Reviews (5)

Very inspiring and informative video about the Pre-Fab Four!
Let's just say this... if you've ever wanted to learn about The Monkees, or maybe you were interested in listening to thier music, then this video is the best incentive... PERIOD! I've watched this video many, many times, and I tell you, it's still as interesting to watch as the first time. Hearing Davy, Mike, Peter and Micky talk about Jimi Hendrix, the making of "Head", the many musical performances of "Daydream Believer", "No Time", "Randy Scouse Git", etc. make this a must for any Monkees fan or even potential Monkees fan. And just as the credits come to an end... the viewer is rewarded with an extra 20 minutes or so of interviews.

Be Patient...and You'll Be Rewarded!!!!
A great documentary that relives the Monkees story until 1997. The video isn't narrated. Instead, bits and pieces of interviews from several key players are strung togeter to tell the Monkee story. These "key players" include ALL FOUR of the Monkees, Don Kirshner, Ward Sylvester, and many others. One interesting facet of presenting the Monkees story in this way is that each of the Monkees' interpretation of what the Monkees were is a little different from the other. Also, many videos and clips from the show are included.

But WAIT....the BEST part of this video is the langinappe at the end of the tape. (Langiappe [lon-yop] is a Cajun word that means a "little something extra.") Once the credits have rolled, those who waited are "rewarded" with some great interviews by each Monkee. (Don't you just LOVE Rhino!) It was like finding $ in my coat pocket!!

Davy tells the "salad story" that breaks the ice between the four of them. Mike recalls a great Monkeemania moment--the guys being chased by the masses at a Cincinnati concernt. Micky's story involves being discovered in a London park early one morning by pre-teen girls the night after the Beetles through them a party. Peter talks about Jimmy Hendrix opening up for their 1967 tour. There is also the infamous story about Mike punching his fist through the wall, which is relived by Mike, Micky, Davy, and Don Kirshner himself. (Just to be clear--each relived the story in SEPARATE interviews. They were not all in the same room!!) There are a few other interviews as well.

Many of the interviews are several minutes long, with lots of emotion and detail. I particularly like Mike's, simply because interviews with him are few and far between.

I hate to spoil the surprise at the end of the tape, but I don't want anyone to miss it!!! I noticed the other reviews didn't mention it. I'm wondering how many other people out there who own the tape missed it.

The Wonders of Monkee Land
An amazing conglomeration of all things Monkee. A knock-me-to the floor live performance of Listen to the Band and Mike singing, all on his own. What more could any real Monkee fan ask for? A video worth owning if not for the information, at least for the music, in its entirety, throughout the course of the film.

a good movie
This movie is good for all monkee fans. I thought is was very informative and funny.

" The fun loving monkees are back to tell their story..."
...and they make their point across that they DID play their own interments. Yes, wipe your eyes little girl, Their all grown upand they are telling the complete story of the Monkees. It includes rare preformances in their early years, and their sreen tests. great bio! Monkee(must)see! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Dick Van Dyke Show is Best classic TV Show Of All Time!
Two great episodes from the best classic TV show of all time! Both episodes are hilarious, I can't decide which one I like best, I guess I like them both equally! Hustling The Hustler which has Buddy's pool shark brother tricking Rob into playing against him is very funny and Phil Leeds is great as Buddy's brother, also in this episode Buddy learns that not every thing is what it seems and not to assume too much! The other episode about Rob finding Laura's secret bank book is very funny and is another episode filled with misunderstandings and what happens when someone makes assumptions and jumps to the wrong conclusion!

