“MOVIES WITH…,” a new one-hour weekly podcast series, debuted last month, the first episode featuring Micky Dolenz, last surviving member of The Monkees. The shows, produced by the NJR Media Group, feature three veterans from the film industry – writer/producer Jeffrey Sherman, former Lucasfilm executive Norma Garcia and tech expert Rich Reid – in discussion with a different entertainment celebrity each Monday.
Sherman and Dolenz have been friends for three decades, so the first episode (March 11) was particularly juicy. Future “MOVIES WITH…” podcasts will include actor Rob Morrow (“Northern Exposure”), and other Hollywood industry insiders including Terri Nunn, Don Hahn, Nancy Allen and more. Episodes are available on Apple, Spotify and Amazon podcast platforms:
Classic rockers certainly know of The Monkees. In the 1960s, they were stars of a hit television comedy series on NBC about four musicians living in a Malibu beach house trying to make it in the way of The Beatles – Peter Tork, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Dolenz.
The series took off unexpectedly, becoming so popular that the actor/musicians hit the road to tour, with requisite screaming girls in the audience and, get this, Jimi Hendrix as an opening act. The Monkees sold tens of millions of records with hits like “Daydream Believer,” “Last Train To Clarksville” and “I’m A Believer” (no, it wasn’t Smash Mouth from the 2005 movie “Shrek” who originally performed it – it was The Monkees).
Seven decades later, the campy TV show, which ran in primetime for just two years (1966-1968) still airs on YouTube and cable networks, and the hit songs still play on the radio. Three of The Monkees sadly have passed – Dolenz, 79, is the last remaining member.
To get a feel for the kind of questions asked on “MOVIES WITH…,” we posed five of our own to Dolenz and Sherman. Each answered the same question independently, Dolenz by phone, Sherman by email. Following are edited excerpts from their responses.
Jeffrey Sherman: I had previously gotten first Micky, then Peter Tork, to guest star on, “Boy Meets World.” For sweeps week, I thought it would be cool to get The Monkees back together on our show and have them perform. When I brought it up with Micky, he smiled and said, “Good luck.” The four Monkees hadn’t all been together for over a decade.
With Micky’s help, I managed to get Peter and Davy [Jones] to sign on. Mike [Nesmith] abstained, but actually showed up for tape night to receive platinum records with the other three – and take photos! The four spoke backstage, and that launched their brief 1997 reunion tour. Indeed the BOW episode, “Rave On!” was one of the highest-rated in the seven seasons of our show. I got to be in the recording studio and watch Micky, Davy and Peter lay down vocal and musical tracks. Wow. They were brilliant!
Micky Dolenz: “Boy Meets World” was was a big show at the time, huge. And right within our [The Monkees] demographic. And I, of course, had a long relationship with Jeff. I was actually supposed to direct an episode of the show, which I eventually did. Peter, David and I were already on tour at the time, without Mike. So doing the show just sounded like a good idea. Management got everyone together and talked the other two into it. As for a fond memory, that was a long time ago [laughs]. Hmm, let me think. Here’s what you can say: “They tell me I had a good time.” How about that?
Clash: Tell me something nobody knows about you?
Dolenz: By this time – I’m 79 years old and have been in [show] business since I was 10 – there ain’t much [laughs]. Almost my entire life has been documented. What few people know is of my interest in science, particularly physics, and within that quantum physics and relativity. It’s not something I market, or do podcasts about, but it is a big hobby. I got interested in it in ninth grade through a great teacher, Mr. Mack. I also like camping and fishing, and wilderness trekking, but lots of people know about that.
Sherman: I’ve been a composer and songwriter all my life, in the tradition of my father, uncle and grandfather. It’s my true deep, secret passion. I’ve always snuck songs in here and there in my TV and film work, and quietly released five albums of original compositions. Later this year, there will be a symphonic concert of some of my favorite pieces. I haven’t even told Micky.
Clash: What’s the difference between acting and singing?
Sherman: I don’t act, and you really don’t want to hear me sing [laughs]. I’ll leave that question to Micky!
Dolenz: It’s pretty self-evident. Let’s take a sport, say baseball. With a left-fielder, what’s the difference between catching the ball and hitting it? Some players are better at one, some at the other. But they do both. Singing and acting are both performing. Some performers are better at singing than acting, and vice versa. If you ask me which I prefer, I can’t really say. What I will say is if I’m attracted to a project – in the case of acting, a script, with singing the lyrics and melody – it’s the quality of the project. That’s the main factor I use when deciding if I’ll do it.
Clash: What do you two like most about working together?
Sherman: The main connective tissue between Micky and myself is that we are both from show business families, look at the business differently – namely, as a business where we get to create.
Micky’s constant curiosity, wild imagination and loving soul are exciting and inspiring to be around. I really love our creative sessions. We have a shorthand that comes from our backgrounds and 30-plus-year friendship and passion for creating uplifting stories and characters. We both enjoy uplifting people, mentoring and charity. And that’s what this podcast is all about.
Dolenz: I’ve worked with people who are incredibly talented but aren’t a lot of fun to be around, let’s say off-duty. And we do come up with great stuff. Then there’s people maybe not so talented – like me [laughs] – but they’re fun to be around. We also get great stuff. Jeff is a combination of both. He’s fun to be around and incredibly talented.
Clash: What was most fun about doing the new “MOVIES WITH…” podcasts?
Dolenz: I’ve done many podcasts, and I don’t tend to do them unless they’re really special. In fact, you can call an interview – what you and I are doing right now – a podcast if you record and post it on the internet. I only taped one episode of the “MOVIES WITH…” series – there are other guests each week – but, from my perspective, the theme of the podcast is a very good one.
Sherman: The coolest thing for me is being able to share what I’ve been blessed with all of my life – fascinating, multi-dimensional and inspiring conversations with friends like Micky, Terri Nunn, Rob Morrow, Don Hahn, Nancy Allen, as well as stars and creatives from “Boy Meets World,” major producers, executives, composers, writers, directors, as well as genius folks behind George Lucas’ productions.
We’re reuniting iconic casts, even interviewing three of the four Jan. 6 hero officers that testified before Congress. Revealing the relatable sides of these bigger-than-life icons – their passions and philanthropic work, discussing their tools and strategies for success, demystifies the entertainment industry and provides a path for fulfillment and happiness in show business – or in any endeavor.
