Every ‘Monkees’ Episode: “Success Story” (S1E6)
This past summer, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Monkees as a band by counting down our top 50 Monkees songs. Now, we’re celebrating The Monkees TV show by profiling each and every episode — exactly 50 years after it first premiered.
Tonight’s Episode: “Success Story” (Season 1, Episode 6)
Air Date: October 17, 1966
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAsRVGEAUwM
This visit with the Monkees begins with Davy, Peter, and Micky donning their matching beachwear and playing cards with their live-in dummy, Mr. Schneider, aka, their “advisor.” Mike enters followed by a messenger who asks, “Which one of you guys is Davy Jones?”
“I am,” they all reply.
“I got a wire collect.”
“He is,” they answer, pointing to each other — a great example of the boys’ comedic timing.
Davy claims the telegram and is told the fee is $1.80. Mike tells the messenger to get the money from Mr. Schneider, who speaks for the first time in the series, paraphrasing George Bernard Shaw with, “It’s a shame to waste youth on children.”
Davy reads the telegram and informs his band mates that his grandfather is arriving that evening at six. Since the guys are confused as to why Davy isn’t excited, Mike asks why. We cut to a scene of Grandfather at the airport boasting to another gentleman that Davy is a big star.
Although he didn’t want him to go to America, he’s pleased that things have worked out well for him. If the grandfather appears familiar, it is probably because he is British actor Ben Wright, who portrays Herr Zeller in the movie The Sound of Music.
Davy confesses that if his grandfather sees he’s not a success, he’ll be forced to leave the group and return to England; the other boys agree to make him appear rich and famous.
First up, Micky informs a random wealthy man that his Rolls Royce needs fixing, so he “borrows” it to make repairs. Next, Mike gets a job at an Italian restaurant for one shift so he can obtain a chef’s uniform. Back at the pad, the messenger is still arguing with Mr. Schneider, and Micky convinces him to change clothes to demonstrate how to get the money out of him and the uniform for himself.
Back outside, Peter approaches an ice cream salesman (originally written as “Sam the Hot Dog Man”) who asks him what flavor he would like. When he runs out of flavors (all four of them), he confesses that’s all he’s got unless he wants the shirt off his back. Peter nods, and the man gives in. Now shirtless, he’s bombarded with customers.
Another famous comedian, Charles Callas, who plays the salesman, began his career as a drummer for Tommy Dorsey (among others) and would later be seen in the Mel Brooks movies High Anxiety and History Of The World, Part 1.
After Davy reviews the plan with his chauffeur (Micky), his personal chef (Mike), and his devoted houseboy (Peter), the boys pick up Grandfather at the airport where Mike dons several disguises to get Davy’s autograph, and Peter poses as a photographer.
A random woman tells her friend that this boy must be a celebrity, and she also asks for his autograph. Credited as “Old Woman,” Ceil Cabot would appear in Herbie Goes Bananas and several cameos in many more TV comedies. She and Micky share something in common – March 8 is their birthday!
Micky drives them back to their apartment where Grandfather enjoys his meal, but Davy’s is made of rubber since they could only afford one serving.
The deception is going along well until a neighbor barges in to borrow some hot dogs and declares the boys’ cupboard barer than hers. Things continue to unravel when the messenger returns to re-claim his suit, the restaurant owner his chef’s outfit, the man his Rolls (“the bakery is next door,” answers Peter), and the salesman his jacket. However, the messenger is now shirtless, and not the salesman? After the lights go out, the jig is clearly up, and Grandfather announces he is going back to England, and he is taking Davy with him.
Davy apologizes to his grandfather for lying to him and takes a final walk along the beach to reflect the memories of the good times he’s shared with his new friends to “I Wanna Be Free.” Although never released as a single in the US, the Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart ballad would become a concert favorite. This is a surprisingly emotional segment six episodes into the series, but don’t put the tissues away yet!
After the song, we see a sharply dressed Davy descend the stairs to bid farewell to his mates who await him at the bottom. When he tells an uncharacteristically quiet Micky that he hates goodbyes, his friend comes back with, “Okay, welcome to America, Davy.” They shake hands, and Micky steps back. This is a rare Monkees moment. This scene is not played for laughs; nor is it performed with irony.
Mike is next who quietly instructs Davy to “be good.” They hug, and Mike steps to the side. Finally, Peter hands Davy a parachute “in case he changes his mind on the plane.” They hug as well.
“It’s going to be good to see England again,” a teary-eyed Davy lies before he exits the apartment. It’s a great moment to see the characters gel and their friendship securely confirmed.
At the airport, a solemn Davy needs to be alone while the remaining, crying Monkees come up with a plan to prevent Davy from making his flight. Another Monkees romp ensues, but this time with more riding on it. The boys don several disguises in an attempt to deter Grandfather from boarding the plane, including Peter taking the luggage to Micky as ticket man. On the departures board behind him, Clarksville and Los Gatos (where Micky’s family lives) can be read briefly.
Grandfather sees through the band’s shenanigans and informs Davy that he feels comfortable leaving him in the hands of his three loyal friends. When Davy admits that his grandfather will have a long, lonely trip back, he learns that the “Old Woman” from the previous scene is going back to England with him!
The Monkees are now hanging out at a local park where Micky admits that they should have played for Grandfather in the first place if they had wanted to impress him. They perform “Sweet Young Thing” (co-written by Mike Nesmith, Gerry Goffin, and Carole King), and a group of elders play and dance with them. This song and Nesmith’s “Papa Gene’s Blues” appear on the debut album, released 50 years ago last week.
Davy can stay in America with his band mates, and all is right with the world!
