The Monkees

If you weren't hip to the scene in the 1960s, The Monkees TV series might have seemed like the grooviest thing to hit the airwaves since sliced bread. In a decade already bursting with colour, energy, and rebellion, The Monkees captured the cultural zeitgeist and became a bona fide sensation, both as a TV show and as a band. But how did this zany, off-the-wall comedy show come about, and what did it really mean for the group? Let’s take a trip back to the sixties, when everything was "far out" and "outta sight."

The Monkees came about in 1966 when the powers-that-be at NBC, the major US television network, were looking to cash in on the rising popularity of the Beatles and the British Invasion. Everyone wanted a slice of that Fab Four pie, and the powers behind the series saw an opportunity to create a TV show that capitalized on the success of A Hard Day's Night and Help!. They figured: "Why not have a bunch of kooky guys with guitars who are as charming and irreverent as The Beatles?" The result was a show about a fictional pop group trying to make it big in Hollywood.

The producers, Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider, teamed up with TV legends like Paul Mazursky to create a show that would capture the madness of the era while delivering catchy tunes. They held no less than 400 auditions for the band, looking for four actors who could be goofy, quirky, and (most importantly) could hold their own in front of a camera. Enter Davy Jones (formerly Ena Sharples' grandson in Coronation Street), Micky Dolenz (formerly Mickey Braddock of Circus Boy fame), Peter Tork, and Mike Nesmith (whose mother invented the correcting fluid used on typing errors)—each bringing their own unique flair to the group. None of them were household-name musicians when they were picked, but they certainly had the charisma to light up a television screen.

From the first episode, The Monkees was a whirlwind of wacky antics, musical numbers, and borderline absurdity. The plot was often secondary to the band’s madcap adventures. Each episode typically followed the group as they tried to make it in showbiz, but their plans were constantly thwarted by chaos, rival bands, over-the-top villains, and their own bumbling behaviour. The show was a delightful mixture of slapstick comedy, surreal humour, and goofy situations that reflected the carefree, rebellious spirit of the '60s.

With its colourful sets, zany editing (lots of quick cuts, animation, and visual gags), and hip, almost psychedelic vibe, the show was a perfect reflection of the time. It's clear that the creators were deliberately playing with the "cool" of the era, drawing inspiration from the countercultural movement, pop art, and the rapidly evolving world of television. The Monkees weren’t just a band on TV—they were a comedic phenomenon. The humour was often very self-aware, poking fun at the idea of a "made-for-TV" band and riffing on the ridiculousness of fame.

As the Monkees cavorted around, belting out tunes like "I'm a Believer", "Daydream Believer" and "Last Train to Clarksville," it was impossible to ignore how perfectly the show encapsulated the carefree, fun-loving spirit of the era. It wasn’t about being a highbrow drama—it was about laughing, having fun, and letting loose.

The Monkees TV series quickly became a massive success, capturing the hearts and minds of a generation. The group soon became a bona fide sensation in the music world. Their first album, The Monkees (1966), went to number one on the charts, and their second album, More of The Monkees (1967), followed suit. The songs were written by some of the most talented composers of the day, including Neil Diamond, Carole King, and Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. Many of their hits became anthems of the '60s.

Although there was a bit of controversy around the fact that the group didn’t actually play their own instruments on the early recordings (the tracks were mostly played by session musicians), the popularity of the show and their infectious hits more than made up for it. In no time, they were regularly performing to packed arenas thanks to the show’s success which gave them an immense following and, for a short period of an exciting decade, they became pop icons of the day. The group was embraced by the youth culture of the '60s, many of whom saw them as a symbol of the vibrant, freewheeling spirit of the time and they became a part of the youth rebellion, albeit a light-hearted version of the counterculture movement, unafraid to poke fun at the very fame they were accumulating.

The Monkees’ TV series only lasted for two seasons (1966-1968), and by the end of the decade the group’s fame waned as the individual members parted ways and pursued solo careers. The group's last single to enter the British popular music charts was in 1969, but by that time they had already split up and gone their separate ways. Mickey Dolenz turned TV producer and in 1980 had a minor hit in Britain with a series called Metal Mickey, a children's comedy about a robot that bore a startling resemblance to Star Wars' R2D2.

In 1997 The Monkees, who still had a massive following on both sides of the Atlantic re-formed for a time to do a series of concerts. Based on the success of these concerts Columbia Pictures Television launched a new series called the New Monkees. Four young musicians were placed in a similar series based on the original show, but "updated" for the 1980s. Originally planned for 22 episodes it left the air after 13 episodes.

In many ways, The Monkees was ahead of its time. It anticipated the era of “manufactured” bands and pop culture phenomena, like the Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC, that would rise to fame decades later. Their campy humour, catchy music, and sheer enthusiasm encapsulated the fun and carefree attitude of the '60s. As a result, The Monkees will forever be linked to the vibrant culture of the 1960s.

In the end, The Monkees TV show was a trip, man—an all-out, no-holds-barred explosion of fun that reflected the carefree, fun-loving attitude of the 1960s. While the show may have been "manufactured," it captured the energy and excitement of the time, leaving a lasting legacy that is still remembered fondly today. From the infectious tunes to the crazy antics, The Monkees wasn’t just a TV show—it was a moment in pop culture history. And if you ask me, that’s as "groovy" as it gets.