Monkee Magic: a Book about a TV Show about a Band

Before the first gold record, before the first concert tour, before the Monkees racked up four number-one albums in a single year and outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, THE MONKEES was a half-hour TV show, airing Monday nights on NBC. Join a nostalgic viewer as she rediscovers the magical series of her childhood, exploring the episodes with a warm heart, a critical eye and a sentimental sensibility. From teeny bopper bubblegum to psychedelic experimentation, from matching blue eight-button shirts to eye-popping paisley, from playful romps to sophisticated performance videos, watch the sideburns grow and the love beads multiply as the revolutionary, rebellious little rock ‘n’ roll TV show cheerfully pokes the corporate network television machine and paves the way for boy bands, MTV and American Idol.

Monkee Magic: a Book about a TV Show about a Band provides insightful commentary about all 58 episodes of the original Monkees television series, as well as the feature film Head and the group’s two stand-alone TV specials. With a wry sense of humor and just a little bit of affectionate snark, the author notes comedy highlights, running gags, nitpicks, obscure cultural references and inside jokes. It’s a fresh view, a provocative analysis and a whimsical journey for dedicated Monkees fans and nostalgic boomers alike.

Iain Lee, broadcaster and Monkee Maniac: At last, THE MONKEES TV series is given the respect and the detailed study it has long deserved. While their music is seen by many as timeless and classic, the onscreen antics of the pre-fab four have been criminally overlooked. Now the groundbreaking and innovative show is gathered together in one well written and passionate book.