Through The Looking Glass
The best of Nez on screen, by Bill Holdship.
Fairy Tale (1968; The Monkees TV series)
They could do comedy alongside the best of them – and this episode, Nesmith’s favourite, proved it. A zany and hilarious fractured Grimm fairy-tale featuring Nesmith in dual roles as a cobbler and, better still, in drag as Princess Gwen. Bonus points for concluding with a performance of Nez’s psychedelic masterwork, Daily Nightly.
The Monkees Blow Their Minds (1968; The Monkees TV series)
The title says it all. But this secondto-final episode remains most notable for its opening sequence which features Nesmith impersonating Frank Zappa, a longtime champion of the Prefabbers, and vice versa before they destroy a car with a sledgehammer to the strains of Mother People. Pretty hip ‘teenybopper’ fare for 1968!
Head (1968; feature film)
The scene of The Monkees’ symbolic “image suicide” (as creator Bob Rafelson still maintains). Nez believed they deserved writing credits alongside Jack Nicholson, as they reconfirmed their comedic chops, recreating numerous old-time Hollywood film genres, and their musical chops, performing Nesmith’s great Circle Sky live. A commercial failure that’s now considered a psychedelic classic.
Elephant Parts (1981; home video)
Recipient of the first home video Grammy, this hodge-podge of comedy skits and music videos, including Nesmith’s much-loved Rio, was a forerunner to PopClips, a 1981 weekly music video programme, and 1985’s short-lived Television Parts. Warner Music wanted to buy the rights to PopClips. When Nez refused, they created MTV instead, using his model.
Hey, Hey, It’s The Monkees (1997; network TV special)
Written and directed by Nez, The Monkees’ last team film project recreated the ’60s sitcom, presenting them as still trying to “make it” in modern times. Endearing and hilarious in parts, it lampoons them as individuals almost as much as Head did – but in a more loving and tongue-in-cheek way.
Portlandia: 3D Printer (2014; TV series)
Nesmith turned up in the fourth season of the hipster-roasting cable comedy series, portraying the wealthy father of Portland’s mayor (Kyle MacLachlan) who wants Dad to continue covering city expenses. Zaniness ensues. A perfect fit for Nez irreverence, demonstrating that this Renaissance Man maintained his acting flair decades after The Monkees ended.