Buddy's pool hustling brother and Laura's secret bank book
Two episodes from the second season of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" are offered up on this videotape. "Hustling the Hustler" (Episode #35, October 24, 1962), written by the show's creator Carl Reiner and directed by John Rich, finds Buddy worries that his incorrigible brother (Phil Leeds) is going to take Rob for everything he has in a friendly little game of pool. Then in "Bank Book 6565696" (Episode #34, October 17, 1962), Rob's imagination goes absolutely wild when he discovers a healthy balance is in Laura's secret bank account. Of course, he never gets close to the truth in this episode written by Ray Allen Saffian and Harvey Bullock, also directed by Rich. These are not exactly classic episodes from this great sitcom, but they are still pretty good. The television commercials are a nice touch, although I can provide no additional insights into whether they were actually aired for these episodes or not.

A Surprise In The Waiting!
I will admit that at first I was expecting another cheaply made public domain video. But instead what I found was actually an enjoyable little tape! The commercials are cut into the show (and are not the originals as the DVD Show was sponsored by Kent Cigarettes, not Camels) but the true value is the show itself. The two episodes, "Hustling a Hustler" and "Bank Book 6565696," are some-what classics of the series. (Especially "Bank Book," though it isn't as popular as an episode like "Coast To Coast Big Mouth" or the ever-popular "That's My Boy?!?") The prints of the two shows are not the standard "public domain" versions that you fine, and are actually very nice clean prints. Overall, if you're looking for just a nice, comfortable laugh at a reasonable price, this is a good tape for you to check out.

A classic to own
This is a super buy on this video. Two great episodes PLUS vintage commercials. This is a must for anybody who loves classic television. The first episode is entitled "Hustling the hustler" aired 10/24/62. Buddy's brother, (a pool shark) is in town and gets Rob into a game of pool and Rob doesn't know he's a shark until they bet real money, the results are a true classic. Next is called "Bank Book 6565696", aired 10/17/62 Rob finds Laura's bank book (by accident of course), showing she has money he knows nothing about and with the help of Jerry, Sally, and Buddy poor Rob doesn't know what to think of Laura's hidden loot. Everything he does think turns out to be wrong. Don't let this video go by. Get it and enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Davy's British Heritage Gets Its Licks
Davy's British heritage is spoofed in two episodes, one from each of the show's seasons.

The Peter-directed second-seasoner Monkees Mind Their Manor is the lesser of the two, displaying a mailed-in quality to the performances that betrays the boys' exhaustion with the series. The only real saving grace is the closing video, "Star Collector," a rip-roaring Moog-driven Goffin-King take-off on the then-growing phenomenon of groupiedom. The video itself is a strikingly effective mixture of darkness and red lighting, and this particular version wisely cuts the song's bloatedly drawn-out ending before it degenerates into psycho jello.

The tape opener, Success Story, works far better. Davy receives a telegram from his grandfather (Ben Wright) on a coming visit, but Davy is reluctant to see him, because he claimed to have made it in America but hasn't, and will be taken back to England should his grandfather find the truth. Micky, Mike, and Peter of course don't want to part with Davy, and do what they can to keep him stateside. Davy's grandfather doesn't want Davy "frittering his life away," but the loyalty of the other boys displays something he can agree with.

At the end, Micky notes they should have played for him, so they launch into Mike's country-rock classic "Sweet Young Thing." Once the song is wrapped up Bob Rafelson cues one of the show's best post-episode minute-short interview tags where Davy talks about his real father and grandfather, eliciting a terrific closing by Micky.

Davy is stuck between USA and England.
First in "Success Story" Davy Jones's Grandfather comes to visit, and Mike, Micky , and Peter help make him look like a star. But as soon as Grandfather finds out the truth, he wants to take Davy Back to England, But his bandmates prevent that from happening. In "Monkees Mind Their Manor" You will find two actors who later did voices for or starred in Disney Films. Davy wants to keep the Manor, but not for five years. (Laurie Main plays the guy who invites Davy to England, His voice is found in some Pooh Offerings.) So the Monkees hold a Fair, and my favorite part in there was Davy singing a nice, but short version of "Greensleeves". Bernard Fox(He played the Rescue Aid Society Chairmouse in the Rescuers movies) doesn't sing as good as Davy does, anyway. By the way, those episodes had funny lines as well!

