TV Show: The Monkees

Lows And Highs

The original edition of the pilot for “The Monkees” made television history. At the time, it broke the record for receiving the lowest ratings for a pilot since TV was invented.

However, the producers edited that pilot to include clips of Davy Jones’ and Michael Nesmith’s original screen tests at the show’s opening and that broadcast generated one of the highest test ratings of all time.

The Artful Dodger

When Davy Jones went off the public radar near the end of the first season, gossip quickly spread about the possibility of health problems. But Jones was fine.

The fact is, he fasted for three weeks after he got his military draft notice so he’d fail the physical and be spared. Crazy idea, but it worked like a charm and Jones was rejected.