I was fortunately able to get a chance to see them in concert not once but 3 different times and they're a great band . RIP MIKE DAVY AND PETER GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
I thought the others were quite good too. Your thinking might be biased because you already the four as the Monkees! The only one I would have picked for sure was Davy Jones, he had a million dollar face!
Micky was the most charismatic and a natural at bantering. Davy the most sincere and friendly and real. Peter was the hippy. And Mike the serious and sometimes dour musician. All four were a perfect fit.
@@bowtoyoursensei554 Probably because as you saw, the "interviewer" interrupted all of them the whole time, he'd ask a question and then interrupt or talk over them. Also the digs masquerading as humour didn't fool Mike.
If you've not seen it, search for Rodan vs Michael...it's hysterical ! Or just search for Michael Nesmith Rodan Yes, Rodan from Godzilla ! There's a longer version as well. R.I.P. Michael Return If Possible
It wasn't their music and they hardly played anything...it was mostly studio musicians and pre-recorded. They were the most fake band ever. Research it and you'll see.
@@erepsekahs Wrong. They STARTED as a "fake" band but soon changed all of that. The Monkees sacrificed their television presence in order to show their artistic value. Their first "original" album was Headquarters and it was a huge success. Headquarters would have reigned in the #1 spot for months if it weren't for the Beatles Sgt Pepper's album.
@@erepsekahs : As a Brit, and a huge fan of The Beatles, living in UK, I was curious to see what they were all about, as a teen I loved their show, they were quirky, naturally funny and a great fit, the music on the show was good, certainly they sang on their songs, and over time they developed, this clip shows they were talented within their own right, and charismatic enough to hold it together, you’re entitled to your opinion, but I think it’s disingenuous to label them as fake
Watching this it's so obvious Peter wanted to play guitar more than anything. And as another poster already noted, the right guys got the gig. I can't imagine subbing Davy, Peter, Micky or Mike for any of the others.
To think Stephen Stills was originally considered. He didn't have that manic attitude...or did he? Guess we'll never know, but thanks Stephen for recommending Peter Torkelson.
Peter said he was pissed off at the beginning when he found out they would not record the music as they used session muscians. He wanted to play guitar yes.
OMG, Mike Nesmith psychoanalyzing himself mercilessly. Mickey Dolenz's kidding dodges. Davy Jones politely weaving around questions that have no relation to where he's coming from. Peter Tork's self-effacing defensiveness. How the producers managed to get these four to keep from cracking each other up and work, I don't know how. It's fascinating and makes me ponder, generalizing rather, how vacant American men of today are by comparison. No quickness upstairs. None. These boys were amazing. TFP.
Western people have becomed 'dumbed-down' since then for sure, but really-switched-on people like those four have always been a special minority. Same here in Australia.
@guruDev they also had this ability to appear like they were nice guys in the meet and greets and performances/appearances. I think it helped their fan base to be loyal for years. Tbh I will say, much as I adore Peter, he definitely appeared to have his hot and cold moments. But honestly, putting on a happy face the whole time would be exhausting
@@nmtg I actually got to know Davy Jones in the later part of his life, he was always a nice guy. he died right after he had been ridding his beloved horse. A jokey in the end.. RIP Dave
And the best body of the group, if we're being honest. I always thought his faux innocence dropped away completely whenever he had screen kisses. He would suddenly look like a guy who really knew what he was doing.
Forest Lawn Cemetery existed long before Los Angeles existed .... There have been many Forest Lawn Cemeteries ..... That's where all the dead people live .....
1971SuperLead Dark brown hair, slightly slanted eyes, perfectly straight nose, dimpled mouth, slim but not boney, chipper Texan accent, flawless skin, and the legs that go on forever. . .oh yes and he's confident and intelligent, but without the other attributes I listed, I don't know if I would pay him quite so much mind.
Douglas John Liquid Paper didn't start making money until after The Monkees were famous. I wrote my first research paper for high school on an old typewriter in the early 90's. I didn't really know how to type and the whole thing was practically covered with white out. I had no clue it had anything to do with one of the Monkees. My parents finally bought a word processor after that.
+Classic Rock Kid he fought constantly w/the producers and directors. whtever good and wht made this show nesmith is to whom lots of the credit goes. he did not mind playing the fool but he wasn't a fool and because they tried to treat him as such he bucked. he wasn't abt to be jacked around by a bunch of bastards.
He was a genuine musical talent, too. The others could all hold their own when it came to musicianship, but Nesmith was working on a whole different level.
I agree. His speech in the court scene of The Devil & Peter Tork is fantastic. Peter shines here as well. I think that they both could have had acting careers, especially Mike. He just has the "it" factor that only very few people have. Funny that they were the musicians in the band. That's not to take away from Micky & Davy, just that they had more experience with the camera/studio set up.
This is hysterical. I never saw this before, and when I was a kid, I LOVED these guys. Amazing how much brighter and natural sounding they are compared to the "also ran" actors. And Mr. Whipple in the record store at the end LOL
@ 1:48 best ad-lib: "I was a failure." I'd forgotten how droll and dryly amusing Nesmith was. Very off-beat, yet authentic, humor. Way ahead of the era, IMO
Ok seriously, he should’ve had a cigarette in that first clip. We’re all desperate to see him smoke, right? No? Just me? Oh well. I understand if you don’t like it when he smokes. It’s very bad for your health. I have the need to watch his chest expand and watch him do some snaps!
I watched the monkees a lot when I was younger, and always really liked Mike and Peter.. but I never really noticed how devastatingly handsome Mike was. Jesus.
Just a few years earlier Davy had appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" with the cast of "Oliver" (he played the Artful Dodger). It was the same show on which the Beatles first appeared on the Sullivan show.
Jack Grattan - you are correct. Mike did hang out with John Lennon a few times. In fact I read that the first time Mike and his wife Phyllis went to the UK, John and Cynthia Lennon invited the to stay at their house for a few days. How awesome was that? Would loved to have been a fly on the wall at that house. Lol.
