Fans of VH-1’s “Behind the Music” already know the story of the Monkees, the “pre-fab” 1960s television pop music group that had hits “I’m a Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville” and others.
So there probably won’t be anything surprising about “Daydream Believers: The Monkees Story,” VH-1’s made-for-TV account of the quartet, which premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m.
What may come as an interesting creative choice, however, is where the film leaves off. “Daydream Believers” ends just as the Monkees had their NBC series canceled in 1968, after only two years on the air.
Many know the group has a fairly interesting history that continued after the TV show, including Mike Nesmith’s split from bandmates Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz.
Nesmith, who went on to basically invent the music video format, didn’t want to have much to do with attempts to regroup and jump on the nostalgia bandwagon.
The actor who played Davy Jones thinks it might have been best to let sleeping Monkees lie.
“We were basically telling the rise and the fall of the Monkees that we all knew,” says 20-year-old George Stanchev, who at 5-feet, 7-inches tall almost lost the role because he is five inches taller than the real Davy.
“These four regular guys were thrown together, and made it into a TV show. And all they wanted to do was make the best of it. The problem is behind the scenes, each one of them wanted to do something different with it, and that’s what eventually tore them apart.”
Original Monkee Peter Tork says he basically agrees with the producers’ decision to stay within the time frame of the Monkees formation, success and cancellation of their series. But he might have made a change if given the chance.
“I probably wouldn’t have gone much further than they did at all,” says Tork, 58. “The big difference is I would have put it much more in the context of the `60s as a whole. What you’ve got here is the story of a bunch of guys who got themselves put together, and struggled to express their individuality.”
Tork, who fronts the blues band Shoe Suede Blues, wasn’t a consultant, although producers did run the script by him for accuracy. And he admits he let an error get past him.
There is a scene where “Davy” and “Peter” argue over the lyrics of “Daydream Believer,” where at one point “Peter” slugs “Davy.”
“In fact, Davy hit me first,” Tork corrects.
He’s outta bounds: If anything, the premiere of ABC’s “Monday Night Football” promises to deliver monster ratings, because so many will be eager to see what new commentator Dennis Miller has to say.
The Emmy-winning comedian was selected by ABC Sports to work the broadcast booth alongside Al Michaels and NFL Hall-of-Famer Dan Fouts, another newcomer.
At first blush, it sounds like an odd choice. But Miller is actually a sports nut who is adept and intelligent enough to gab on and on about any facet about any game. Plus, he has a sharp, think-on-your-feet wit.
But Miller, who is arguably one of the sharpest and most insightful comics around, can also come off as smug, condescending and more than a little arrogant.
If fans aren’t pleased with the choice, Howard Cosell is probably chuckling somewhere.
Pulling the plug: Aaron Sorkin has given up on “Sports Night.”
The producer had wanted the smart comedy about an ESPNish sports television show to go to HBO after ABC canceled it in May, but a deal couldn’t be reached.
“We are tremendously proud of the two seasons’ worth of episodes that aired,” Sorkin and executive producer Thomas Schlamme said in a statement, “and felt committed to reviving the show only if this creative integrity could continue. When we considered everything involved in making this happen, we felt it best for `Sports Night’ to remain untarnished creatively.”
Translation: The money needed to make the comedy wasn’t there.
Burrowing for a hit: “The Mole” is yet another attempt by a network to rip off an overseas TV concept. This one will go to ABC.
Ten contestants embark on a series of extreme tasks (in Europe they ranged from bullfighting to bungee-jumping) for money. But one of the players is secretly working against the team to ensure that it fails, hence the title. The others in the group must also try to find out the betrayer’s identity.
There is no time for when “The Mole” hits ABC’s schedule . . . or how much insurance the network will buy if someone gets hurt due to the “mole’s” undercover shenanigans.
Replacing the irreplaceable: With filming set to begin Aug. 1, there is no word on how HBO’s “The Sopranos” will deal with the absence of Nancy Marchand, who played scheming matriarch Livia Soprano. Marchand passed away on June 18.
The New York Post reported there is a planned funeral scene, but HBO says no other decisions have been made about how the series will deal with the character.
But chances are another actress will never step into Livia’s deliciously manipulative shoes. The character is one that can’t be replaced, just like Marchand’s riveting performance in the role could never be duplicated.
It would be best if Livia were allowed to finally rest in peace, and let the consequences of his mother’s death shadow conflicted mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) during the third season of the series, which is expected to kick off sometime in March.
