Monday Night Heroes: THE MONKEES ON TV
When John Lennon praised the Monkees and compared their wacky antics to the Marx Brothers, his compliment was not only flattering but ironic. It was the Beatles’ film. A Hard Day's Night, after all, that provided the impetus for the television show, The Monkees.
Monday Night Heroes: THE MONKEES ON TV
Jeff Tamarkin
When John Lennon praised the Monkees and compared their wacky antics to the Marx Brothers, his compliment was not only flattering but ironic. It was the Beatles’ film. A Hard Day's Night, after all, that provided the impetus for the television show, The Monkees. But the initial idea for a program based on a singing group actually preceded the show’s 1966 launch by a few years. If not for the Beatles, in fact, NBC-TV might very well have broadcast a show called The Folkees.
Bob Rafelson was an aspiring filmmaker in his 30s when he concocted an idea that would combine his two interests. Having directed television programs for ABC-TV and Desilu Productions, including a folk music program called Hootenanny. Rafelson had toyed for years with a concept that he thought would hook the youth market; a dramatic TV series based around a folk group. But the networks weren’t biting—yet.