One Of My Favorite Monkees Episodes Ever!
This is a great video. I taped one of the episodes when it came on the Screen Gems Network, but the video quality was poor. The episode I saw was soooo touching, that I went on a quest to find it online so I could purchase it. When I found it on here, I was overjoyed. This is the ultimate purchase for any Monkees fan who absolutely loves Micky Dolenz & Davy Jones... They r soooo adorable in these episodes. Monkees 4-Ever! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Davy Helps A Princess, And Circus Boys
The first broadcast episode of the Monkees television series kicks off this two-episode tape.

Davy is on the beach when a beautiful young woman appears on an inflatable raft. The raft breaks and the girl can't swim, so Davy dives in and gets her to safety. The woman is a princess, Petina, and her uncle is archduke to a small prinicaplity - so small, in fact, that when Davy dials the operator to find their hotel (he gives her his jacket and now needs it back), the operator doesn't even believe the place exists.

But it does, and Davy recognizes there is something seriously wrong with this archduke-princess setup - the archduke gives Davy a saying that is a veiled threat to his life - so he and the other boys get a room at Petina's hotel and go to work getting her out of danger. But it's going to take all the boys have got - to the strains of "This Just Doesn't Seem To be My Day" and "Take A Giant Step" - to get Petina truly out of danger - and it will also surprise the boys to know that a "phony" stock tip really works.

The episode closes with a one-minute spontaneous interview by off-camera producer Bob Rafelson with the boys. The show soon became famous for being a minute short in its episodes and filling out airtime with such interview tags, and the tags are often the best part of the show, helping the audience get to know the boys better.

The tape then shows one of the most genuinely effective episodes of the series, Monkees At The Circus. There are of course extensive comedic flavors - Micky constantly sings the theme song to "an old TV show" to Mike, who repeatedly asks what the song is (the show was Circus Boy, which starred a then-ten year old Micky using the stage name Braddock); Micky plays lion tamer Clyde Greedy and Mike plays the lion who turns the tables.

However, this episode is played more straight than most, beginning when sadistic knife thrower Victor (Richard Devon in a superior performance) deftly impales blades inches from Davy's person as a warning to the boys. The circus is dying, its members blaming discoteques for declining audience attendance. Karen (Donna Baccala) is distraught at the circus' declining fortunes, and the boys try to help as aerialists, but cannot perform the dangerous stunts necessary - highlighted by a very good double exposure shot on the high wire.

Upon discovering that the boys are really rock & roll singers, Victor and the others quit in a fury and Karen is left in tears, but the equally distraught Monkees have one more trick up their sleeve that restores the performance pride in the circus.

The best scene comes when the circus goes on and Victor initially refuses to do his act - until Davy takes his place and nearly impales Karen and Peter with a knife.

Fleshing out this superior episode are two of the best music tracks from More Of The Monkees - "Sometime In The Morning" (the Goffin-King classic that personified the tension between the boys and Don Kirshner), and the venomous Boyce-Hart anthem "She."

A Great Video
Royal Flush is about the Princess of Harmonica who gets rescued by Davy from the Arch Duke Otto who wants to kill her before her 18th Birthday when she would become Queen. The boys make a recording of Otto telling his assistant of his evil plan and then have to get the Princess to listen to the recording. The princess gets kidnapped by Otto and the boys are being held captive by Sigmund, Otto's assistant. Through ingenious plotting the boys escape Sigmund and are just in time to rescue the Princess before the clock strikes 12. A highlight is when Davy sword fights clearing tables and swinging from a rope. In Monkees at the Circus the boys come across a circus that is about to be closed down due to lack of interest. It seems everyone is interested in the new Rock 'n Roll groups. With a desire to help out the Monkees transform into the Mozzarella Brothers, a tightrope and trapeeze act. All seems fine except the Monkees know nothing about tightropes or trapeezes. They are soon found out and are told to do what they do best - Sing! A fantastic highlight of this video is the Monkees being clowns.

