then came syndication, the 1986 Creator/{{MTV}} run, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}[=/=]Creator/NickAtNite in the late 80's and 90's, more syndication, and since 2010 Creator/AntennaTV. In early 2019, Creator/MeTV picked up the series, just in time to run two episodes in a tribute to Peter Tork, who had passed away a few weeks before the planned debut of the series on the network. On April 8, 2023, the series began airing in HD on AXS TV.

* ChannelHop: The show originally ran on Creator/{{NBC}}. The Saturday morning reruns were broadcast on both Creator/{{CBS}} (1969-72) and Creator/{{ABC}} (1972-73). Then came syndication, the 1986 Creator/{{MTV}} run, Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}[=/=]Creator/NickAtNite in the late 80's and 90's, more syndication, and since 2010 Creator/AntennaTV. In early 2019, Creator/MeTV picked up the series, just in time to run two episodes in a tribute to Peter Tork, who had passed away a few weeks before the planned debut of the series on the network.

** The selection process for the group was famously long and arduous, with a number of future notables auditioning, including Music/PaulWilliams, Music/HarryNilsson, Music/VanDykeParks, Danny Hutton and [[Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung Stephen Stills]]. Stills was turned down as he wasn't considered "telegenic enough", nor did he really have the chops to do comedy. However, Stills would go on to recommend his friend, Peter Tork, to Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider. Williams would eventually write "Someday Man" for the Monkees and Nilsson contributed "[[MusicPiscesAquariusCapricornAndJonesLtd Cuddly Toy]]".

***

** [[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} Bill Callaway]], Bill Chadwick, Dallas Williams and [[Film/ThatColdDayInThePark Michael Burns]] were among the final eight candidates to join the Monkees before Music/MichaelNesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork were cast. Callaway would go on to have a small appearance in “The Audition (Find The Monkees)”, while Chadwick would contribute to the group as a songwriter and a touring manager.
*** Music/PaulWilliams, Music/HarryNilsson, Music/VanDykeParks, Danny Hutton and [[Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung Stephen Stills]] auditioned for the Monkees as well. Stills was turned down as he wasn't considered "telegenic enough", nor did he have the comedic chops for a more humorous television program. However, Stills would go on to recommend his friend, Peter Tork, to Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider. Williams would eventually write "Someday Man" for the Monkees whereas Nilsson wrote "Cuddly Toy", which the group later covered.

** [[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} Bill Callaway]], Bill Chadwick, Dallas Williams and [[Film/ThatColdDayInThePark Michael Burns]] were amongst the final eight candidates to join the Monkees before Music/MichaelNesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork were cast. Callaway would go on to have a small appearance in “The Audition (Find The Monkees)”, while Chadwick would contribute to the group as a songwriter and a touring manager.

** [[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} Bill Callaway]], Bill Chadwick, Dallas Williams and [[Film/ThatColdDayInThePark Michael Burns]] were amongst the final eight candidates to join the Monkees before Music/MichaelNesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork were cast. Callaway would go on to have a small appearance in “The Audition (Find The Monkees)”, while Chadwick would contribute to the group as a songwriter and an touring manager.

** [[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} Bill Callaway]], Bill Chadwick, Dallas Williams and [[Film/ThatColdDayInThePark Michael Burns]] were amongst the final eight contenders to join the Monkees before Music/MichaelNesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork were cast. Callaway would go on to have a small appearance in “The Audition (Find The Monkees)”, while Chadwick would contribute to the group as a songwriter and an touring manager.
*** Music/PaulWilliams, Music/HarryNilsson, Music/VanDykeParks, Danny Hutton and [[Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung Stephen Stills]] auditioned for the group as well. Stills was turned down as he wasn't considered "telegenic enough" and didn't have the comedic chops for a more humorous television program. However, Stills would go on to recommend his friend, Peter Tork, to Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider. Williams would eventually write "Someday Man" for the Monkees whereas Nilsson wrote "Cuddly Toy", which the group later covered.

** One of musicians who unsuccessfully auditioned for the group was Stephen Stills. While different stories have circulated as to why he was turned down, Stills has clarified that Bob Rafelson and Burt Schneider ultimately didn't think he was telegenic enough and that, while obviously a good musician, he didn't really have the comedy chops they were looking for. Stephen Stills as a Monkee would mean no Music/BuffaloSpringfield or Music/CrosbyStillsNashAndYoung. But Stills played a major role in the group anyway, because he told Rafelson and Schneider that his old Greenwich Village pal Peter Tork, who looked like a handsomer version of Stills, had recently moved to California (Stills and Tork had just played a nightclub gig together) and needed a job, and the rest is history.
** A fanciful AlternateHistory timeline following Stills' acceptance into the Monkees (with cataclysmic consequences for a huge chunk of subsequent rock history) can be found [[http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/09/12/alternate-history-x-what-if-stephen-stills-had-joined-the-monkees/ here]].
*** Another auditionee who received serious consideration was Van Dyke Parks. Who would [[Music/TheBeachBoys Brian]] [[Music/BrianWilson Wilson]] have collaborated with on ''Music/{{Smile}}'' if Parks had become a Monkee? And the relationship between Parks and Don Kirshner would've been...interesting.
** Music/PaulWilliams auditioned for the group. He later wrote "Someday Man" for them.
** Music/HarryNilsson also tried out for the group but was rejected. He later wrote the song "Cuddly Toy", which the group covered.
** Eventually the auditionees were whittled down to 14 or so finalists (basically competing for three slots, since Davy was always going to be in the group) who were screen tested in various combinations. Most of the rejected candidates sank into obscurity afterwards, but a few notable names were among them. Bill Callaway would go on to be a prolific animation voice actor. Michael Burns had a busy acting career (including playing the male lead in Creator/RobertAltman's ''Film/ThatColdDayInThePark'') until he left Hollywood in TheSeventies to become a history professor. Bill Chadwick stuck around as part of the band's entourage, writing several songs and helping out on tours as a manager.
** Bob Rafelson briefly considered calling them The Creeps or The Inevitables.