Yes! I watched that scene half a dozen times! (But start a bit earlier ... at 13:22). Micky's facial expression when Davy says "We should help Vanessa" is a riot.
Micky was always my favorite because I've always been drawn to the one's who make me smile. He seems like a lot of fun. I met in at a local deli in Huntingdon Valley PA earlier this year. He was nice but I didn't want to bother him while he was waiting for his meal. He was nice enough to have a picture taken with my friend and I.
I will say, Raybert picked the right guys. The other applicants were mooks. Peter is a lot brighter than the character he played on the show---and a better actor than he's generally given credit for.
+sneezepal Peter is my favorite Monkee, as far as comedy goes. To me, he was always this gentle funny soul. Then I met him in person and realized that none of that is an act. He is a gentle, funny soul, a true flower child.
Peter used to sing in the folk clubs in Greenwich Village before he was a Monkee. He was actually recommended by Stephen Stills who had been rejected as a Monkee.
It truly is amazing. You can see the chemistry between the original monkees. There's even chemistry as they stand alone. You can see why the producers picked them. That's quite a job, finding the right people for a show.
People say that Peter is the dork who got lucky. But could you imagine any of the other guys with the Monkees? I think they knew Peter could do it and he was perfect for the part but here he was just nervous and overtime he'd grow comfortable with the other guys just like they did. Plus he just seems so innocent and good and sweet. My favorites were always mike and Peter.
I was born 1981 and grew up watching Monkees reruns on TV. Peter Tork was my first crush - I could never understand why everyone else loved Davy. They're all great though.
@Wayne Pitty Brother, what? Mike has a lovely voice and it's quite versatile. I've heard him credibly sing pop, rock, blues, doo wop, country, country rock, and bluegrass. He's also a great interpretive singer. If you go listen to him sing "Salesman," his vocal is so evocative, making you see pictures of all the items in the salesman's cart and he conveys the ironic humor behind the lyrics. He owns "What Am I Doing Hanging Round" too; no one sings it better. He's got the necessary pathos in his voice for it. I consider him to be the second best singer in the group after Micky.
The Monkees! They were THE GROOVIEST! They had talent to be sure and their personalities were really a breath of fresh air.To me, they were role models. Thank you fellas for the memories.This old lady had fun growing up with you!
Davy, Micky, Mike and Peter all just had the right chemistry together. They also later had proven they had great musical talent as well. Maybe someday, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can hold off inducting a Hip Hop star and put this band in where they belong.
Only problem is they hardly wrote their own music, Neal diamond wrote a bunch of their hits. the ones they did write, well it was a bit strange, even for psychedelic rock.
In the limited edition Blu-ray set of The Monkees T.V. series, the bonus disc has Davy, Micky, Mike & Peter's Screen tests, along with some of the other guys who weren't selected. Raybert obviously selected the right guys. The others had no charisma.
Having had his own tv show years before and been on probably 100s of auditions, and at this point was in 4 different pilots, he knew how to nail an audition. The way he grabbed Davy's hat from him at the door way would have clinched it for me.
That was fun seeing some other actors in these. It also made it evident why the four were chosen, they were all so natural and had such charisma right from the start. It was such a brilliant mix!
@@deekenny602 You know they had to have been like “man, I was SO CLOSE!” I’ve never seen any source stating who they were or what happened to them. I feel like this is a part of the Monkees story that has never been explored. Someone needs to track these guys down.
Wow, Nesmith has balls of steal to walk into the audition and play that kind of character. He killed it, but wow if they weren't feeling it or didn't get his character he could have made some very powerful people in the industry very mad.
That was super cool to watch. Very fun and sad at the same time. Back when the Beatles and the Monkees were new there was such a huge generation gap. War and politics further complicated relationships. Now looking back at footage like this it all seems like an age of innocence. It saddens me deeply to see this generation disappear one at a time as it does for every generation that came before it. These were just kids trying to learn their way through life and have fun. I for one had fun watching them do that in real time as it really happened. It was a great time to live in many ways. Now the future requires great faith. God will need to carry all of us from here on.
True. He was already signed to Columbia and released a solo record on the Colpix label (which eventually morphed into Colgems - The Monkees label their original records were released on). They were trying to find a suitable vehicle for him and The Monkees turned out to be it. IIRC, Davy in his autobiography claimed that one show they tried developing for him involved a British boy and his look-a-like American cousin getting into sitcom hi-jinks together. That became The Patty Duke Show. My guess would be Patty could do a better pseudo English accent than Davy could pull off an American one. Mike also had a bit of an advantage since he was also signed to Colpix in 1965 (and recorded and released a few singles) and was performing at The Troubadour - where Bob Rafelson and Bert Schnieder saw him perform.
Mickey and Davy were hired first. Mickey had been in a tv show called Circus Boy for 2 years. Davy had some acting in England before he came to America
ive known peter had aspergers for a while but only got diagnosed myself a few months back. ive been getting back into the monkees recently (been a fan for almost 5 years) and im now noticing all his little quirks and mannerisms and identifying with a lot of them. i have also seen him be misunderstood and misinterpreted by people for various reasons and i can relate to that too. he's become my favourite of the group. it's just cool to see someone like yourself represented in media like this. and he's just very funny and sweet :) love him so much
@@kateroyce2699 Peter himself said so in a few interviews. Here's a quote from a 2008 interview: ""I suppose I am a bit of a techie at heart," he said. "But one thing I have discovered in recent years is that I suffer from Asperger's syndrome - a form of autism. "There is a fanaticism and obsessiveness about me and my actions that appear to bear this out."
I am autistic (I have Classic Autism) and I am blown away by this fact that I am so sad we lost him in a year where autistics like me were being ignored by society and 2 years later we still are.
No not really, today's entertainment industry is looking to make money. Nothing else matters. Talentless computer loops, with some rhyming poetard talking into a mike, the kardashians, "reality bullshit tv" zero talent rules the music and the entertainment industry, with rare exceptions. Margo Price comes to mind as an exception.
