Título: The Monkees
Seção: Beyond television
Background: The Monkees were an American rock and pop band originally active between 1966 and 1971, with subsequent reunion albums and tours in the decades that followed. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees which aired from 1966 to 1968. The musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork; and British actor and singer Davy Jones.

Conteúdo: During the filming of the second season, the band became tired of scripts which they deemed monotonous and stale. They had already succeeded in eliminating the laugh track (a then-standard on American sitcoms), with the bulk of Season 2 episodes airing minus the canned chuckles. They proposed switching the format of the series to become more like a variety show, with musical guests and live performances. This desire was partially fulfilled within some second-season episodes, with guest stars like musicians Frank Zappa, Tim Buckley and Charlie Smalls (composer of The Wiz) performing on the show. However, NBC was not interested in eliminating the existing format, and the group (except for Peter) had little desire to continue for a third season. Tork said in DVD commentary that everyone had developed such difficult personalities that the big-name stars invited as guests on the show would invariably leave the experience "hating everybody". Screen Gems and NBC went ahead with the existing format anyway, commissioning Monkees writers Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso to create a straight-comedy, no-music half-hour in the Monkees mold; a pilot episode was filmed with the then-popular nightclub act the Pickle Brothers. The pilot had the same energy and pace of The Monkees, but never became a series. In June 1968, Music Supervisor Lester Sill chose to release the two non-album tracks "D.W. Washburn" b/w "It's Nice To Be With You" as the Monkees' next single. The Leiber/Stoller-penned A-si

user: Were they on TV?

assistant: During the filming of the second season, the band became tired of scripts which they deemed monotonous and stale.

user: What happened in the second season?

assistant: the band became tired of scripts which they deemed monotonous and stale.

user: What else was going on in that season?

assistant: They proposed switching the format of the series to become more like a variety show, with musical guests and live performances.

user: Why did they get rid of the laugh tracks?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did the band members say anything about the second season?

assistant: They proposed switching the format of the series to become more like a variety show,

user: So they grew apart or something?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did they end up leaving the show?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did they have any songs released form this season?

assistant: In June 1968, Music Supervisor Lester Sill chose to release the two non-album tracks "D.W. Washburn" b/w "It's Nice To Be With You" as the Monkees' next single.

user: Were there other songs?

assistant: "It's Nice To Be With You"

user: Were these songs popular?

assistant: The Leiber/Stoller-penned A-side would break into the Top 20, peaking at No. 19 on the charts.

user: When were these songs released?

assistant: June 1968,