Why The Monkees Matter

<p> A hit television show about a fictitious rock band <I>The Monkees</I> (1966-1968) earned two Emmys--Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy.</p><p> Capitalizing on the show's success the <I>actual</I> band formed by the actors at their peak sold more albums than The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined and set the stage for other musical TV characters from <I>The Partridge Family</I> to <I>Hannah Montana</I>. In the late 1980s the Monkees began a series of reunion tours that continued into their 50th anniversary.</p><p> This book tells the story of <I>The Monkees</I> and how the show changed television introducing a new generation to the fourth-wall-breaking slapstick created by Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers.</p><p> Its creators contributed to the innovative film and television of 1970s with projects like <I>Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice The Mary Tyler Moore Show Laugh-In</I> and <I>Welcome Back Kotter</I>. Immense profits from the show its music and its merchandising funded the producers' move into films such as <I>Head Easy Rider</I> and <I>Five Easy Pieces</I>.</p>