The Monkees’ television series first premiered in 1966. The American sitcom debuted on NBC and followed a fictionalized version of the band as it pursued music and adventures.
The series starred Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. Unlike many television groups, the performers were assembled specifically for the program, although Dolenz, Nesmith and Tork had musical experience and the cast later became a genuine recording act.
The show ran for two seasons, ending in 1968, but its music career continued beyond the television run. Songs connected with the series included “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer” and “Daydream Believer.” The Monkees are therefore both a television-created band and a commercially successful pop group, a distinction that makes their origin unusual among boy bands.