Books – Page 145 – On Screenwriting and Media with Dr. Rosanne Welch

From The Research Vault: Micky Dolenz on Muppets Tonight [Video]

In this episode Bobo falls in love with guest supermodel Cindy Crawford and goes into a “60s Retro Montage Fantasy”. He begins singing “I’m a Believer” and is soon joined by Micky Dolenz who helps him finish the song.

This aired as episode 5 of Season One in 1996 – ten years after the massive success of the 20th anniversary reunion concert tour and five years before Donkey sand the song on Shrek. Solid proof of the place The Monkees have held in popular culture across the decades.

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

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Previously in Out of Research Vault:

Quotes from “Why The Monkees Matter” by Dr. Rosanne Welch – 15 in a series

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“There has not been a television season since The Monkees that did not air a show that catered to teenagers including Dawson’s Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, Veronica Mars and the appropriately titled The Secret Life of the American Teenager among the more recent. The Monkees paved the way. “

from Why The Monkees Mattered by Dr. Rosanne Welch — Coming Fall 2016 – Click for more info!

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

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Quotes from “Why The Monkees Matter” by Dr. Rosanne Welch – 14 in a series

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“The second episode to attempt to lure the adult audience into trusting the Monkees and deciding they were good, clean kids, “Monkee Mother”, introduced Rose Marie as a new renter sharing the boys’ beach house when they failed to pay the rent. As scripted, her character is given a scene alone with each of the boys and sees them through a mother’s eyes, allowing the many mothers watching the show with their children to make the same connection.”

from Why The Monkees Mattered by Dr. Rosanne Welch — Coming Fall 2016 – Click for more info!

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

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From The Research Vault: Pre-Monkees Davy Jones sings “I’m Going to Buy Me A Dog” on Farmer’s Daughter TV Show

While working on the proofs for the book I’m reminded of all the fun research I’ve had the chance to do – and wanted to share this with you.

While reading this sentence…

“Certainly the studio cultivated that character [of teen idol] for Davy even before The Monkees, grooming him with guest starring roles as a singer on family- friendly programs such as Ben Casey and The Farmer’s Daughter (where he sang a straight version of “Gonna Buy Me a Dog” before the comic duet with Micky that appeared on The Monkees.”

And here’s the full episode as it stands on YouTube:

Here’s Davy performing the song:

In a further ‘Six Degrees of Separation” with The Monkees, fans will remember that several auditions for the Monkees were held on The Farmer’s Daughter set on their day off.

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

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Previously in Out of Research Vault:

Quotes from “Why The Monkees Matter” by Dr. Rosanne Welch – 13 in a series

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“It wouldn’t be until after The Monkees won their Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1967 that networks began planning and programming pilots for prime time that involved young performers singing, dancing and doing sketch comedy: Laugh-In (1967-1973), The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1970), and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1974).”

from Why The Monkees Mattered by Dr. Rosanne Welch — Coming Fall 2016 – Click for more info!

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

Amazon Pre-Orders Now Available!

Quotes from “Why The Monkees Matter” by Dr. Rosanne Welch – 12 in a series

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“Each actor in his own right was an authentic, mostly American teenager from various parts of the country; Nesmith (25) the too-young-married Texan; Tork (25) the Connecticut gentleman turned Greenwich Village folksinger; Dolenz (22) the Valley boy Cruise-Nighting Californian (later glamorized in 1973 in American Graffiti), and Jones (22), whose English childhood offered a throwback to the 19th century teenage life of apprenticeship, first to a racing stable and then to an agent.”

from Why The Monkees Mattered by Dr. Rosanne Welch — Coming Fall 2016 – Click for more info!

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

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Out of the Research Vault: Previously on CBS Sunday Morning: Davy Jones in 1993

In honor of the segment CBS Sunday Morning aired today with Micky, Peter and Mike, here’s an interview the show did with Davy in 1993.

Charming is the way he discusses each member’s personality, his pride to still be part of The Monkees and his memories of sitting on the beach during filming and eating their boxed sandwiches. Today on television and film shoots the craft services people dish out lobster and shrimp and all manner of luxury foods to actors and PAs alike.

This segment was part of a look back at what they called “TV Goodies” so not connected with any particular tour. Just a focus on the show – as I do in the book – since that is what started it all. it was fun to watch both segments as I spend my Memorial Day weekend copy-editing the proofs of the book which the publisher sent me this week. They want it to go to print by late June so I’d better get back to work!

Previously in Out of Research Vault:

Outside Warner/Rhino Records with my latest acquisition – The Monkees, “Good Times”

Get your copy today!

Good Times
The Monkees

Quotes from “Why The Monkees Matter” by Dr. Rosanne Welch – 11 in a series

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“Depending on their family backgrounds, parents and teenage viewers of the late 1960s saw The Monkees existing on a plane anywhere between squeaky clean and troubled. Their squeaky-clean reputation came from their tame adventures, which were dictated by television standards and practices at the time.”

from Why The Monkees Mattered by Dr. Rosanne Welch — Coming Fall 2016 – Click for more info!

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

Amazon Pre-Orders Now Available!

Quotes from “Why The Monkees Matter” by Dr. Rosanne Welch – 10 in a series

** Pre-Order “Why The Monkees Matter” Today **

“Peter Tork often reminds interviewers that television was only sixteen years old when the show debuted, the age of the average audience members. All of this adds layers to the critical study of the program.”

from Why The Monkees Mattered by Dr. Rosanne Welch — Coming Fall 2016 – Click for more info!

Why The Monkees Matter: Teenagers, Television and American Pop Culture

Amazon Pre-Orders Now Available!