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Photo:Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Micky Dolenz on The Monkees’ new Christmas album

Our guest Micky Dolenz starred in the hit 1960’s TV show “The Monkees.” It was essentially a Hollywood version of The Beatles’ rock-n-roll comedy “A Hard Day’s Night.” Micky played the drummer and one of the singers alongside Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and the late Davy Jones. The gang played four lovable goofs trying to make it as a band, bumming around Los Angeles, solving mysteries, and staying in haunted houses.

And, this probably isn’t news to you, but: The Monkees weren’t a band before the show started. They each auditioned for parts in the show, and most of them were mainly actors. Nevertheless, they had some legendary all-time hits like “Last Train To Clarksville,” “Daydream Believer,” and “I’m a Believer.”

The band actually outlasted the show itself and just this year they recorded and released their 13th studio album Christmas Party. It’s a holiday record chock full of standards, covers, and originals. It’s also got contributions from Rivers Cuomo, Peter Buck and more.

Micky tells Jesse about a time when he was spotted in a mall by screaming fans, and what John Lennon really thought about The Monkees.

Click here to listen to our interview with Micky Dolenz on YouTube.

Photo: Courtesy of Alonso Duralde

Alonso Duralde on Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies

Alonso Duralde is film reviews editor for The Wrap and the author of Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas. He also co-hosts Maximum Fun’s Who Shot Ya? podcast.

Alonso talks to Jesse about the basic elements of every Hallmark movie, his search for veiled gay characters in those films, and offers an alternative suggestion to typical Christmas cinematic fare.

Click here to listen to our interview with Alonso Duralde on YouTube.

Photo: Courtesty of The McElroy Brothers

The McElroy Brothers Share Christmas Advice

Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy are the hosts of the Smash Hit podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me.

They talk to Jesse about ways to make white elephant gift exchanges more interesting and share their findings of long-lost verses from well-known Christmas carols.

Click here to listen to our interview with The McElroy Brothers on YouTube.

Photo:Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Song That Changed My Life: Sy Smith on My Favorite Things

Sy Smith is a brilliant singer, songwriter, and producer that lives here in Los Angeles. She’s been recording soul records for over a decade now and has collaborated with folks like Kamasi Washington and Thundercat. She’s also an incredibly talented backup singer for greats like Sheila E., Chaka Khan, Usher, and Whitney Houston.

Sy talks to us about two versions of her favorite holiday tune – My Favorite Things by Julie Andrews from The Sound of Music original soundtrack and it’s interpretation by jazz legend

John Coltrane.

She just dropped a seasonal EP called Christmas in Syberspace and it’s streaming now.

If you live in New York, don’t miss a chance to see Sy performing with trumpeter Chris Botti. They’ll be live every night at Blue Note right up until Christmas.