Yes, but they don't get chosen if they don't a certain look. Don't be fooled. The people that made this show were out to make money, too. They just happened to luck out by wanting something "different"
Davey stands out. He was modest and coherent. The others were musicians to a certain degree but Davey was an entertainer. He had the acting chops and the likability factor. He was doing it for years. The others were musicians to a degree and they all came together nicely. So sad only 2 are left.
I know they pretty much had Davy Jones cast thanks to his experience as Artful Dodger in Oliver, but that scene at 13:22 between Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones had to have sealed the deal. That was artful physical comedy and great line delivery. I can't get over Mike Nesmith's entire interview. It was so ballsy and yet winning. I would have hired him right then and there. His reading scenes also came off very naturally and well. I actually thought the one guy strumming the guitar talking about Vanessa with Nesmith was really good and felt Peter Tork was actually sort of weak there. However, I can see why they hired Tork watching the other clips, and the guy who was good talking about "Vanessa" wasn't so good in the comedic bit about SJ being "feeble minded" and it seemed his facial expressions were limited. The other guys didn't really have much presence and seemed too generic in demeanor. The one guy doing the "Vanessa" bit with Tork seemed like he was acting in a melodrama. I wonder if he could have fit the tone better if the director told him to switch it up. Their line deliveries also left much to be desired. The four they chose really had charisma and something more.
This is great. Had only seen edited versions before. In case anyone is wondering, that adorable kid with the very blonde hair is Michael Burns, who also carved out a nice career for himself during this era. Never knew he was up a Monkee.
The long hair of the 70s was due to the 60s fight for the use of long hair. They had to fight against discrimination and derision. In the 80s unfortunately men started to use short hair again.
@@LauRa-re9un by the mid-70s short hair was in some circles a rebellion against the long-haired new "establishment" image in entertainment. Punk rock sticking up two fingers to aging hippies and prog rockers. And of course you had people like David Bowie (who could look good in anything) changing their images constantly, and hair length being one of the things they switched up.
@girlzeyeview They are like headshots in motion (vs. a still photo), MOS (without sound), and the director or producer is giving them directions - turn to your left, turn to your right, act mad, act silly, etc., to see how they look in close up on camera.
For not having been a professional actor before this, Mike is very good, always has a vulnerability to him. Micky and Davy definitely worked well together. Peter played it a little straight, probably nerves, but he always had an innocent look working for him, and they really did a good job of having four personalities and blending them together.
Actually Mike had a fair amount of stage acting experience prior to his Monkees audition. He had also traveled the country playing the folk club circuit so he was comfortable in front of an audience.
What a sad day yesterday. I came back to see these again….Was that Mike screaming OOH WOW ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? I never thought it was lol It didn’t sound like him. RIP sweetheart.
I like that he was the most respectful. But I was one of those starry-eyed, innocent tweens who looked up to the "white knight--or black knight--on a steed". I think having a good role model (at least for a while) was a vital thing back then--and should be now--but that is a lost art, it seems sadly. And I will say, sadly, I believe the fame thing went to the Monkees' head for a while. But they were and are human--still love their music, which was also "bubble gum." (Thank God to the producers, who didn't get credit for that, did they??)
i was thinking that might have been tommy boyce and bobby hart who wrote a lot of the monkees songs. it appears the scene started after they'd been playing a song.
@@DannyD714 And that is what gave The Monkees the "fake band" rap. It is also why they revolted against Boyce and Hart and their band doing the music for the show. After all they were already doing concerts by the end of the first season and Mike had already written (music and lyrics) a song that would become a top 20 hit, and went on to write "modern" C&W songs for his new band "The First National Band" that had hits as high as top ten in 1968. In 1982 he wrote the screenplay for and produced a funny ass movie-"Timerider:The Adventure of Lyle Swann". Fun fact: Nesmith also received the first ever Grammy for a music video-before MTV. Another fun fact: In 1967 a struggling British musician named "David/Davie Jones" decided he needed a new one since he was being confused with Davy Jones of The Monkees. His new name?-David Bowie.
Boyce and Hart were songwriters, didn't have a band that recorded the Monkees songs. The famous session musicians recorded the tracks for the songs. And songs were written by many of the best songwriters, like Neil Diamond I'm a Believer. Boyce and Hart Last Train to Clarksville, Valleri, for example.
This is priceless. I always wanted to know the story about how they were picked. This is the best part because it is so obvious why they were picked. RIP Davy Jones, and Peter Tork.
I can't believe Micky is the only one left by now... R.I.P Davy, Peter and Mike
Such a shame. He's the biggest asshole of the bunch.
@@salozmen29 really... why????
@@DilfTheVampire Ummm maybe all the rape allegations and how he screwed his bandmates over with money and name rights
@@salozmen29 what happened??
I was fortunately able to get a chance to see them in concert not once but 3 different times and they're a great band . RIP MIKE DAVY AND PETER GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN
Yes they absolutely chose the right guys. Perfect casting. They were wonderful together. Sad day. RIP Peter.
I thought the others were quite good too. Your thinking might be biased because you already the four as the Monkees! The only one I would have picked for sure was Davy Jones, he had a million dollar face!
Pete was my fav 🐵also, even though Davy is English, like me.
Peter and Davy, long may you Rest in Peace
I totally agree.. those four were the best
And now Mike has passed away. Another sad day.
You don't know how much I love the fact that Mike Nesmith already had his bobble hat even in his screen tests!
He wore it to the audition to keep his hair down, rode his motorcycle.
I can´t understad how he could he wear such a hat in the hot California weather.
@@Alexander-tj2dn Maybe he just had a higher tolerance to heat on account of being from Texas
Micky was the most charismatic and a natural at bantering. Davy the most sincere and friendly and real. Peter was the hippy. And Mike the serious and sometimes dour musician. All four were a perfect fit.
You said it exactly right. You put my impression into words.
Mike was hardly serious. He was messing with the interviewer the whole time!
she's a groovey kid, you know.
@@bowtoyoursensei554 Probably because as you saw, the "interviewer" interrupted all of them the whole time, he'd ask a question and then interrupt or talk over them. Also the digs masquerading as humour didn't fool Mike.
