TV Show: The Monkees

Don’t Call Me That

Michael Nesmith showed up for his audition wearing a wool hat to keep his hair from blocking his vision as he rode his motorcycle to the studio.

The producers admitted the hat attracted their attention. But when people started calling Nesmith “Wool Hat,” he expressed his dissatisfaction with the moniker and it quickly disappeared.

Breaking Bonds

The singing group called the Monkees formally parted ways in 1970, two years subsequent to the show’s cancellation.

Tork actually left at the end of 1968 by exercising an opt-out clause in their first contract. Nesmith paid $500K to leave in 1969. Jones resumed his solo career, and many teased that Dolenz would live on as “The Monkee.”