{"id":15661,"date":"2010-04-24T17:52:47","date_gmt":"2010-04-25T00:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mehallo.com\/blog\/?p=15661"},"modified":"2010-04-25T15:33:40","modified_gmt":"2010-04-25T22:33:40","slug":"the-new-monkees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mehallo.com\/blog\/archives\/15661","title":{"rendered":"The New Monkees experiment"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nMusic video for New Monkees’ Do It Again, 1987<\/em><\/p>\n

‘You love them or you hate them or you may not know who the hell they are.’ -ChildOThe80s<\/em><\/p>\n

Back in 1986, producer Steve Blauner realized he owned the rights to The Monkees.<\/a> <\/p>\n

And he came to this mode of thinking: <\/p>\n

We built the original Monkees from scratch – let’s create a New Monkees for a new generation.<\/em><\/p>\n

How hard could it be? <\/p>\n

   <\/p>\n

out old, in new<\/strong>
\nThe 1980s were very retro, but in a post-modern, reference the past but use it differently<\/em> sort of way. <\/p>\n

First there was New Coke,<\/a> waiting in the wings was Star Trek: The Next Generation<\/a>,<\/em> a new Sea Hunt<\/em><\/a>, Gidget<\/a><\/em>, Superboy.<\/a> All with an 80s twist.<\/p>\n

And by 1987, there was the New Monkees<\/a> – a syndicated half hour comedy show AND a pop band with 80s flair. And I do mean flair. The overall look of the New Monkees – the design (logo above) – cobbled together various forms of graphic design of the day, new wave, MTV-fueled excess.<\/p>\n

If it were popular at the time, it became part of the show. And everything was staged, programmed. What could possibly go wrong?<\/em><\/p>\n

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\nNew Monkees presentation reel, part one<\/em><\/p>\n

Within 13 weeks (a short time back then), the show was canceled. It was a train wreck<\/a> to say the least. And just about everyone involved sort of buried the thing. Like it never existed.<\/p>\n

There’s nothing to see here, move along. Go about your business, people.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here’s an article that breaks it down.<\/a> What happened, who was involved – and some of the pop tracks.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

a poppy album<\/strong>
\nYeah, so their album wasn’t so bad. <\/p>\n

Believe it or not. Not great, but not bad. Synth-pop. I actually had it on cassette, just out of curiosity. If you want a copy today, it’s going for upwards of 60 bucks.<\/a> Cause no one bought it. <\/p>\n

80s sounds, great writers\/producers behind the scene. It’s now a cult classic with online fans rediscovering this under-the-radar, odd rethinking of a classic.<\/p>\n

Just, please, no one start airing reruns. <\/em>The show was really, really bad.<\/em><\/p>\n

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\nMusic video for New Monkees’ What I Want, 1987<\/em><\/p>\n

programmed world<\/strong>
\nBack in 1987, I remember watching all this unfold. It was all so bizarre.<\/p>\n

But not too bizarre. It predates Milli and Vanilli and Jessica and Ashlee and every other cobbled together pop sensation. <\/p>\n

I don’t see too much of a difference. The producers were really honest that they were running things. Tho I think that was one of the (many) reasons they were done in. <\/p>\n

The main flaw was they were perceived as ‘replacements’ for the original Monkees – as opposed to The Next Group with the name. Purists really hate stuff like that.<\/p>\n

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\nAt a dinner party, the New Monkees break into song, 2007<\/em><\/p>\n

today<\/strong>
\nStill, not many know about them. But if you want more, start here.<\/a> Dino (the drummer) has videos posted here.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Buckle up and set the Delorean for 1987.<\/p>\n\r\n\t

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