Episode Titles
In the first episode, Royal Flush, the Monkees rescue a young princess from her mean uncle. It includes a pretty neat fencing scene. In the second episode, Monkees at the Circus, the boys try to save a failing circus. Both are cute and funny shows.

Episode No. 1
This is A Great Video for Monkees fans and it has one of my favorite Monkees songs on it.

Cool Monkee Video
This is a must see for every Monkees fan. I hadn't seen these episodes yet, and I loved them and you will too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hey, hey they're the Monkees and they're cool again. So put on your green knit cap and your best striped pants and settle down for two 25-minute episodes from the fabbest four west of Liverpool. In "The Chaperone" (broadcast November 7, 1966), Davy wants to date a World War II general's daughter so he tries his hand at poll taking, magazine sales, and bomb shelter inspecting--anything to penetrate the general's protective force field. Finally the four singing roommates come up with the plan to have a chaperoned party that evolves into an opportunity for the boys to play Henry Higgins to their alcoholic cleaning lady's Eliza Doolittle, not to mention the chance to put Mickey in a dress and a wig. "The Case of the Missing Monkee" (broadcast January 9, 1967) finds the band playing a banquet until Peter is spirited away to a mental ward by the same vaguely Russian villains who are plotting to kidnap a professor. This provides a good excuse for the remaining three to scale hospital walls and don spiffy coordinated bathrobes, and the reunited four to sing their hit song "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone." --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If you like the Monkees ...
... this is a good one. I think "Chaperone" is among the best of them. The boys throw a party to set Davy up with the girl. Micky is at his most adorable, in drag, no less! The humor is a wee bit more sophisticated than some, if it can ever really be called that. "Missing Monkee" has just a few dull moments, and rates high on the dorky factor (but didn't we love the Monkees because they were brave enough to be dorky?) I would classify it as a Peter episode. It's the hospital one, for those of you who are trying to remember, as I was.

I am a long time Monkee fan and these episodes rate right up there.

Micky Drags & Peter Gets Kidnapped
Two excellent first-season episodes of The Monkees are featured on Volume 15.

The Chaperone opens with a great left-field punchline - Davy meets Leslie Vandenburg (Sheeri Alberoni, former Mousketeer and the voice of Alexandra Cabot on Josie & The Pussycats), the daughter of uptight former general Harley Vandenburg (Arch Johnson, best known for his appearence in The Fugitive episode The Witch) while posing as a man taking a poll of TV shows. He naturally falls madly in love with Leslie, and ignores Peter's query, "Come on, Davy, what TV show was she watching?" To this Micky replies, "Ours, I hope."

When the boys learn from Leslie's visiting friend (Judy Murdock) that she is only allowed out to chaperone parties, The Monkees go to work. But the chaperone they manage to hire - a cockney old hag - passes out, so Micky hastily dons a wig and dress to keep the bluff going. This leads to several hilarious scenes between Micky-in-drag and General Vandenburg - "My late husband did something to help shorten the war." "What?" "He deserted!" - none funnier than Vandenburg's claim that they are engaged and will honeymoon in Venice - which sends Micky into fantasyland. Also standing out is Mike's comment that Davy's in love with his daughter, which Micky fears will make him Davy's mother-in-law.

Featured in the episode are the songs "This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day," a mellowed-vocals mix of "Take A Giant Step," and the Mike Nesmith soft-rock classic "You Just May Be The One." Also included on the tape is a network sponsor tag for Kellogg's, showing the Monkeemobile at Bonneville and the boys holding their sponsor's product.

In the tape's second episode, Peter is swept into the kidnapping of a famed scientist by evil Dr. Markovitch (Vito Scotti, from Von Ryan's Express) and his assistant Bruno (Vincent Gardenia). After an encounter with a slightly dimwitted nurse the boys save the day to the tune of the long-fade mix of "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Eccentric Millionaire and The Chinese Evildoer
Two first-season episodes are featured on this Monkees tape, including the one that really got the ball rolling on the show.