* NamesTheSame: ''The Monkees''' Davy Jones [[note]]Actual name: David Thomas Jones[[/note]] is not a character from nautical folklore or ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean.'' However, he was responsible for another Davy Jones changing his name to Music/DavidBowie.
** This was referenced in the episode "Hitting the High Seas." The ship's captain learns that one of the boys is named Davy Jones and assumes he is the descendant of the famous character from folklore -- Micky quickly plays into it: "...And when he's 25, he inherits the Locker!"
** In "The Devil and Peter Tork", when UsefulNotes/{{Blackbeard}} learns that one of the Monkees is Davy Jones, he tries to recruit him to be part of his crew.
** This was also referenced in the ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "Spongebob vs. The Big One," in which Davy guest stars.
** Also referenced in an episode of the '90s remake of ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'' cartoon (in which the title character was voiced by Creator/MattFrewer). The episode had a pirate theme, so upon being threatened with being sent to Davy Jones' locker, the Panther deadpanned: "Wasn't he the lead singer of The Monkees?"

** ''Pool It!'', the 1987 reunion album. For starters, Nesmith declined to take part, meaning it wasn't a full reunion. Then Creator/RhinoRecords and the band seemed to have different visions for the album. Rhino was looking for a PowerPop album that would please old fans and appeal to younger audiences alike (something along the lines of Music/{{Squeeze}}). The band (Davy in particular) wanted a contemporary-sounding chartbuster. Davy even made the unaffordable and unrealistic suggestion that Rhino hire Music/QuincyJones to produce! The label approached Music/NickLowe to produce, but he was busy and reluctantly said no. Lowe's frequent collaborator Dave Edmunds was asked, but wasn't interested. The job ultimately went to Roger Bechirian, who had worked with the likes of Lowe and Music/ElvisCostello, but had a spotty record overall as a producer (he was better-regarded as an engineer). While they managed to book the prestigious Cherokee Studios in Hollywood for the sessions, the material wasn't anywhere near top notch. The majority of the songs were written by various cronies of Bechirian, ranging from good to dreadful. Davy was still envisioning the album as the Monkee version of ''Music/{{Thriller}}''. According to Rhino honcho Harold Bronson, Micky [[YokoOhNo brought in his then-wife and deferred most of his decision-making to her]]. Bronson secured the rights to cover the Wreckless Eric PowerPop classic "(I'd Go The) Whole Wide World" specifically for Davy to sing, but he turned it down (Micky does the vocal on the finished version). Then, as luck would have it, Series/TheNewMonkees were recording at the same studio, and great pains were taken to avoid a confrontation between the two groups. The end product reeked of WereStillRelevantDammit and only made it to #72 on the ''Billboard'' album chart.

** Famously The Monkees did this with Music/TheBeatles, but developed their own unique style. Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider were inspired by ''Film/AHardDaysNight'' to develop a television series about a fictional rock and roll group.

[[TheBandMinusTheFace after Mitchell went solo]]) also auditioned but were rejected for being too mature.

** The series was originally going to feature the real band Music/TheLovinSpoonful, but lead singer-songwriter John Sebastian had already signed the band to another label, which meant the producers of ''The Monkees'' couldn't distribute their music. Music/TheDaveClarkFive were also considered.
*** The folk group The Mitchell Trio (formerly the Chad Mitchell Trio, but with a young Music/JohnDenver filling in.

* CreatorsFavoriteEpisode: Micky Dolenz's favourite song was "Pleasant Valley Sunday".

** One of the reasons the show was canceled was a disagreement with the network over the show's format. The band felt that the sitcom format had grown stale and tried to sell Creator/{{NBC}} on a variety show, with skits and special musical guests. Considering that they'd already managed to work appearances by Music/TimBuckley and Music/FrankZappa into the second season, the latter could have been especially interesting. Just one of these specials was aired, 1969's ''33⅓ Revolutions per Monkee'', which was a ratings flop. Peter had actually left the group on the final day of filming, so further specials would have been down a Monkee anyway.
** The series was originally going to feature the real band Music/TheLovinSpoonful, but lead singer-songwriter John Sebastian had already signed the band to another label, which meant the producers of ''The Monkees'' couldn't distribute their music.
*** The folk group The Mitchell Trio (formerly the Chad Mitchell Trio, but with a young Music/JohnDenver filling in [[TheBandMinusTheFace after Mitchell went solo]]) also auditioned but were rejected for being too mature.