@@annainspain5176 Yes he stood up to them. Davy, the polite Englishman, didn't understand where they were coming from.
R.I.P. Mike Nesmith. Thanks for the music
If you've not seen it, search for Rodan vs Michael...it's hysterical !
Or just search for Michael Nesmith Rodan
Yes, Rodan from Godzilla !
There's a longer version as well.
R.I.P. Michael
Return If Possible
Peter looks adorable here. In fact they all do. Oh dear now I'm crushing on all of them. Lol
Kay Muldoon How old are you?
+Zappa Victoria And how old are you?
Kay Muldoon 23, and you?
Peter was my favorite. So cute, and that dimple!
Red Sonja why does age matter lol
They picked the right guys, that's for sure.
@@Delray100 Small world. I agree too.
any one else think that Micky Dolenz looks a bit like Bruce Lee
If they chose other people we wouldn’t be any wiser would we? Take up knitting
YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN ---------- ABSOLUTE EXCELLENT EYE FOR TALENT ----------- WHOEVER DID THE PICKIN' !!
Fuckin A RIGHT
RIP Michael Nesmith. I really enjoyed watching this, especially the end bit that was so funny. I loved their TV show and their music.
It wasn't their music and they hardly played anything...it was mostly studio musicians and pre-recorded. They were the most fake band ever. Research it and you'll see.
@@erepsekahs Wrong. They STARTED as a "fake" band but soon changed all of that.
The Monkees sacrificed their television presence in order to show their artistic value. Their first "original" album was Headquarters and it was a huge success.
Headquarters would have reigned in the #1 spot for months if it weren't for the Beatles Sgt Pepper's album.
@@erepsekahs the heck you say! Never heard that before. It can't be true can it?
@@chevyblue10 : He’s never heard of The Monkees?? 😂
@@erepsekahs : As a Brit, and a huge fan of The Beatles, living in UK, I was curious to see what they were all about, as a teen I loved their show, they were quirky, naturally funny and a great fit, the music on the show was good, certainly they sang on their songs, and over time they developed, this clip shows they were talented within their own right, and charismatic enough to hold it together, you’re entitled to your opinion, but I think it’s disingenuous to label them as fake
Peter nailed the audition. Best performance with the couch scene. Those four were made to be the Monkees. Legends.
And Mickey and Davy at the door with the hat- that little bit of business was pure genius!
Priceless! So Thankful That The Auditions Were Preserved!
Watching this it's so obvious Peter wanted to play guitar more than anything. And as another poster already noted, the right guys got the gig. I can't imagine subbing Davy, Peter, Micky or Mike for any of the others.
To think Stephen Stills was originally considered. He didn't have that manic attitude...or did he?
Guess we'll never know, but thanks Stephen for recommending Peter Torkelson.
Peter said he was pissed off at the beginning when he found out they would not record the music as they used session muscians. He wanted to play guitar yes.
I think there should have been 5 of them.Michael Burns would've been a Natch too.
@@susanmccormick6022 They wanted four members like The Beatles
Very, very very true! The show would not have been the same (or even worth watching) without them.
OMG, Mike Nesmith psychoanalyzing himself mercilessly. Mickey Dolenz's kidding dodges. Davy Jones politely weaving around questions that have no relation to where he's coming from. Peter Tork's self-effacing defensiveness. How the producers managed to get these four to keep from cracking each other up and work, I don't know how. It's fascinating and makes me ponder, generalizing rather, how vacant American men of today are by comparison. No quickness upstairs. None. These boys were amazing. TFP.
To be fair, the boys were all just doing bits of vaudeville infused with oppositionalism.
$$$ is serious. so is being in the lion's pit.
Western people have becomed 'dumbed-down' since then for sure, but really-switched-on people like those four have always been a special minority. Same here in Australia.
And cute too!
@@designstudio8013
Mike was a little hyper, I thought.
Gottta admit those guys were pretty remarkable in their auditions. They really do stand out as being dynamic, fun, and on-the-ball.
They were all quite special, unashamedly and ferociously intelligent. When you compare them to some of the airheads around now......
@guruDev they also had this ability to appear like they were nice guys in the meet and greets and performances/appearances. I think it helped their fan base to be loyal for years. Tbh I will say, much as I adore Peter, he definitely appeared to have his hot and cold moments. But honestly, putting on a happy face the whole time would be exhausting
@@nmtg I actually got to know Davy Jones in the later part of his life, he was always a nice guy. he died right after he had been ridding his beloved horse. A jokey in the end.. RIP Dave
Not to mention totally off the wall
The house they shot those scenes in looks exactly like the "Leave it to Beaver" house.
You can really see Davy and Micky's acting chemistry from the start! I am glad that the four that were picked were picked.
RIP Peter, thanks for everything.
rip mike nesmith sad
The delivery in those screen tests are remarkable. It really does make it quite clear about ability and charisma.
How will I ever find love or get married if my only true love is Michael Nesmith?!? He's the same age as my grandmother. Why is life so unfair!?
lol if you only knew how many feel the exact same way. Heartbreak
I know how you feel. My heart will always belong to Peter.
He was always my fave too.
Wow, I am a lot younger than Michael Nesmith. You cheered me up just knowing that my age is not a deterrent.
Well...maybe he can marry your grandmother and you could be his step granddaughter...That's one way to win...
Perfectly chosen. They had amazing chemistry and the best comedic timing. Mike is a genius!
Thank you guys for all of the laughter!
Your Music and Souls will live forever!
GOD HAS ALL OF THE BEST MUSICIAN
Peter always had such an innocent face 💜 RIP
I read he was married 4 times
Yeah, I saw that 😂 you can’t win them all I guess
Those DIMPLES!!!!!
@@cherrygarcia1 Haven't they all been married at least 3 times?
And the best body of the group, if we're being honest. I always thought his faux innocence dropped away completely whenever he had screen kisses. He would suddenly look like a guy who really knew what he was doing.
Micky: "I was a box boy at Forest Lawn."
Quick, subtle, and very funny. If you don't know, Forest Lawn is a large Los Angeles cemetery.
