Where Would We Be Today, Without …

Today marks the anniversary of the Monkees TV show winning the Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy series in 1967.  Not that I disliked the show, and not that I didn't occasionally watch it ..... but really?  Now mind you, it was an interesting story from the start.  Stephen Stills, at his own audition, actually recommended Peter Tork for a part after he was given the "don't-call-us-we'll-call-you" line...Michael Nesmith brought a bag of laundry to his audition and the producers thought that was funny... the idea for the show was inspired by the Beatles film "A Hard Days Night" ... so all of that is interesting.  But, the show had no budget (they often used old 3 Stooges props), semi-bad writing, un-edited acting, and weird production that they passed off as "Avant Garde" so they could get away with it...and this show beat out Hogan's Heroes?  Andy Griffith?  Get Smart?  and Bewitched (bring on Sabrina !)??   I know I'm shaking my head today wondering how this could've happened.  I think if I were my age now back then, my head might have shaken right off!  But hey, at least we did get one or two catchy songs out of it...