"The Monkees" Rewatch: The Chaperone

In “The Chaperone” the others decide that Davy’s spent enough time pining after a girl, Leslie, from afar and push him to approach her as a TV poll taking service and magazine salesman. They eventually find out her father is a former general and so protective that he only allows his daughter to attend chaperoned parties. Micky poses as a former colleague of General Vandenberg’s in order to invite Leslie and her friend to a party and he accepts. After preparing food and the pad for a party, the boys try to secure a chaperone in Mr. Babbitt and then their cleaning lady Mrs. Weefers. After one demands payment and the other passes out drunk right before Vandenberg arrives it’s up to Mic- I mean, Mrs. Arcadian to save the party from being a total drag.

I find it funny that this episode is ostensibly Davy-centric, but Micky pulls most of the heavy lifting. Micky is the one who explicitly tells Davy he’s “mooned over” Leslie enough and needs to do something about it. He presumably gave Davy the polling service idea and even accompanied him on to the Vandenbergs’ door for another little scheme. As previously mentioned, he convinces Vandenberg to let the girls attend their party and they can only stay at the party because he puts on the dress meant for Mrs. Weefers. Plus, he has to deal Vandenberg “getting fresh” and, well, slappy, shall we say. Basically, what I’m saying is Davy owes him big time.

I have a weakness for any episode that features one of the Monkees in drag, so of course, I love this episode and while Mrs. Arcadian does make up a big chunk of what makes this episode great, she is by no means the only thing. For instance, Peter spends most of “The Chaperone” hanging back, but his occasional sideways looks are hilarious if you can catch them. Another great aspect is the romp for “This Just Doesn’t Seem To Be My Day,” which shows the boys decorating the apartment with streamers and balloons and other such party preparations. One preparation that always boggled me was the cake. I can’t help but be curious how Mike made a tall layer cake when all they seemed to have was a hotplate. I know necessity is the mother of invention and all that (I mean, I once baked cookies on a grill in the wake of a hurricane), but I don’t know how one manages that, unless all the layers were the size of pancakes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m overthinking it. Anyway. The romp is funny and adorable, but it’s also a wonderful chance to see more of the pad’s little details. From the spiral staircase to the random movie posters and street signs that populate the walls, I’ve always been very fond of it. My personal favorite is the “In Case of Fire Run” sign beside their fire extinguisher. I even drew up a replica of it (and others) once to put on my own wall.