Monkee See, Monkee Die was the second episode aired, and it is the one that really got the show's momentum going, combining a briskly-moving narrative with the country-rock hit that got the group on the charts - Last Train To Clarksville, with its Paperback Writer-influenced guitar riff and melody wrapped in a nicely country twang - and its excellent "twin" from the debut long player, Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day, using the basic rhythm in a tougher texture.

Amid the inheritence and murder theme of the story, the standout gags come at the end, when Davy slips a Micky or two to three "disappeared" relatives of his latest love, Ellie Reynolds. They don't appear to work, until Peter pulls a "gun" that proves surprisingly effective. But the real kicker comes when Davy scoffs at rumors of ghosts, and a Dickens of a ghost enters - which scares the boys and Ellie into a SFX-shot running fit, one of the few such SFX shots to feature someone else along with the boys.

Less effective is the late-season Chinese spy tale, Monkee Chow Mein, featuring a guest appearence by M*A*S*H alum Mike Farrell.

The best of the best!
This is one of my favorites. The guys are named in a Will, and end up spending the night in a (so called) Haunted mansion. The laughs never stop, Davy falls for a girl and she falls for him. You see the trade mark "stars in the eyes". Well can ya blame the girl? The second show is funny too. Peter gets involved with an international spy ring by taking "fortune cookies home to the dog they don't have" Mikey and Peter get kidnapped and Davy and Mike think it's a job for"Monkee Men" and the guys save the world from the "Doomsday Bug".

Ghosts Galore
This was a really good video it had one of my favorite episodes on it and it was soooo funny and Mike, Davy, Micky, and Peter were soooo adorable on it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Two second season episodes of "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
A pair of second season episodes from "The Dick Van Dyke Show" are featured on this video tape. Episode #39, "The Night the Roof Fell In" (Written by John Whedon, Aired November 21, 1962) is another one of those television sitcom homages to Akira Kurosawa's film "Rashomon." Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) each have quite different versions of the fight that sent Rob storming out of the house to sleep in the garage. The fun comes as each retells what happens to their friends: Laura sees herself as the perfect Suzy Homemaker who has to deal with Rob, the grumbling meanie, while Rob sees himself as a charming, dancing husband who is the one who has to put up with the grumbling spouse. Do not worry, because everything ends up okay in the end of this classic sitcom episode, which gives the two stars a chance to play off their characters (it reminds me of an outtake Van Dyke and Moore did once where he cried instead of her).

Then we have Episode #31, "Never Name a Duck" (Written by Carl Reiner, Aired September 26, 1962) in which Rob brings home two baby ducks. Laura has reservations about the whole thing but the ducks become beloved family pets. But then one of the ducks dies, and Richie (Larry Mathews) worries why the other one gets sicker and sicker. This is a rare episode in which father and son share a nice little heart-to-heart talk about life and death. There are not a lot of serious episodes from this classic television sitcom, but this would certainly be one of them. It is strange to find both of these episodes on the same tape, but these are both very good episodes, and the first is a bone fide classic "Dick Van Dyke" episode. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Monkees are the greatest!!!
This tape has my fave episode on it!! The first ep, titled "Captain Crocodile" is about a TV show for kids with a very uptight host is trys to eliminate The Monkees and keep them from appearing on his show. Songs on it are "Valleri", and a great one (cause Peter sings it), "Your Auntie Grizelda". Second ep is called "Fairy Tale", and its about when Peter (yay!) falls in love with the princess, and goes to great lenghts to save her from being killed. This is sooo funny because the princess is played by Monkee Mike Nesmith, who thinks of himself as a "groovy looking chick"! Including is a very small interview about the ep, and the song "Daily Nightly"..enjoy!!