Its been a long time since I have heard any Forest Lawn jokes. This sounds like a Rodney Dangerfield line:)
Cool. Thanks so much for that.
i stood outside a drs office makin ppl sick lol
That was a great improv! Micky was the fastest on his feet; he had the most crack comic timing of all of the group.
Forest Lawn Cemetery existed long before Los Angeles existed .... There have been many Forest Lawn Cemeteries ..... That's where all the dead people live .....
There's something ridiculous attractive about mike nesmith.
Confidence and intelligence.
1971SuperLead Dark brown hair, slightly slanted eyes, perfectly straight nose, dimpled mouth, slim but not boney, chipper Texan accent, flawless skin, and the legs that go on forever. . .oh yes and he's confident and intelligent, but without the other attributes I listed, I don't know if I would pay him quite so much mind.
Hyperballad89 He's the heir to the whiteout fortune? So he really didn't need to do anything. He just like doing stuff.
Douglas John Liquid Paper didn't start making money until after The Monkees were famous. I wrote my first research paper for high school on an old typewriter in the early 90's. I didn't really know how to type and the whole thing was practically covered with white out. I had no clue it had anything to do with one of the Monkees. My parents finally bought a word processor after that.
GingerGilligan Michael's one physical flaw was his receding temples, which he cleverly disguised in the interview.
Mike was always (I thought) the coolest guy in the group, and these behind the scenes bits also show that he was hilariously clever.
+Classic Rock Kid he fought constantly w/the producers and directors. whtever good and wht made this show nesmith is to whom lots of the credit goes. he did not mind playing the fool but he wasn't a fool and because they tried to treat him as such he bucked. he wasn't abt to be jacked around by a bunch of bastards.
He was a genuine musical talent, too. The others could all hold their own when it came to musicianship, but Nesmith was working on a whole different level.
From the scene experiments, I thought he was the best actor, too. His timing and gestures were spot on and most natural.
I agree. His speech in the court scene of The Devil & Peter Tork is fantastic. Peter shines here as well. I think that they both could have had acting careers, especially Mike. He just has the "it" factor that only very few people have. Funny that they were the musicians in the band. That's not to take away from Micky & Davy, just that they had more experience with the camera/studio set up.
@@hux2000 Tork could play half a dozen instruments, was close friends with Stephen Stills and dated Cass Elliot
R.I.P. Peter Tork. The Monkees music is still relevant today...
@@TarcisioCGoes Interesting. You evidently have no idea of what you comment.
Most of their hits were written by Neil Diamond, by the way!
@@elkabong6429 And Carole King, and Carol Bayer Sager... Lots of great writers!
@@tlskeoch Great writers who wrote the music for this sitcom.
Except they never played any of it
Rip Mike, Davy and Peter! Always loved and remembered!❤🎶✌❤
How many of you recognize Mister Whipple from the old Charmin toilet paper commercials seen at 16:17?
Yes plz dt squeeze the charmin! Funny how even years later their faces stay on our minds
Good eye
Looked like he was squeezing the album
He was in some TV in 60s . Bit parts.
Don't squeeze the Charmin!
This is hysterical. I never saw this before, and when I was a kid, I LOVED these guys. Amazing how much brighter and natural sounding they are compared to the "also ran" actors. And Mr. Whipple in the record store at the end LOL
Mr. Whipple the Charmin squeezer.
That's who that was!!
@ 1:48 best ad-lib: "I was a failure."
I'd forgotten how droll and dryly amusing Nesmith was. Very off-beat, yet authentic, humor. Way ahead of the era, IMO
+Scott Evans I agree. Mike is very intelligent and talented. He had a natural talent for acting as well as music...
😅😅😅 I laugh out loud every time Mike says that. I wonder if they've ever gotten that answer before. 😊 He is very droll.
He was a Beatnik.
Humor did not exist in the 1960s. Very true.
@@zeltzamer4010 Tell that to Monty Python.
Holy cow, Mike Nesmith is drop dead gorgeous 😍🤤🤤
If they ever make a Monkees movie, Nat Wolff should play Mike.
Ok seriously, he should’ve had a cigarette in that first clip. We’re all desperate to see him smoke, right? No? Just me? Oh well. I understand if you don’t like it when he smokes. It’s very bad for your health. I have the need to watch his chest expand and watch him do some snaps!
Never realized until later in life what a great song writer Mike was!
I watched the monkees a lot when I was younger, and always really liked Mike and Peter.. but I never really noticed how devastatingly handsome Mike was. Jesus.
Taylor Lynn I know, right?
+Taylor Lynn Cutish... But he comes across as right up himself..
+Mehitabel no confidence
Truth
Mike is upsettingly gorgeous
Just a few years earlier Davy had appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" with the cast of "Oliver" (he played the Artful Dodger). It was the same show on which the Beatles first appeared on the Sullivan show.
@@thefonzkiss Also, Steve Marriott of Small Faces and Humble Pie fame played the Artful Dodger in Lionel Bart’s production of Oliver.
@@terrykrall Wtf has that got to do with what’s being discussed? Nothing.
@@thefonzkiss Fuck off asshole.
@@terrykrall Foul language.
@@thefonzkiss stfu
Who but Mike Nesmith would preen himself in front of a painting?
Looks like something John Lennon would have done as well
Silver Jag Or Frank Zappa. Hey, didn't Mike hang out with those guys? Iconoclasts of a feather, flock together.
Jack Grattan - you are correct. Mike did hang out with John Lennon a few times. In fact I read that the first time Mike and his wife Phyllis went to the UK, John and Cynthia Lennon invited the to stay at their house for a few days. How awesome was that? Would loved to have been a fly on the wall at that house. Lol.
Mike talked about that during his excellent interview on Gilbert Gottfried's podcast. Highly recommended.
Cool...I'll have to check that out.
Rest in peace Peter: '(
DIMPLES, GUITARS, GREAT SMILES.......THEY ARE ALL SO SUPER CUTE AND ADORABLE!!!!😘🤩🤩🤩😘😘
mike saying "why do they call that a light?"....brilliant comeback!!
