History Highlight:

Today in 1968, after 58 episodes, the final Monkees TV show aired on NBC. While the band was criticized by some as the "pre-fab" four during the show's run, The Monkees actually achieved a popularity (and chart success) as big as the Beatles for a very short time. The TV show was also greatly innovative, introducing a number of new-wave and avant garde film techniques to series television, and it won two Emmy Awards in 1967. Since the its initial run, almost every major cable network has aired re-runs of the show, including a popular stint on CBS from 1969-1972 and in the mid-80s on MTV.

Also, Today In:

1967 - The Beatles scored their 14th US No.1 single with "All You Need Is Love." Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Graham Nash, Marianne Faithfull and Walker Brother Gary Leeds all sang backing vocals on the track.

1988 - "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, and Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" were announced as the most played jukebox songs of the last 100 years.

2001 - American soul singer Betty Everett died aged 61. She had the 1964 US No.6 single "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)," later covered by Cher.

2005 - A life-size bronze statue of Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) was unveiled on Harry Street in Dublin.