The Monkees On Kid's TV and In A Fairy Tale
One episode from each of the show's two seasons are featured on this tape. The first is a parody of the long-running Captain Kangaroo series - here the Monkees get a gig on Captain Crocodile, but the reason for the invitation quickly becomes clear as the obnoxious titular host of the show uses the boys solely as targets of abusive gags. Mike finally demands the boys be allowed to play - a cleverly subtle allegory on the boys' real life fight with Don Kirshner - so the Captain relents - except no one sees the boys as they do the original version - far superior to the downbeat 1968 version - of "Valleri."

The epsiode features a terrific satirical montage of the boys in varied TV roles - newsmen, Mike as a weatherman, Micky starring in a Batman spoof, and the game show To Tell A Fib - but overall it isn't as satisfying as most of the other episodes because the boys are humiliated almost throughout the story and even in the epilogue, and the abuse wears out its welcome by the end of Act One.

Though ultimately lacking in complete satisfaction as well, the second-season episode Fairy Tale is nonetheless a clever attempt at something different - The Monkees starring in a cheesy fairy tale with Mike as the "beautiful" (?) princess. A big part of the reason for the episode's weakness is the mailed-in quality of the boys' performances - a sign of their dissatisfaction and exhaustion with the show. The best moment comes when a dragon gives the boys a riddle they figure out to his surprise.

The episode's music video is the interesting B&W rendition of Mike's rambling LA-street-scene poem "Daily Nightly," featuring Micky on Moog synthesizer.

Two great classic episodes
This video contains two episodes of the Monkees television series.

The first, "Captain Crocodile", is my favorite episode. In it the Monkees are hired to play on a children's television show, only to be the victims of a paranoid host who is afraid that the Monkees want to replace him. The episode includes a great romp set to the novelty tune "Your Auntie Grizelda" and a funny scene in which the Monkees tell the kids a story...from the dictionary.

The second, "Fairy Tale", is another favorite of many fans. The Monkees tell the story of a poor peasant in love with a princess. The episode spoofs fairy tales while providing the Monkees a chance to wear ridiculous costumes, most notably Michael Nesmith, who plays the object of Peter's affections, the lovely (?) Princess Gwen.

These are both great episodes. If you want to buy one of the volumes and are unsure of which to get, I would heartily recommend volume 8. Both episodes are strong, memorable, and funny. Whether you are a new fan or looking to revisit old memories, this tape is a great place to start.

I Love The Monkees!
I have seen all of the Monkee episodes. These two in particular are my favorites. I especially love The Monkees Fairy Tale. I can say I know the dialogue word for word. This episode is funny. In this form it is completely uncut. For every Monkee fan I highly recommend it. Captain Crocodile is also funny. The former is from the second season and the latter from the first season. The best of both worlds!

My favorite monkees episode
This tape has my favorite Monkees episode of all time: the fairy tale. Whenever I want to laugh I always think of Mike's magic locket and his princess costume. Most enjoyable for 60's television. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

COMBAT! Episode "The Flying Machine"
This episode features Rick Jason (Lt. Hanley) on a solo mission away from the squad as he goes on a surveillance flight with a cantankerous pilot (Keenan Wynn). Their single-engine monoplane, of course, crashes, and the two are in for an adventure behind enemy lines. From the 1960s WWII series, "Combat!" [Note: no other cast members from the show appear in this episode] ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good View
Along with the two part classic, "Hills Are For Heroes", this
episode depicts a humanistic, sensitve side of Saunders which is rarely showcased on this series. A cowardly, non-
confrontational soldier (James Best) is left to cover the back of Saunders during battle. This occurs after Saunders receives news about a brother who's missing in action.

A poignant, thought provoking episode which is easily one
of Combat's best. And certainly one of Vic Morrow's best
performances.

