Every ‘Monkees’ Episode: “The Case of the Missing Monkee” (S1E17)
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: “The Case of the Missing Monkee” (Season 1, Episode 17)
Air date: January 9, 1967
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTTEFwORmWk
After taking a bit of a holiday break last week (which, as we’ll see, was a rarity for showrunners), “The Case of the Missing Monkee” kicked off The Monkees TV series in 1967, a pivotal and monumental year both for the show and for the four principal actors. This year, they would prove their mettle not only on their abilities to portray a rock band, but would actually morph into a real, live act, determined to take control of their creative destiny.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Onto the episode!
The Monkees are performing at a banquet to honor Professor Schnitzler, a nuclear scientist, who declares, “War is war, and peace is peace, and science is science!” Moved by his words, Peter tells the Professor how much he enjoyed his speech and shakes his hand, only to be interrupted by the evil Dr. Marcovich who takes the guest of honor to meet someone else. (Interestingly, legendary character actor Vito Scotti, who portrays Marcovich, would guest on a variety of other 1960s’ sitcoms, and also appear in the Monkees’ feature film, Head.)
Peter discovers a mysterious note in his hand from the professor, which reads, “They are taking me to the Remington Clinic” and tries to share this warning with his bandmates, who dismiss him. When Peter goes to search for the professor, he is clubbed on the head and dragged away — hence becoming the titular “missing Monkee.”
While searching for Peter, Mike remembers the note, which now reads, “I am being taken to the Remington Clinic.” Inconsistency aside, the boys arrive at the clinic, and the nurse at the front desk suggests they go to the police. They return to the French restaurant with a policeman, only to find it’s been changed into a Chinese establishment, complete with Marcovich in a very un-PC disguise.
Micky, Mike, and Davy head back to the Remington Clinic claiming Davy has been in an accident in order to sneak inside. Faking a cough, the nurse offers Davy a cough drop, adding, “I’d see a doctor about that cough.” Not sure what’s in these cough drops, but Davy breaks into an impromptu performance of “Old Folks At Home (Way Down Upon the Swanee River).” The boys resort to climbing up a ladder before reaching the rehab room and disguising themselves as patients.
After Peter learns of the doctor’s plans to transport the professor out of the country, the doctor uses a ray gun to give him temporary amnesia, and Bruno, the doctor’s assistant, portrayed by future Oscar nominee Vincent Gardenia, treats the boys to a physical-therapy session.
After Bruno leaves, Mike answers a ringing phone and gives the caller a play-by-play of what’s happening. When Micky asks if that was the police, Mike replies, “No, it was TV Guide!” Ironically, the four Monkees will appear on the cover of the magazine in a few weeks.
Eventually, the boys find Peter who solemnly declares that he has never seen them before in his life, obviously suffering the effects of Marcovich’s ray gun. After a few attempts, his friends shock the amnesia out of Peter and find the professor, sending him away to safety.
At this point the masters of the quick-change swap-out, Micky takes on the role of the professor and Mike a doctor. Micky’s brought to the surgery on a gurney wearing a gas mask, and Mike checks a nearby menu from Vincent Van Gogh Gogh, the discotheque from “Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers,” to verify he is, in fact, his patient.
As Marcovich and Mike struggle over the gurney, Micky’s ruse is exposed, leading into this episode’s romp. When “The Case of the Missing Monkee” aired, “I’m a Believer” was the #1 song in the US. “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone,” featured here, was its B-side and would prove to be another monster hit for the group.
The romp itself would become iconic and inspire parodies on future sitcoms like Family Guy.
The Monkees, Marcovich and Bruno chase each other throughout the clinic, resulting in our heroes tying up our villains and saving the day. The grateful professor thanks the boys, and they pile into the Monkeemobile — which gets its first official name-check in this episode.
The same day “The Case of the Missing Monkee” aired, the group’s second album, More of the Monkees, was released. Although it displaced their debut album from the top of the charts, it would be a catalyst for the four actors’ revolution against the creative powers behind the fictional band’s music. They were enraged at its tracks and the cover — a photo taken to promote a line of clothes for JC Penney.
And, as we’ll see, the actors’ complacency to make a musical-spy-slapstick-adventure sitcom would soon wane as well as the show moves into season two later this year.
