New Monkees

New Monkees
Title card
Genre	Situation comedy
Based on	The Monkees
Developed by	Matthew Fassberg Victor Fresco
Written by	Rob Fresco R.B. Armstrong Jeremy Bate
Starring	Jared Chandler Dino Kovas Marty Ross Larry Saltis Gordon Oas-Heim Lynnie Godfrey Bess Motta
Theme music composer	Joe Curiale Jimmy Haddox
Opening theme	Turn it Up
Composers	Peter Kaye, Mark Leggett, Edie Robinette-Petrachi
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13
Production
Executive producer	Steve Blauner
Producers	Matthew Fassberg Victor Fresco
Cinematography	Robert Knouse
Editors	Robert DeMaio David Helfand
Running time	22 minutes
Production companies	Coca-Cola Telecommunications Straybert Productions
Distributor	LBS Communications Inc.
Release
Original network	Syndication
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	September 14 (1987-09-14) – December 7, 1987 (1987-12-07)
Chronology
Preceded by	The Monkees

New Monkees is the name of both an American pop rock music group and a 1987 syndicated television show featuring the group.

Overview[]

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Background[]

The 20th anniversary of The Monkees TV series in 1986 generated enough interest that New Monkees, a full reboot of the earlier series with none of the original members of The Monkees involved, was conceived later that year, and launched the following year. The show was distributed by LBS Communications in association with Coca-Cola Telecommunications. Straybert Productions, headed by Steve Blauner (a former partner of original Monkees producers Robert Rafelson and Bert Schneider), served as the project's producers.

The group's members were Jared Chandler (guitar and vocals), Dino Kovas (drums and vocals), Marty Ross (bass and vocals), and Larry Saltis (lead guitar and vocals). As it had been with the original Monkees, each had to pass a grueling set of auditions.^[1] Unlike the previous series, however, musical ability was a key factor in the selection process. Ross, a multi-instrumentalist, had earlier been signed to CBS Records, with his former band The Wigs.

Album and TV series[]

The band released one self-titled album, distributed by Warner Records. The synthpop sound of the New Monkees was largely the work of producers Carol Carmichael Parks and Dean Parks, and was similar to that of contemporaries Mr. Mister and Glass Tiger. Other New Monkees producers were Steve Barri and Tony Peluso, Matt Wallace, Joe Curiale, and Mike Slamer, who co-wrote a song for the album with Larry Saltis.

Other than being centered around a four-person boy band, New Monkees had very little in common plot-wise with The Monkees. Instead of Baby Boomers trying to find acceptance and success in society, the Generation X New Monkees seldom left their house, a large mansion resembling a giant boombox that had numerous unexplored rooms. The New Monkees also lived a far wealthier life than their predecessors: instead of a normal kitchen and dining room, the house featured a diner with a waitress named Rita, played by Bess Motta. A butler named Manford (Gordon Oas-Heim) was also present, as was a talking computer called Helen (voiced by Lynnie Godfrey); Helen was a decommissioned Defense Department supercomputer that spoke in a pronounced black accent and developed a taste for rock music instead of world destruction. Helen was almost always portrayed solely by a pair of talking lips set on a black, static background.

Notable guest performers were few; however, they included boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, Archie Hahn, Russell Johnson (reprising his role as "The Professor" from Gilligan's Island), and Billy Beck, whose appearances made him the only actor to have appeared in episodes of both the original Monkees as well as New Monkees (but playing different characters). The Del Rubio Triplets appeared on the episode "New Monkee Mail," which initiated a wave of TV appearances by the trio.

Cancellation[]

Originally slated for a 22-episode season, the show earned low ratings and New Monkees was canceled after 13 episodes. The album also sold poorly and failed to yield a hit record single. The producers hoped that the TV show would serve as promotion for their record, and vice versa, but this did not occur. A lawsuit was filed by the original Monkees for use of the name. However, the case was settled out of court.

