Broadcast no. 33 (Sept 11 1967), "A Nice Place to Visit" was chosen to be the debut telecast for the series' second, and last, season (41st in production, filmed May 31-June 2). A total of eleven episodes had been completed from Apr-June, leaving the band time to finish their wildly successful summer tour by Aug 27. A nice one to kick off the new season, The Monkees find themselves stranded in the Mexican town of El Monotono, where Davy crosses paths with the notorious El Diablo (Peter Whitney), 'the bandit without a heart,' whose girl naturally takes a liking to the starry-eyed singer. Only the combined forces of El Dolenzio ('the bandit without a soul'), El Nesmito ('the bandit without any conscience'), and El Torko ('the bandit without a nickname') can save Davy from 'describable torture.' 1946's "The Brute Man" was not only the one featured role for Ja Nelle Johnson, mother of Micky Dolenz, but actually co-starred Peter Whitney, here dueling Micky at high noon (one hour early to beat the crosstown traffic). Pretty Cynthia Hull began her career in several Texas-filmed oddities from director Larry Buchanan, and there's a notable unbilled bit from comic Godfrey Cambridge, as a Mexican parking lot attendant. The featured song is most appropriate: "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" (from the forthcoming fourth LP PISCES AQUARIUS CAPRICORN & JONES LTD.), sung by Nesmith and composed by Michael Martin Murphey and Owens Castleman, then heading up The Lewis and Clarke Expedition, whose lone LP was, like The Monkees, issued on Colgems Records. A song about a boy who falls for a girl south of the border (recorded June 20), a fusion of country/rock that influenced bands such as Poco and The Eagles, features only Nesmith's electric guitar, while Doug Dillard guests on electric banjo. Peter Tork co-wrote the show's new closing theme, "For Pete's Sake" (with buddy Joseph Richards), recorded Mar 23 for inclusion on third LP HEADQUARTERS, featuring Tork himself on electric guitar, Nesmith on electric 12-string guitar, Jones on tambourine, producer Chip Douglas on bass, and Micky's lead vocal and solid drumming. Next in production- "Monkee Mayor."
