Archive Find: '85 NBC Monkees Nesmith's "Television Parts" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TeeVeeCloset · 05-23-2008, 04:16 PM

Its amazing how creative and expermental television used to be before it totally became corporate, television was always only about money but there was a time that networks would really try something daring and different and that was certainly the case with the forever forgotten 1985 NBC variety/comedy series created and starring none other than former Monkee Michael Nesmith in "Television Parts". Fresh after winning the first grammy for long form video, the successful and critically aclaimed "Elephant Parts", NBC gave the Nez a limited series. I just found a truckload of episodes, 4 to be exact as well as a 90 minute best of episode that aired in the place of "saturday night live" one week....this series is a who's who of amazing talent including appearances by Jim Stafford, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Martin Mull, Whoopi Goldberg & Gary Shandling. It was a combination of music videos (made for the show exclusively and comedy sketches, but not in the variety show format).......anyone remember watching this one??????

Zoneboy · 05-23-2008, 04:24 PM

Are you sure it's from 1985, I thought it originally aired in 1981. The song "Cruisin" was from 1979 if I'm not mistaken. From IMDb:

Nesmith then invented and sold the concept 24 hour music television to Time Warner. He produced a proof of concept called "Pop Clips" which Time-Warner aired on the Nickelodeon channel as a test. It was an instant success. From there was developed the MTV network.

TeeVeeCloset · 05-23-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Are you sure it's from 1985, I thought it originally aired in 1981. The song "Cruisin" was from 1979 if I'm not mistaken. From IMDb:

Nesmith then invented and sold the concept 24 hour music television to Time Warner. He produced a proof of concept called "Pop Clips" which Time-Warner aired on the Nickelodeon channel as a test. It was an instant success. From there was developed the MTV network.

Absolutely positive as I have the original TV Guide with the premiere episode listed on March 7, 1985. As mentioned "Elephant Parts" the grammy award winning videotape was around 1981 but it took several years before it was developed for a TV series.

Zoneboy · 05-23-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeeVeeCloset

Absolutely positive as I have the original TV Guide with the premiere episode listed on March 7, 1985. As mentioned "Elephant Parts" the grammy award winning videotape was around 1981 but it took several years before it was developed for a TV series.

Ok, I read your post too quickly and didn't notice.

LysdahlLover · 03-12-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Ok, I read your post too quickly and didn't notice.

I guess it must've only aired for a couple of months. Otherwise, I would've been aware of it, being 12 years old at the time. Don't recall seeing any promos for it or anything.

BTW, Zoneboy, like the sig. Couldn't agree more.

Listening to my Monkees MISSING LINKS VOL. 3 CD right now.

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-13-2010, 05:59 AM

...was seen on NBC for a very brief period, on Thursdays at 9:30pm(et), in March 1985, right after "CHEERS" [I remember seeing at least one promo for it]; NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff often used that half-hour, during the spring and summer, to try to launch new series in the mid-'80s. The fact that the final episode was a 90 minute "finale", shown in place of what was left of Dick Ebersol's "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" several months later, was no accident- the network KNEW Nesmith's series was a "dud", and quickly buried it by "squashing" the remaining episodes into a 90 minute "special", "throwing it away" where few viewers would ever see it (except those who still hung around for "SNL" back then). Quite frankly, "TELEVISION PARTS" was "too weird" for a mass audience back then...and it'd still be, today. If Nesmith ever revived it, chances are a cable channel would be the logical place for it [Comedy Central, MTV, FX, etc.].

05-23-2008, 04:16 PM	#1
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	Archive Find: '85 NBC Monkees Nesmith's "Television Parts" Its amazing how creative and expermental television used to be before it totally became corporate, television was always only about money but there was a time that networks would really try something daring and different and that was certainly the case with the forever forgotten 1985 NBC variety/comedy series created and starring none other than former Monkee Michael Nesmith in "Television Parts". Fresh after winning the first grammy for long form video, the successful and critically aclaimed "Elephant Parts", NBC gave the Nez a limited series. I just found a truckload of episodes, 4 to be exact as well as a 90 minute best of episode that aired in the place of "saturday night live" one week....this series is a who's who of amazing talent including appearances by Jim Stafford, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Martin Mull, Whoopi Goldberg & Gary Shandling. It was a combination of music videos (made for the show exclusively and comedy sketches, but not in the variety show format).......anyone remember watching this one??????

05-23-2008, 04:24 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,339	Are you sure it's from 1985, I thought it originally aired in 1981. The song "Cruisin" was from 1979 if I'm not mistaken. From IMDb: Nesmith then invented and sold the concept 24 hour music television to Time Warner. He produced a proof of concept called "Pop Clips" which Time-Warner aired on the Nickelodeon channel as a test. It was an instant success. From there was developed the MTV network.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

03-13-2010, 05:59 AM	#6
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	"TELEVISION PARTS"... ...was seen on NBC for a very brief period, on Thursdays at 9:30pm(et), in March 1985, right after "CHEERS" [I remember seeing at least one promo for it]; NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff often used that half-hour, during the spring and summer, to try to launch new series in the mid-'80s. The fact that the final episode was a 90 minute "finale", shown in place of what was left of Dick Ebersol's "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" several months later, was no accident- the network KNEW Nesmith's series was a "dud", and quickly buried it by "squashing" the remaining episodes into a 90 minute "special", "throwing it away" where few viewers would ever see it (except those who still hung around for "SNL" back then). Quite frankly, "TELEVISION PARTS" was "too weird" for a mass audience back then...and it'd still be, today. If Nesmith ever revived it, chances are a cable channel would be the logical place for it [Comedy Central, MTV, FX, etc.].