User Reviews

It's been more than 20 years since I first became a fan of the Monkees TV show. At that time, the late Eighties, the program was already twenty years old, which seemed like an eternity to me at the time. Nowadays the opposite applies as I find myself amazed at how young the four guys were at the time (in their early twenties). Also, I really didn't get some of the more 'far out' episodes that graced the second season the first time I saw them, but by the second or third viewing these psychedelic episodes had become some of my all time favorites. Although this Christmas show isn't particularly trippy, there are a few instances in which the Monkees attempt to break some Television barriers of the Sixties, but more on that in the third paragraph.

The Monkees are hired to babysit rich kid Melvin Vandersnoot (played by the one and only original Eddie Munster) and are set to earn a hundred bucks a piece for ten days. Mickey, Peter, Davy and Mike take the boy home and begin acting even more like big children than usual, only to find little Melvin (who is almost as big as Davy) unwilling to have fun. The four guys do their best to teach him the meaning of Christmas, only to be shocked when he replies with a 'Humbug'. Even though he is smart as a computer, the poor kid is unable to smile. The Monkees are also forced to spend all of their 400 dollars on damage repair and doctors bills owing to the predicaments they get themselves in.

When a disillusioned Melvin goes home to the empty Vandersnoot mansion, it finally hits Mike what they've been doing wrong: they haven't shown the boy any love and caring. So Mick and Dave dress up as Santa and an Elf while Petey and Mike bring over their Christmas tree to Melvin's home. When all four burst out in 'Deck the Halls', Santa and his little helper hilariously put extra emphasis on the word 'gay' (as in gay and merry). Later on Davy refers to somebody as a 'poof' (this probably got past the censors because they didn't know what he was talking about) and earlier in the show, Melvin says 'Dickens' in such a derogative manner aimed at the Monkees that it almost sounds like he's calling them dick heads instead.

Apart from the carol mentioned in the last paragraph, there is a distinct lack of musical numbers during the bulk of the episode. Even in the most obvious spot, a fantasy sequence that shows Melvin wishing he was able to have fun, background compost Stu Phillips offers up a montage of Christmas standards. However, as soon as the main story is resolved, we are treated to a rare a Capella performance by the prefab four of a traditional 16th century Spanish Christmas carol called Riu Chiu. The guys give one of their most impressive vocal performances on this number, with Micky tackling the hardest parts (and the most lyrics) as usual. Note the big smile on Peter Torks face during this song, as more than any other Monkey, he just wanted to make music in a group.

But the most touching sequence is yet to come: instead of a closing 'here-we-go-again-tag' before the end credits, the Monkees take the time to pull the entire backstage crew in front of the cameras as part of their Christmas wish. They keep on going even as the credits begin to roll, and the screen fills up with unfamiliar face laughing, smiling and shouting Christmas cheers while the Monkees try to introduce each one of them by name. This charming surprise always stayed with me over the years whenever Christmas comes around.

9 out of 10

It's ironic Butch Patrick's character Melvin asks Mike Nesmithand Peter Tork this question, considering they were the two Monkees who fought against conformity. The Christmas Show was aired on Christmas Day of 1967. By now, there was no laugh track telling you when to laugh. But that doesn't mean there aren't any "roll over the floor laughing" moments, as I'll discuss later in this review. The Monkees include Mike, Peter, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz. Guests include Mr. Patrick (known as Eddie Munster on the Munsters), Burt Mustin (known as Gus the Fireman and also a guest on The Twilight Zone and The Brady Bunch) and many others. Music is by Stu Philips.

The Monkees need some money for the Christmas season. They are offered $100 each to babysit a rich family's young child named Melvin. The only problem is Melvin is a cynical know-it-all and not very friendly. The Monkees agree. Davy, Micky and Mike recall what Peter gave them last Christmas. Davy gets a jacket which is too big, Micky gets a chemistry set and turns into a werewolf biting the head off poor ol' Mr. Schneider (their managing). Mike gets skis which he doesn't open until the Winter is over. When Melvin comes over, he's less than thrilled or impressed with the Monkees. They take him to a store and Peter rides a toy bike which makes a mess of the store and crashes! The doctor charges them most of their earnings. They try to get Melvin to smile, to no avail. Then they take him to a forest to buy a Christmas tree. One woman attacks Mike for the tree. He's a gentleman and lets her go with it. So they cut their own and save money. Micky thinks he's found mistletoe but instead he's found poison ivy. The doctor leaves with the rest of the Monkees' hard earned babysitting money. Davy gets on a ladder and tries to show Melvin how to put the star on the top of the tree. Unfortunately, the ladder falls and the doctor comes again. Since the Monkees have no more money, the doctor waits until later to bill them. Disgusted, Melvin leaves. Davy wonders why. And Mike suggests they should've shown Marvin some love. At the house, Melvin is lonely, miserable and starts to cry. He imagines how much more fun he would've had with the Monkees if his attitude were better. The Monkees surprise Melvin with a visit but that's not the only surprise. His aunt and uncle come home from the cruise, admitting they missed him. He admits he missed them, too. Micky (as Santa) and Davy (as an elf) come down the chimney and crash! Melvin laughs for the 1st time. They all sing an off-key rendition of Deck The Halls. The Monkees song for the episode is Riu Chiu, an old Spanish Christmas carol. Instead of the conventional end credits, the Monkees wish the audience a merry Christmas, introduce us to the production crew and have a little party as the credits roll.

Trivia: Despite his more reserved alter ego Melvin, Butch Patrick was very excited about his acting gig on The Monkees. Also, there's a nice melody of Christmas carols.wirh a Madrigal style chorus.

Definitions: Conformity- to go along with the crowd, go with the flow. Mike Nesmith, in particular, was not a conformist!

What I liked: I really liked Butch Patrick's performance here. Melvin goes from a cool and calm kid to someone who gets sad and happy. You see a lot of anger at the beginning, which he hides behind with his cynicism but eventually, you see sadness and pain behind the facade and eventually he admits he likes the Monkees. He appreciates them coming to his house and has grown to appreciate their hospitality. Also, the Monkees look like they're enjoying themselves in this episode. In a few Season 2 episodes, they act as if they wish they weren't there. Here, they seem comfortable and look like they're enjoying the episode. And of.course, the classic Christmas carol Riu Chiu is a poignant performance. It was the 1st time I had ever heard it. 9 stockings out of 10!