A rousing “Happy Birthday” to Michael Nesmith, formerly of The Monkees who turns a rousing 68 years old today! Besides being a very talented musician and songwriter, Mike has also clocked time as a movie producer (Repo Man), author, internet pioneer, and philanthropist. And while The Monkees television show was often pooh-poohed at the time for being too commercial, Mike’s influence was on the show was anything but. Check out the hilarious and weird opening of episode 57 where Mike (as Frank Zappa) is interviewed by Frank Zappa (as Mike). Then wonder how TV got so fucking boring.
Bang bang, choo-choo train, let me see you shake that thang. Wm. Steven Humphrey is the editor-in-chief of the Portland Mercury and has held the job since 2000. (So don’t get any funny ideas.) More by Wm. Steven Humphrey
This may be the greatest three minutes of television in American history.