Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees

The TV rock group (Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones) returns in this hodgepodge of music, skits and special effects. Written and directed by Nesmith. Songs include “Circle Sky,” “You and I” and “Antarctica,” as well as a medley of Monkees hits., The old axiom “Everything old is new again” was seldom truer than on February 17, 1997, when the Monkees, the four mop-topped Beatles clones who starred in their own popular musical-comedy series of the 1960s, were reunited in the 60-minute special Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees. Returning for more monkeyshines (albeit the middle-aged variety) were Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Michael Nesmith, who also wrote and directed the special. The fragmentary storyline finds the Monkees re-forming the act after thirty years, then preparing to perform at a posh country club. Of the supporting cast, only Chuck Woolery, who plays the boys’ manager,and footballer Joe Greene, playing a security guard, could be described as “name” performers. The musical highlights include the theme song for the original Monkees’ series, as well as “You and I”, “Circle Sky”, “Antarctica”, “Regional Girl”, and a closing medley of Monkees’ hits. Telecast in stereo, Hey, Hey It’s the Monkees originally aired on February 17, 1997, as a lead-in to ABC’s coverage of the 11th annual American Comedy Awards.