Happened to come across this video and it brought back childhood memories. They were better than they were given credit for.
I skimmed the book about the Monkees once and I believe the TV show was created first & the music was second. I think there is a Brady Bunch episode with the lead singer in it as well.
I'm old enough (sadly...) to have watched their show first run. They were all reasonably proficient enough on their instruments to have played most of their hit songs on records, but the producers only wanted the professional session musicians ("wrecking crew") to be recorded. And they were not allowed to play songs they had written. I think mostly it was Nesmith that forced the issue and the producers decided it was too much trouble to fight them and canceled the show after a couple years. They got back together off and on over the years, not usually with Mike Nesmith though, and played their songs. Only Micky left now. I think they took too much flack as a "made up band" that couldn't play, etc. Sure they were made up, but they sang well together and were certainly no more made up than boy bands today.
Yes I believe it was Marsha trying to get Davey Jones to take her to the prom. Thanks for the memories.