MAIL CALL - great Vic Morrow episode!
This is one of the best "Saunders" episodes from the 1960s WWII television series "Combat!" In this episode, Sergeant Saunders, while dealing with a malingerer, receives a personal letter with bad news. One of the few episodes where fans learn something of Saunders' home life. Guest star James Best. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The classic episode where Peter wins free dance lessons
This offering of two episodes from "The Monkees" features one of the show's best episodes in "Dance, Monkee, Dance" (Episode #14, December 12, 1966), Peter wins a free dance lesson as Renaldo's Dance Au Go Go School, where he is tricked into signing a lifetime contact. It is then up to the rest of the boys to save Peter from a life of dancing. This episode features the songs "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet," during one of the dance lessons, and "I'm A Believer" during the big finale. Personally, I think this is one of the Top 3 episodes of the series. "The Wild Monkees" (Episode #42, November 13, 1967) has the boys doing a gig at the Henry Cabot Lodge and Cemetery, where they end up being confronted by "The Black Angels," a motorcycle gang. Obviously they are going for a parody of Marlon Brando's classic 1954 film, "The Wild Bunch," but this ends up being an average episode from the show's second season. Mickey performs an alternate take of "Going Down" at the beginning of the episode, which features "Star Collector," played during the motorcycle race.

Peter Gets Suckered To Dance School
Dance, Monkee, Dance is one of the better episodes of the show.

Peter is suckered into joining an expensive dance school, Reynaldo's Dance A Go Go, and before long Mike and Micky are swept into joining. Davy gets in by posing as a teacher (and to "I'll Get Back Upon My Feet" the boys dance), but there seems to be no way out. They need a brilliant idea, so Micky goes to talk to "The Writers" off the set, and they give him an idea that he soon decides isn't worth it.

So the boys do all they can to sabotage Reynaldo, all to the tune of "I'm A Believer," until he relents and tears up all the lifetime contracts he's ever had signed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Monkees Run A Restaurant And Then For Mayor
Two excellent episodes, one from each of the show's two seasons, are featured.

Monkees A La Carte - aka The Purple Flower Gang - finds the boys battling a tough hood named Fuselli (Harvey Lembeck) and his outsized henchman Rocco (Paul Lukas) when they muscle in on the restaurant/discoteque at which they work. After a funny "board meeting" in their house, the Monkees get themselves hired as cooks, chefs, etc. - duties they perform amid the snarling strains of "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone." But as Micky points out in a voiceover, "Hey fellas, this is not gonna work out, we'd better get some help."

Attempts to gather evidence against Fuselli all fail, but the boys get their break when Fuselli invites other mobsters for a dinner meeting. Micky gets an idea - for reasons of safety none of the gangsters at the meeting have ever seen each other, and the boys have learned from the police that The Purple Flower Gang, a gang allied with Fuselli in the past, is behind bars.

Though they wear white carnations instead of purple flowers, the boys are accepted as the Gang, and then the real fun begins.

The boys close out the fun with the outstanding Boyce-Hart venom-rocker "She."

Next, the boys are stunned when the houses of neighbors are being torn down to build a parking lot. Mike's complaint to Mayor Yort Samuel Motley (Irwin Charone) goes unheeded - unknown as yet to the boys, Motley is in the back pocket of corrupt land developer Wilber Zeckenbush (Monty Landis in the final filmed episode in which he guested - Landis usually speeks with a mild British falsetto, but here he effectively switches to southern drawl) - and Micky decides that as Mike is the only one with a hat to throw into the ring, Mike should run for Mayor.

The campaign then gets going to the rip-roaring '50s-retro rocker "No Time" (Micky and Mike wrote the lyrics, but songwriting credit was given by the boys to engineer Hank Cicalo as a gift for all his work, and the resulting royalties enabled Cicalo to purchase a house), but "political sabo-tooge" (Peter's description) ensues. Zeckenbush, however, finds the Monkees tougher than he expected, so he then implements Plan W, and the boys unexpectedly find themselves swimming in donations for Mike's campaign - donations Zeckenbush can use against them.

The episode closes out with the video performance of perhaps the Monkees' best rocker, "Pleasant Valley Sunday." Also worth noting is the presence of veteran character actor Walker Edmiston - Enik from the later Land Of The Lost series. ... Read more