When did "The Monkees" jump the shark?

[Deja Q]

My response:

The show only got BETTER! The first season was waaaaay too scripted. Its savior was the music, which was pretty good if not contrived. Nesmith's own songs (e.g. "Mary Mary" and "Sweet Young Thing") only helped sweeten the show's success, as did Neil Diamond's and Carole King's gems. That's not to say there weren't any good episodes, as there were several that transcended the kiddie motif. "Monkee vs Machine" is one that instantly stands out. Yes, while folks of the 60s were terrified of computers and their impact, what has happened in real life since then only proves them right...

Season 2 only improved as the storylines weren't so kiddie-oriented and dared to be more "hip" or off-the-wall "way-out" (mainstream?!) "The Devil and Peter Tork" and "Fairy Tale", amongst others, are amongst the best-ever made and the former being one of television's more daring works ever. It holds up extremely well as does the song "Salesman" (another gem from Nesmith). Probably moreso than back then, too.

Season 2 had the laugh track removed, which I thought to be a blessing because I could then laugh at what I thought was funny.

It was for season 2 that Michael Nesmith demanded the group be its own self, knowing full well that the music being made wasn't theirs and that it was an insult to them as not just a group but as people. He hated being a sleazy sell-out and wanted to prove his mettle. The albums of the time, "Headquarters" and "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones Ltd" being the best EVER. And they were 100% their own. And many of the songs written and sung rival the "mainstream counterculture" songs of the time; "Salesman", "For Pete's Sake", "Zor and Zam", and numerous others are hardly kiddie bubblegum fare.

Then came the movie "Head". Written in part by THE Jack Nicholson, this movie is an underrated adventure. It succeeds to end where it starts and vice-versa, thanks to cleverly skilled and offbeat writing. While out on DVD, it should be re-released in proper widescreen format. There are several guest stars involved... And even Toni Basil (who wrote and sung "Mickey" by 1981) makes an appearance. But I digress. The Monkees never got out of their "faux group for children" status and that, apart from very bad marketing, assured "Head" would be a failure. The movie itself being very creative and poignant in its own ways,l it's as much topical as it is refreshing. And even the musical inteludes are melodies of substance.

Unfortunately, "Head" was the last great grasp. Since that point things started to fall apart and their final foursome on TV was an NBC special "33 1/3 revolutions per Monkee". A trippy yet intellectually underwhelming piece, it's worth sitting through in terms of 1960s kitsch alone but not much else. It's got its moments, but it doesn't hang together well. By this point they jumped the shark.

The band reunited in the 1980s (sans Nesmith, who wanted to put it behind him for good.) There was also a mid-90s reunion on ABC that I think did include him.

The show was released in its entirety on DVD but people had complained about the quality of the transfers. And the included commentaries by the cast only prove how none of them is seemingly too happy with their decision to have taken the roles in the first place. (maybe they're being hard on themselves and I can understand, but by 1967 they more than made up what they're feeling ashamed or worse for.)

A pity given its ultimate status; as corporate manufactured images are en vogue in 2005 and those participants have no qualms being used and discarded. It's free money to them. Which just goes to show when integrity jumped the shark.

[Blue-Jay]

1. I would have liked the Monkees better,

if they had jumped into a shark.

[Deja Q]

2. !

:rofl:

[johnnie]

3. I have the DVD sets

I think they are pretty well done myself. It's interesting to hear Nesmith give the background on how he got Frank Zappa to do that episode. There are some other cool tidbits in the commentary tracks. I think the transfers aren't too bad either, so I don't know where that came from.
As for 33 1/3 revolutions per Monkee, I like some of the parts. The part with Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Little Richard and Brian Auger all jamming on their keys is pretty classic. I like Nesmith's duet with himself doing the rock and country thing at one time. The very end jam "Listen to the Band" is another classic moment when joined by Buddy Miles, Brian Auger and a few others. There are some painful moments on there too.
As for "jumping the shark" I will say it is when they went on without Tork. They were on their way down, but they should have stopped then. They could have done something in a few years and it wouldn't have seemed so bad.

[swag]

6. I simul-Torked you below.

How old were you when Peter ditched the band?

[johnnie]

7. I was just a little one

I was born in 1964, so I wasn't really "aware" of him leaving the band. I do know that my parents have a letter I wrote to Santa asking for the "new" Monkees' album and also a bass because Peter played bass. I was probably 5 or 6 at the time when I asked.
I was answering the OP in retrospect, but I do think that is when they jumped.

[swag]

4. "Headquarters" was the first real album I owned, and it bewildered

the fuck out of me (I was six when I received it, after much badgering of my poor parents, who had, until that time, acquiesced to my demands with the purchase of singles for my Close 'n' Play).

Head is just an amazing movie that really pushes my buttons, emotionally, nostalgically, psychedelically, and otherwise (a side note: I later adored Bongwater's cover of "The Porpoise Song.")

I think the Monkees jumped it musically when Tork left the band and Instant Replay became their first three-Monkee album.

I am still a big fan.

[Taverner]

5. As strange as it is, I agree with you

And in fact, I think their last episode was their best...

Yes, the one with all the marijuana references. A huge ganja plant saves earth from hypnotic domination. Great stuff!