Revived interest[]

Some interest in the band has continued on internet newsgroups. In 2007, all four New Monkees reunited for a meet-and-greet in Los Angeles, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the band's formation. The gathering featured an acoustic performance—their first since the dissolution of the show, and their first-ever live appearance. This performance was recorded, and portions of the show were released in late 2009 on YouTube. Among those in attendance that night were comedian Tim Powers, as well as producers Steve Blauner, Victor Fresco and Matt Fassberg. In 2014, the Monkees podcast Zilch aired an interview with Marty Ross of the New Monkees, which discussed the making of the show and its reception.

On November 11, 2017, all four New Monkees attended a 30-year reunion organized by Amy Collen. They were interviewed for the podcast Deep Dish Radio with Tim Powers,^[2] and performed a few songs. On February 16, 2019, the New Monkees performed a sold-out concert at the Pig 'n Whistle restaurant and bar in Los Angeles, organized by Jodi Ritzen; the concert featured an appearance by the original Monkees' Micky Dolenz.^[3]

Cast[]

• Larry Saltis - Larry
• Jared Chandler - Jared
• Dino Kovas - Dino
• Marty Ross - Marty
• Gordon Oas-Heim - Manford
• Lynnie Godfrey - Helen
• Bess Motta- Rita the Waitress

List of episodes[]

No.	Title	Directed by [4]	Written by	Original air date [4]
1	"Weather the Storm"	E. Von Kelso	Victor Fresco	September 14, 1987 (1987-09-14)
A personal storm cloud follows Dino. It is raining, it is snowing, it is hailing — but only on him.
2	"All My Martys"	Bob Radler	R.B. Armstrong and J.S. Bate	September 21, 1987 (1987-09-21)
When Marty falls asleep on a copy machine numerous duplicate Martys are set loose in the mansion. Wackiness ensues.
3	"Test Tube Tube"	E. Von Kelso	Rob Fresco	September 28, 1987 (1987-09-28)
Dino, Marty and Larry, dressed in ridiculous fruit costumes, are rehearsing for a children's party. Meanwhile, Jared discovers a strange room with only a TV and remote control inside. He zaps himself and a girl from the TV world in and out of various TV programs as the other boys wonder why he has yet to show up for practice in his Amazon costume.
4	"Minister Bob"	Bob Radler	Rob Fresco	October 5, 1987 (1987-10-05)
The boys meet two sumo wrestlers who also want to start a singing group. Meanwhile, Larry's Uncle Bob (a televangelist) causes trouble around the neighborhood.
5	"Ruff Day"	C. D. Taylor	R.B. Armstrong and J.S. Bate	October 12, 1987 (1987-10-12)
It's a dog eat dog world and Jared knows all about it. While walking his dog, Jared has a mind exchange with his pet. High jinks transpire.
6	"Don't Touch That Dial"	Ed Greenberg	Victor Fresco, Julianne Norman	October 19, 1987 (1987-10-19)
Larry and Dino are catapulted into an evil parallel universe when Dino disobeys Jared's warning not to touch a certain red dial in the lab. Their plans to return home are complicated when Larry falls in love with the alternate universe version of their maid.
7	"Monkee Mail"	David Wild	Rob Fresco, Victor Fresco, Matthew Fassberg	October 26, 1987 (1987-10-26)
The boys decide to answer some fan mail. The result? They meet some interesting fans.
8	"Larry Leaves"	Victor Fresco	Victor Fresco	November 2, 1987 (1987-11-02)
Larry takes it upon himself to cast the role of his girlfriend on the show.
9	"King of Space and Time"	Victor Fresco	Rob Fresco, Louis E. Angelo	November 9, 1987 (1987-11-09)
Jared steps through a forbidden doorway in the mansion and enters a "video world", where space and time are controlled by a TV-channel selector.
10	"Meet the Pope"	Bob Radler	Rob Fresco, Victor Fresco	November 16, 1987 (1987-11-16)
Pope John Paul II is in town and the boys are caught up in the Pope-mania. They discover that the Pope has left his guitar at their diner, so they must run downtown to return it to him. Along the way, they begin to wonder if anyone really realizes the significance of the Pope's visit as they encounter shady characters who are exploiting the Pope's image to make a fast buck. Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini portrays a street huckster.
11	"Helen Goes Shopping"	George Bloom	Rob Fresco, Robert DeMaio	November 23, 1987 (1987-11-23)
Helen, the boys' super computer, is addicted to shopping. Unfortunately she has no money of her own so she uses the boys' credit cards.
12	"The Game of Games Show"	Rocky Schenck	Matthew Fassberg	November 30, 1987 (1987-11-30)
The boys are contestants on a game show. Unfortunately they get caught up in the excitement and wager all of their possessions.
13	"My Three Sons"	Rob Fresco	Rob Fresco	December 7, 1987 (1987-12-07)
When the show gets a new soundtrack, the boys dream the whole show is changing. In this version Jared and Helen are the parents of three naughty boys. A clip show with voices dubbed by The Firesign Theatre.

