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Eight Iconic Musical TV Cameos
When music and television meet cute
Musical cameos on television shows are a strange and wonderful thing. Sometimes they land just right. Sometimes they are awkward but oddly great.
They let us see musicians outside of their comfort zone, attempting and often failing to act naturally as themselves or other characters. There are dozens if not more of them but a few stick out in my head as moments I found particularly memorable or enjoyable.
Davy Jones, The Brady Bunch:
The Brady Bunch was always on in reruns when I was growing up in the 80s. I would have had no idea who any of the musical guests were but I do remember this episode.
Marcia Brady goes to a local recording studio where Davy Jones of The Monkees just happens to be recording. She begs his manager for him to play at her high school prom since she already told everyone he would but is kicked out without talking to her idol.
Davy Jones is a natural screen presence from his time on The Monkees (I think I also watched Monkees reruns growing up so maybe this is why I remember this).
Davy saves the day by agreeing to play the prom, and asks Marcia to go with him too! Her parents think this is awesome, after all, who better to trust with your teenage daughter than an…