And Then There’s JoCo

I don't know about your acting, but I love your music and will be at your Denver show next year. Do you need any help selling those t-shirts, CD's and other stuff? if so send me an e-mail.

Ah, that takes me back to the feel-good warm and fuzzy sitcoms of my childhood. I always thought those needed more monkeys

How's that SF concert DVD coming along? I've got a big wad of cash in my pocket just waiting for that purchase.

That or you could come to Canada.... Play at a Quebecois Ferme des Arbres de Noël.

Yeah right.

The four of you have aged very well.

Im not very brite so was that real? or was it just for fun cause I always hate it when I think its really then saying 'Wow i cant believe they didnt carry on with that' and everyone looks at me like a crazy person

I so want to see the whole pilot episode. Make it happen.

It's footage from the JoCo & Paul & Storm tour of the UK and Ireland, including views over the river Thames and the Shepherd's Bush Empire, among a lot of other things.

@Len, I heard that the rest of the pilot was taped over with footage of the Yale Whiffenpoofs, but I so want to see that (assuming JoCo is in it.)

@Andy Simpson, ssshhh! (I saw them shooting something remarkably similar in Nottingham, so I'm crossing my fingers for a comeback of the show.)

I expected more poo flinging.

I can't wait to see the one episode where a washed up 80's mainstay makes a guest appearance.

"Hey, look, it's Billy Zabka! What are you doing in town?"

Was that footage shot in the UK? Hmm, I'd watch it JUST for the music...

Did this really not air? I kind of remember arguing with my baby sitter because she wanted to watch this, and I wanted to watch The Krypton Factor.

Oh also: Ha ha, Maud Reference!

Oh my god, that's awesome!
Is this video CC as well?
I'd love to have a high quality version of this! :D

That is just wonderful and perfect in every way. I have no clever comment.

Next time I'm sad I just need to remember to watch this video and everything will be alright again.

For more info on the show, check out the wiki:

http://www.jonathancoulton.com/wiki/index.php/Monkey_Shines

I can't be the only one who wants to own a copy that bear picture at 0:37.

Now that the truth has been brought to light, someone make it an IMDB page. GO!

Gaiman as the wacky neighbor? WIN

I am waiting for the inevitable big screen adaptation... with a CGI monkey of course.

And introducing Neil Gaiman... I can't stop laughing at that. My hat's off to you guys, this is wonderful!

Hey, it's one of my favorite singers with one of my favorite authors. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Is it true that Gaiman is the reason all references to the show have been struck from history? I read that on the internets.

M A G N I F I C E N T .

That was exactly the sort of thing I was thinking about making (because I love the song so much), but I didn't have my hands on the super-choice footage. that totally needs to be on the concert DVD extras!

What I am wondering is why on the wiki page does it say that:

"One assertion that was believed for a time was that the ASPCA was launching an investigation into the production of Monkey Shines and filed a complaint that was processed as the show was airing. Although the report filed was never found (the main reason why this story is considered spurious) it was said to contain details on cruel housing conditions for the monkey as well as describing how the monkey was used gratuitously, being made to perform in shots when the stuffed monkey double would have sufficed."

while in the video it seems that the monkey was only a comically bad stuffed animal? I didn't see any real monkeys... Was there a real monkey?

For the record, I would watch that show.

I believe the spurious ASPCA story goes something like this: The ASPCA launched the investigation into "Monkey Shines" because the production crew lacked a licensed Monkey Wrangler on set during filming. There was no Monkey Wrangler nor any Animal Trainer listed in the credits either. This was because, outside of a few shots of an actual Capuchin Monkey in the closing credits, the Monkey was, for the most part, played by a stuffed toy monkey thrown from just off camera. There was also a monkey puppet that was used, but it ended up looking less real than the toy monkey. The ASPCA just could not believe that a Network Sit Com called, "Monkey Shines" wouldn't actually have any live monkeys on the set!

As one of the original co-creators/stars of the show, I would like to say I am totally chuffed at the resurgence of interest in this show, especially the rapid expansion of the wiki page.

However, I am forced to correct one inaccuracy: in the show, Jonathan's character's name was not "Harold Loveman." That's just silly.

The character's name was "Jonathan Crouton."

Otherwise, wonderful job, everyone!

Paul (and, by proxy, Storm)

I agree with the gentleman above. Billy Zabka needs to be on this show, and perhaps kick someone's ass.

That was fantastic. Ultra-fantastic for the Gaiman cameo.

Only one thing has to be said here:

Awesome.

Forgive me if I'm being naive, but was that stock footage of Neil Gaiman, or did you actually get the chance to hang out with him at some point? I'm afraid I'm not up on JoCo's social circle.

Radien, JoCo played a few songs at Neil Gaiman's book signing in Manchester, and then Neil Gaiman creepily read one of the verses of Creepy Doll and played the creepy tambourine at the concert the same evening. It's all here: http://www.jonathancoulton.com/wiki/index.php/Neil_Gaiman (well, it's not all there, somebody should add a link to one of the YouTube videos.) So I assume they also found a couple of seconds to film him chugging wine.