Stations[]

The New Monkees was distributed to independent stations and network affiliates by Colex Enterprises,^[5] a joint venture of Columbia Pictures Television and LBS Communications Inc.^[6][7]

City	Station
Asheville	WLOS 13[8][better source needed]
Atlanta	WATL 36[9][better source needed]
Cleveland	WOIO 19[10][11][12][better source needed]
Detroit	WXON 20[13]
Greeneville	WETO 39[14][better source needed]
Houston	KTXH 20
Los Angeles	KTLA 5[15][16][better source needed][17][18]
Milwaukee	WVTV 24[19]
Oakland	KTVU 2[20]
Philadelphia	WTAF 29[21]
Portland, Maine	WPXT 51[22][better source needed]
Portland, Oregon	KPDX 49[23][better source needed][24]
Providence	WLNE 6
St. Louis
Spokane	KAYU 28[25][better source needed]
Tacoma	KSTW 11[26][better source needed]
Toledo	WUPW 36[27]
Washington	WDCA 20[28]

Album[]

New Monkees - Warner Bros. Records (released 1987)

Track listing:
Side 1:

1. "What I Want" (Eddie Schwartz/David Tyson)
2. "Do It Again" (Julia Downes/John Parr)
3. "I Don't Know" (Michael Cruz)
4. "The Way She Moves" (Denis Keldie)
5. "Boy Inside the Man" (Tom Cochrane)

Side 2:

1. "Burnin' Desire" (Rob Elvis)
2. "Whatever It Takes" (Alan Roy Scott/Arnie Roman)
3. "Affection" (Ken Brown)
4. "Carlene" (Greg Barnhill/Gene Houston/Johnny Hozey/Derrell Brown)
5. "Corner of My Eye" (Larry Saltis/Mike Slamer/Charlie Mitchell)
6. "Turn It Up" (Joe Curiale/Jimmy Haddox)

Single (45 RPM)[]

Warner Bros. Records (released 1987)

Track listing:

1. "What I Want" (Side A)
2. "Turn It Up" (Side B)

Other songs[]

In addition to the songs featured on the album, the New Monkees recorded several songs for the TV series that ultimately did not see an official release:

• "Clone of My Own"
• "One of the Boys"
• "Affection" (acoustic version)
• "Late Night"
• "I Can't Forget"
• "Follow Your Heart"
• "Maybe Tonight"
• "Won't Let You Lose Me"
• "Catch 22"
• "Someday Someway"
• "Crazy"
• "Searchin'"
• "Squeeze Play"
• "If I Needed Someone"
• "You Say You Will (And You Mean You Won't)"
• "If You Don't Go Away"
• "I'm Gonna Miss You This Summer"

Yulesville By Various Artists (Warner Bros. Records)[]

B8 "What I Want (For Christmas)"

References[]

External links[]

• New Monkees at IMDb
• Official Facebook Page
• Turn it up: An oral history of the forgotten New Monkees
• Hey, what ever happened to the New Monkees?