Mickey is so very cute in his screentest...and what a smile!
13:27 is where you see the genius between Davy and Micky
+verywary bear yeah i caught tht too. they pulled it off the second ones were dead in the water.
they're the 2 that has lots of previous acting experience
I love Davie's "knock it off" 😀
Yes! I watched that scene half a dozen times! (But start a bit earlier ... at 13:22). Micky's facial expression when Davy says "We should help Vanessa" is a riot.
Micky swiping Davy's hat was a great touch, and Davy totally rolled with it.
Micky was always my favorite because I've always been drawn to the one's who make me smile. He seems like a lot of fun. I met in at a local deli in Huntingdon Valley PA earlier this year. He was nice but I didn't want to bother him while he was waiting for his meal. He was nice enough to have a picture taken with my friend and I.
Rip Peter Tork you will be missed 💕💕
They were all so naturally funny and comfortable with themselves.
In all seriousness, though, they really should help Vanessa.
she got hung up. you didn't hang her up. forget her, let's go surfing
Yeah, she's in trouble.
She's a groovy kid.
funny how everybody forgets about vanessa
But now she fails her X-ums an' all.
I like how Mike pretended to fix his hair by looking at the painting! Im gonna do that whenever I see a painting of some guy now.
Do it when you see a painting of some woman
I love this audition video! Rest in Peace, Peter!!
Mike Nesmith is so "Hawkeye-esque" (Alan Alda type) in the initial clip.
I will say, Raybert picked the right guys. The other applicants were mooks. Peter is a lot brighter than the character he played on the show---and a better actor than he's generally given credit for.
And he sang really well in that one bit, too.
+sneezepal Peter is my favorite Monkee, as far as comedy goes. To me, he was always this gentle funny soul. Then I met him in person and realized that none of that is an act. He is a gentle, funny soul, a true flower child.
I wouldn't say it sucked. I would say it's a testament to his acting ability. And it was a vital role for the chemistry of the show.
sneezepal MOOKS! Groovy man, groovy!
Peter used to sing in the folk clubs in Greenwich Village before he was a Monkee. He was actually recommended by Stephen Stills who had been rejected as a Monkee.
It truly is amazing. You can see the chemistry between the original monkees. There's even chemistry as they stand alone. You can see why the producers picked them. That's quite a job, finding the right people for a show.
People say that Peter is the dork who got lucky. But could you imagine any of the other guys with the Monkees? I think they knew Peter could do it and he was perfect for the part but here he was just nervous and overtime he'd grow comfortable with the other guys just like they did. Plus he just seems so innocent and good and sweet. My favorites were always mike and Peter.
LadyDominion. Each one had charisma. The chemistry was right.
I was born 1981 and grew up watching Monkees reruns on TV. Peter Tork was my first crush - I could never understand why everyone else loved Davy. They're all great though.
I always thought Peter was the funny one. Sort of like the Bob Newhart straight man feeding the other guys silly stuff to do.
@@suzybearheart530 I never understood the appeal of Davy. Peter was my favorite too. So sad that he passed. 😔
@@lusasilva8373 I had no idea when I watched this 4 days ago we were about to lose our sweet Peter. 😥 Sad that only two members are left.
Ahhh, Mike’s Texas accent sounds so sweet and his hat always put his look together! So hot 🥰
Nez was always my favorite right through to his solo stuff and early music videos. Elephant parts is a gem
I can see why they picked Nesmith he's hilarious
In the movie they made about them Mike brought a big bag of his laundry to an interview
@@michaelszczys8316 REALLY?
It is on YT now, just watched the other night. Excellent movie imo 'Head' way better than I was expecting, now I'm on a Monkees kick
David Tackett my thoughts exactly!
@Wayne Pitty Brother, what? Mike has a lovely voice and it's quite versatile. I've heard him credibly sing pop, rock, blues, doo wop, country, country rock, and bluegrass. He's also a great interpretive singer. If you go listen to him sing "Salesman," his vocal is so evocative, making you see pictures of all the items in the salesman's cart and he conveys the ironic humor behind the lyrics. He owns "What Am I Doing Hanging Round" too; no one sings it better. He's got the necessary pathos in his voice for it. I consider him to be the second best singer in the group after Micky.
Micky's so cute in a teenage-boy kind of way.
There's an undertow of Leonardo DiCaprio w/him. I see Nesmith, I think Nat Wolff.
I see Matthew Perry… ❤ can’t be serious for a second! ❤
wow, seeing the other guys in the mix, they really made the right choices ;)
The Monkees! They were THE GROOVIEST! They had talent to be sure and their personalities were really a breath of fresh air.To me, they were role models. Thank you fellas for the memories.This old lady had fun growing up with you!
Davy, Micky, Mike and Peter all just had the right chemistry together. They also later had proven they had great musical talent as well. Maybe someday, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can hold off inducting a Hip Hop star and put this band in where they belong.
It would have been nice to see it happen when the band's two actual musicians were still around to appreciate it. 💔
@@sharpeslass5452 And now, there's just Micky.
@@LarryLeeMoniz I know. I'm heartbroken. The Nez was my favourite. 💔
Only problem is they hardly wrote their own music, Neal diamond wrote a bunch of their hits. the ones they did write, well it was a bit strange, even for psychedelic rock.
@@Drummerchick2003 Elvis Presley didn't write a single song. They inducted him in 1986.
Wooooowwww. Peter is such a good guitar player 😁
Mike had his greatest moments here, and in the Fairy tale episode. They are all wonderful!
they certainly went with the right guys .
girlzeyeview
Me too
In the limited edition Blu-ray set of The Monkees T.V. series, the bonus disc has Davy, Micky, Mike & Peter's Screen tests, along with some of the other guys who weren't selected. Raybert obviously selected the right guys. The others had no charisma.
They had the best chemistry!
@@56dinosaur Is that not what this is?
Micky Dolenz, great personality, always smiling, best way to be if you can. Life is short
He's my favorite. He's so talented.
