"Monkey Shines" - Opening Credits

Jonathan Coulton's short-lived sitcom "Monkey Shines" had an extremely brief run on ABC in 1985; it was cancelled during the first commercial break of the first episode, and was ordered destroyed by then-ABC President Grant Tinker. The show slowly developed a cult following through the years, however; but although numerous rumors of bootleg recordings of the show circulated, they all proved to be hoaxes or, in several cases, episodes from season 3 of "Felicity".

In early 2008, in a sub-basement of the Yale University anthropological studies department, researchers unearthed a Betacam master video recording of the pilot episode opening credits. (Unfortunately, the remainder of the episode was apparently recorded over with footage of the Yale Whiffenpoofs "1991 Holiday Jamboree Singabration") To date, this remains the only authenticated footage from "Monkey Shines". (Reclusive star Coulton has not returned repeated requests for comment)

In the interest of science, history, and primate studies, we present the "Monkey Shines" opening credit sequence...

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• jonathan coulton
• paul and storm
• monkey shines
• sitcom
• opening credits

[rhettcochran]

However? HOWEVER? Listen you ungrateful Philistine, you will be watch JoCo and P&S's homage to the 1980's sitcom and you will like it. There is no however. It's chock full of awesome and that's it - anachronisms be damned.

Now. Tell JoCo and the monkey that you're sorry.

TELL HIM!

[Kevbo4]

I wasn't allowed to watch this show when it aired, even though I was almost 18 at the time. Something about not suitable for anyone... known to cause retinal scarring or something like that.

[tapehead100]

@protoborg i know it was a joke but there was that little shred of maybe or hope

[protoborg]

This...would...make...an awesome show! I don't think any would produce it and I doubt Coulton has the money to produce it himself, but still would be awesome. It is pretty damn impressive that these four guys actually put this video together. It actually looks real.

[protoborg]

@tapehead100 Are you delusional?! It is a joke! This show never existed! It is just Coulton's unique brand of humor. He made this video. It is meant as a joke. Of course, I suppose your comment could be meant as a joke too so I am going to stop here before I make myself look any stupider.

[Vereis]

Brilliant, I especially loved the Neil Gaiman cameo with Gaiman downing a bottle of wine straight from the bottle although you can clearly see a wine glass right next to him. The Paul and Storm moments were also top notch hilarious. Priceless!

[UltraSwat]

A few months ago when I heard about this I actually believed that it was true, apparently I missed the whole "aired in 1985" thing :P I was so innocent back then.....

[JesterSentinelZ]

when he looks at himself in the mirror for some reason i think of alf

[tapehead100]

@Metalpulsecannon it is a real show just all of its gone man

[clintxs]

My favorite episode has gotta be "Neil's Gotta Monkey on His Back". Still nothing better on TV.

[MexicanGnomes]

@Pat8u Of course many people are, but I could have sworn that I saw a comment or two actually criticising it in that way.