Captain Crocodile

Written by Gerald Gardner, Dee Caruso, Peter Meyerson&Robert Schlitt

Directed by James Frawley

Produced by Robert Rafelson&Bert Schneider

Songs: "Valleri" by Tommy Boyce&Bobby Hart, "Your Auntie Grizelda" by Jack Keller&Diane Hilderbrand

Guest Appearances

Captain Crocodile                   Joey Forman

Howard                                         Phil Roth

Junior                                           Joey Baio

Pontoon                             Oliver McGowan

Stage Manager                       Larry Gelman

Secretary                                 Judy Howard

Premiered on February 20, 1967

Summary

The Monkees appear to do a gig on a children's TV show called "The Captain Crocodile Show" but the star of the show Captain Crocodile, a nasty unlikable man compared to his TV persona sets out to sabotage their stint out of jealousy and has them dressed in ponchos with jolly green giants-type caps on their heads where they each end up getting a pie in their face every time the kids yell fun.

Later that day, the Monkees arrive at the office to see the TV network executive Junior Pinter and are surprised to find him to be only a twelve-year old boy.  When Junior decides to have them appear on "The Captain Crocodile Show" on a regular basis they guys nearly walked out since they don't want to be pied in the face anymore.  Then Junior calls up the president of the network, his father who gave him the network for his birthday via Sydney, Australia and then guarantees the Monkees that they won't be pied in the face anymore if the appear on the show again just before he invites the guys in the game hide and seek.  Meanwhile, Captain Croc worries to his sidekick Howard Needleman after recevinga memo from Junior Pinter, that he's being eased out and the Monkees will replace him.  To prevent this, he comes up with an devious idea to sabotage the Monkees second appearance.  On the show, the Monkees performance are ruined at every turn by the cameraman, fish nets and even explosives etc.  When Mike threatens to quit if he doesn't let them play, the devious host finally relents and the Monkees do a musical rendition of the song "Valleri".  However after the song, the guys discover that the show has been off the air for five minutes of their performance.

Later, the guys are fretting about their botched chance on TV with Peter crying.  To cheer him up, the Monkees imagine themselves in every type of TV show, from "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" where Mike as Tex Nesmith gives an incorrect weather prediction, to "What's My Line-type called show called "What's My Scene" where Mike as a brain surgeon writes his occupation on the blackboard making scraping sounds, "To Tell The Truth" and Batman-type show called "Frogman" with Peter as Frogman and Davy as Reuben the tadpole who engage in a batman/robin style fight with Mike and Micky as the villains.  Meanwhile, Captain Croc comes up with another devious idea and soon Junior tells the guys of hate mail in crayon from 27 people banning them every name from arrogant egomaniacs, long-haired weirdoes, loathsome teenagers, and delightful and well-bred(from Peter's mother). 

The network President, JJ Pontoon holds a meeting to decide if the Monkees should remain when each of the Monkees arrive in disguises, with Micky as a Neilson Polling Service man with a large Neilson Polling Chart, Mike as an elderly Janitor and Peter and Davy as little kids with lollypops who soon start a raucous as they try to convince everyone to let the Monkees remain.  Then the president orders them out promising a decision by the afternoon.  Then the fearful Captain Croc launches his next plan by sicking the Captain Crocodile Corps, an army of loyal children fans on the Monkees.  Soon there's a mad chase all over the lot to the song "Your Auntie Grizelda" which ends on the "Captain Crocodile" set when they guys offer to read a story to the children and by using a dictionary as a book, make up events from different fairy tales wining the children over.  The angry Caption Crocodile in disgust expresses his outrage to the children who then turn against him and attack him instead.

Later, the show is now changed to "Monkees Menagerie" and just as the Monkees are finally about to perform, Howard takes over as host and now douses the guys with seltzer as the kids yell fun.

Trivia Notes

This episode was a combination of the kids shows “Captain Kangaroo”

and “The Howdy Doody Show”.

Actor Joey Baio(Junior) is cousin to actor Scott Baio from the sitcom

“Happy Days” where Micky once auditioned for the part of Fonzi.  He

also starred along side Davy in the 1964 Tony award nominated Broadway

musical “Oliver”.

Actor Joey Forman(Captain Crocodile) appeared in another Monkees

episode “Monkees Chow Mein” as Draganman.

The original storyline had Junior warning Captain Croc that he’s through

If he tries anything with the Monkees again prompting him to believe they’re

his enemies.  Also, had the Monkees rehearse every TV show instead of

Imagining them and the Monkees calmed the Crocodile corps down but

having them play leap frog instead of reading them a story.

Paul Mazursky who co-wrote the pilot episode was considered the part of

Captain Crocodile’s producer.