Having had his own tv show years before and been on probably 100s of auditions, and at this point was in 4 different pilots, he knew how to nail an audition. The way he grabbed Davy's hat from him at the door way would have clinched it for me.
He completely changed that scene. I love his acting form. True talent
@@Malachishouse The two of them together- Davy's reaction to Mickey stealing the hat was spot on.
That was fun seeing some other actors in these. It also made it evident why the four were chosen, they were all so natural and had such charisma right from the start. It was such a brilliant mix!
Grandkerr ï
Sometimes I wonder what happened to the other guys in the screen tests who weren’t chosen and where they ended up lol.
@@tonyafowler5122 Can you imagine being one of them, knowing they missed out on being a Monkee? Does anyone know who they were?
@@deekenny602 You know they had to have been like “man, I was SO CLOSE!” I’ve never seen any source stating who they were or what happened to them. I feel like this is a part of the Monkees story that has never been explored. Someone needs to track these guys down.
Wow, Nesmith has balls of steal to walk into the audition and play that kind of character. He killed it, but wow if they weren't feeling it or didn't get his character he could have made some very powerful people in the industry very mad.
Mike was the one who led the charge for the Monkees standing up to Don Kirshner. Mike was the one who blew up in Kirshner's office and made a scene.
But why are the questions so quiet?
Raybert didn't see themselves as establishment so it was okay and anyway, Mike did admit to having an ego problem.
Yes he said he was incredibly nervous and didn’t have a clue what he was doing .. but he did it pretty well!
@@timothyball742 Because the answers, my friend, are so very loud. ; )
That was super cool to watch. Very fun and sad at the same time. Back when the Beatles and the Monkees were new there was such a huge generation gap. War and politics further complicated relationships. Now looking back at footage like this it all seems like an age of innocence. It saddens me deeply to see this generation disappear one at a time as it does for every generation that came before it. These were just kids trying to learn their way through life and have fun. I for one had fun watching them do that in real time as it really happened. It was a great time to live in many ways. Now the future requires great faith. God will need to carry all of us from here on.
Mike: telling it like it is from day one. Thanks, Papa, for everything you gave us. We miss you.
miss you already, pete ♥️
omg, they're BABIES! adorable
You know Davy was a shoe-in. It seems like they wanted to hire him on the spot. I like Peter's audition the best.
Apparently he was the original one the show was developed for - at least according to an interview I just saw.
True. He was already signed to Columbia and released a solo record on the Colpix label (which eventually morphed into Colgems - The Monkees label their original records were released on). They were trying to find a suitable vehicle for him and The Monkees turned out to be it. IIRC, Davy in his autobiography claimed that one show they tried developing for him involved a British boy and his look-a-like American cousin getting into sitcom hi-jinks together. That became The Patty Duke Show. My guess would be Patty could do a better pseudo English accent than Davy could pull off an American one.
Mike also had a bit of an advantage since he was also signed to Colpix in 1965 (and recorded and released a few singles) and was performing at The Troubadour - where Bob Rafelson and Bert Schnieder saw him perform.
Davy was actually on the Ed Sullivan show the day the Beatles debuted on it.
Mickey and Davy were hired first. Mickey had been in a tv show called Circus Boy for 2 years. Davy had some acting in England before he came to America
Jones was an actor on broadway. He had already been nominated for a Tony for Oliver Twist. Pretty sure these tests were just a formality for him.
I'll never get over Peter and the alphabet
Way before BIG BIRD butchered it on sesame street 😂
Wow the other guys seem so wrong, they definitely picked the right four! Mike has so much attitude, he's hilarious. Peter's the sweetest ❤️ RIP Pete
ive known peter had aspergers for a while but only got diagnosed myself a few months back. ive been getting back into the monkees recently (been a fan for almost 5 years) and im now noticing all his little quirks and mannerisms and identifying with a lot of them. i have also seen him be misunderstood and misinterpreted by people for various reasons and i can relate to that too. he's become my favourite of the group. it's just cool to see someone like yourself represented in media like this. and he's just very funny and sweet :) love him so much
This is funny cause I always thought he came off as rude at times..stand offish to speak..this wud explain it
Where did you learn he was diagnosed with Aspergers?
@@kateroyce2699 Peter himself said so in a few interviews. Here's a quote from a 2008 interview:
""I suppose I am a bit of a techie at heart," he said. "But one thing I have discovered in recent years is that I suffer from Asperger's syndrome - a form of autism.
"There is a fanaticism and obsessiveness about me and my actions that appear to bear this out."
@@bowtoyoursensei554 Oh that's really interesting! I had no idea.
I am autistic (I have Classic Autism) and I am blown away by this fact that I am so sad we lost him in a year where autistics like me were being ignored by society and 2 years later we still are.
Oh. My. Goodness. Davy and mike were both drop dead gorgeous!! 😍😍😍
They look so young! Loved watching them & loved their music.. All are charming.
davy jones is such a sweet man
One of my favorite shows growing up in the 60's.
rest in peace peter, the monkee world will miss you forever x
Love the rare footage. Kisses to Mike!
Yes! Finally someone who actually appreciates mike!
Mike is gorgeous
Do you know any 18 year old today with a similar wit, banter and charm?
Or 15... for me, anyway 😂
kevvome sad...🎵
No not really, today's entertainment industry is looking to make money. Nothing else matters. Talentless computer loops, with some rhyming poetard talking into a mike, the kardashians, "reality bullshit tv" zero talent rules the music and the entertainment industry, with rare exceptions. Margo Price comes to mind as an exception.
Yes, but they don't get chosen if they don't a certain look. Don't be fooled. The people that made this show were out to make money, too. They just happened to luck out by wanting something "different"
The Guitar Geek compare their face to One direction HahahahahahHHHaaaaaa
Micky was just as cute as he could be.
I can see WHY they got the parts.
Davey stands out. He was modest and coherent. The others were musicians to a certain degree but Davey was an entertainer. He had the acting chops and the likability factor. He was doing it for years. The others were musicians to a degree and they all came together nicely. So sad only 2 are left.
