In 1997, the beloved 1960s pop-rock group and television stars, The Monkees, made a return to the screen with the special "Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees." This hour-long program, written and directed by Michael Nesmith, one of the original Monkees, offered a unique take on a reunion. It was based on the playful conceit that the group had never actually stopped filming episodes of their television series, despite its cancellation decades prior. The special showcased
the now-middle-aged Monkees as they grappled with the challenge of inventing new plotlines, having seemingly exhausted all possibilities from their past. This retrospective approach allowed for both nostalgia and a fresh, self-aware humor.
The Premise and Plot of the Special
The central idea behind "Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees" was a clever meta-narrative. The Monkees, portrayed by Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork, were depicted as still trying to catch their big break, even as they were middle-aged. The plot revolved around their attempts to come up with a new story for their ongoing, albeit unaired, television series. Each time a potential storyline presented itself, the Monkees were quick to point out that they had already used that particular plot in a previous episode, expressing their reluctance to repeat themselves.Within this framework, various comedic sketches and musical sequences were integrated. For instance, Davy was shown trying to get the band to rehearse for a crucial gig, while Micky was on a quest to find a unique gimmick to define their identity. Meanwhile, Mike pondered the necessity of anything beyond simply spending time together. This interplay of their individual personalities, familiar to fans of the original series, provided the humor and heart of the special. The music featured prominently, including tracks from their 1996 album "Justus" and a medley of their classic hits from the 1960s, bridging their past and present musical endeavors.
Development and Broadcast Details
The journey to bring "Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees" to television began in November 1996 when ABC approached The Monkees' manager, Ward Sylvester, with the idea of producing a retrospective. Sylvester countered with the more creative proposal of developing a special that would mimic the format of an episode from the original series, leading to the unique concept that eventually aired. The special was produced by Ronnie Hadar, with cinematography by James Mathers and editing by Terry Chiappe. Misha Segal composed the music for the program.Despite some post-production delays that resulted in the final print being delivered too late for advanced screening, ABC supported the special with a robust marketing campaign. Advertisements were strategically placed during some of the network's most popular shows at the time, ensuring significant viewership. The special, which ran for 60 minutes, premiered on February 17, 1997. As of November 2023, "Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees" has not been released on DVD or Blu-ray, making its original broadcast a notable event for fans of the group.