Now, it’s only one.
at least mike was honest but still funny and cute, so was micky..."I had a good job at a doctor's office, I stood outside making people sick" PMSL
Mickey was a natural...this is so cool! They picked a fantastic four. :D
I know they pretty much had Davy Jones cast thanks to his experience as Artful Dodger in Oliver, but that scene at 13:22 between Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones had to have sealed the deal. That was artful physical comedy and great line delivery. I can't get over Mike Nesmith's entire interview. It was so ballsy and yet winning. I would have hired him right then and there. His reading scenes also came off very naturally and well. I actually thought the one guy strumming the guitar talking about Vanessa with Nesmith was really good and felt Peter Tork was actually sort of weak there. However, I can see why they hired Tork watching the other clips, and the guy who was good talking about "Vanessa" wasn't so good in the comedic bit about SJ being "feeble minded" and it seemed his facial expressions were limited. The other guys didn't really have much presence and seemed too generic in demeanor. The one guy doing the "Vanessa" bit with Tork seemed like he was acting in a melodrama. I wonder if he could have fit the tone better if the director told him to switch it up. Their line deliveries also left much to be desired. The four they chose really had charisma and something more.
I'll have to agree with you on the "take" with Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones. I thought the same thing when I saw it.
R.I.P. PETER TORK 💔
This is great. Had only seen edited versions before. In case anyone is wondering, that adorable kid with the very blonde hair is Michael Burns, who also carved out a nice career for himself during this era. Never knew he was up a Monkee.
The dark haired young man is Bill Chadwick.
Hilarious what they considered long hair compared to the 70s and 80s
Therefore it was more rebellious in the Sixties...
The long hair of the 70s was due to the 60s fight for the use of long hair. They had to fight against discrimination and derision. In the 80s unfortunately men started to use short hair again.
@@LauRa-re9un idk about short hair hair in the 80s-90s a lot of the rockstars of that era had long hair.
@@LauRa-re9un by the mid-70s short hair was in some circles a rebellion against the long-haired new "establishment" image in entertainment. Punk rock sticking up two fingers to aging hippies and prog rockers. And of course you had people like David Bowie (who could look good in anything) changing their images constantly, and hair length being one of the things they switched up.
They were looking for comedic flair & the boys had it!
Gaw! Mike at the beginning! makes me melt!!!
+Sho Mill Hahah ain't that the truth!!! 😍 such a cutie!
Yes! Lets not forget about him sticking his tongue out hahaha!
@girlzeyeview They are like headshots in motion (vs. a still photo), MOS (without sound), and the director or producer is giving them directions - turn to your left, turn to your right, act mad, act silly, etc., to see how they look in close up on camera.
Bless Mike Nesmith
I still live by that quote of his
“That’s you’re hang up man, I mean I know where it’s at” 💚
For not having been a professional actor before this, Mike is very good, always has a vulnerability to him. Micky and Davy definitely worked well together. Peter played it a little straight, probably nerves, but he always had an innocent look working for him, and they really did a good job of having four personalities and blending them together.
Actually Mike had a fair amount of stage acting experience prior to his Monkees audition. He had also traveled the country playing the folk club circuit so he was comfortable in front of an audience.
Loved watching their auditioning for The Monkees. I still watch their shows to this day and old enough to be a grandma!
They absolutely picked the right guys for this monkees bussiness
What a sad day yesterday. I came back to see these again….Was that Mike screaming OOH WOW ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? I never thought it was lol It didn’t sound like him. RIP sweetheart.
Davy's laugh...just the best. Such a sweet audition.
I like that he was the most respectful. But I was one of those starry-eyed, innocent tweens who looked up to the "white knight--or black knight--on a steed". I think having a good role model (at least for a while) was a vital thing back then--and should be now--but that is a lost art, it seems sadly. And I will say, sadly, I believe the fame thing went to the Monkees' head for a while. But they were and are human--still love their music, which was also "bubble gum." (Thank God to the producers, who didn't get credit for that, did they??)
Davy Jones was always my Favorite . RIP Davy !
Ugh, Mike! From the get-go, he became my favorite!
I know, ain't he adorable?!
I am a Davy girl, but seeing these clips, my heart just grew three sizes in the Nesmith direction
HalfKort naw micky is still my fave
I like Micky too!
I always preferred Peter. Understated actor.
Mickey dominated in the room with those two blonde guys. Talk a lot. That's the key.
i was thinking that might have been tommy boyce and bobby hart who wrote a lot of the monkees songs. it appears the scene started after they'd been playing a song.
@@DannyD714 And that is what gave The Monkees the "fake band" rap. It is also why they revolted against Boyce and Hart and their band doing the music for the show. After all they were already doing concerts by the end of the first season and Mike had already written (music and lyrics) a song that would become a top 20 hit, and went on to write "modern" C&W songs for his new band "The First National Band" that had hits as high as top ten in 1968. In 1982 he wrote the screenplay for and produced a funny ass movie-"Timerider:The Adventure of Lyle Swann". Fun fact: Nesmith also received the first ever Grammy for a music video-before MTV. Another fun fact: In 1967 a struggling British musician named "David/Davie Jones" decided he needed a new one since he was being confused with Davy Jones of The Monkees. His new name?-David Bowie.
Say the right things.
The guy with the straight blonde hair was Michael Burns, probably most famous for playing Blue Boy on Dragnet.
Boyce and Hart were songwriters, didn't have a band that recorded the Monkees songs. The famous session musicians recorded the tracks for the songs. And songs were written by many of the best songwriters, like Neil Diamond I'm a Believer. Boyce and Hart Last Train to Clarksville, Valleri, for example.
Do you know how freaking tempted I am to hear the Colonel Nesmith story.
OH, MIKE. OH, MY LOVE. OH BABY.
Thanks for this I saw The Monkees just a few years back surviving members.. they are TIMELESS.. thank you from NZ 👍🇳🇿🎵
This is priceless. I always wanted to know the story about how they were picked. This is the best part because it is so obvious why they were picked. RIP Davy Jones, and Peter Tork.