A Look at the Mysterious
Chekov/Davy Connection

It has long been known that Walter Koenig was cast in the role of Chekov at least in part because of his passing resemblance to the then very popular Davy Jones of the Monkees. On September 22, 1966, Gene Roddenberry sent the following memo to casting director, Joe D'Agosta:*

Keeping our teen-age audience in mind, also keeping aware of current trends, let's watch for a young, irreverent, English-accent Beatle type to try on the show, possibly with an eye to him reoccurring. Like the smallish fellow who looks to be a hit on "The Monkees."

Shortly after this directive and the infamous letter in Pravda, the role of Chekov was created in hopes of making the regular cast more multi-cultural and improving the show's appeal to the teeny bopper contingent.

End of story, right? Noooooo. Here at the "Mr. Chekov Page" we're a little more critical and demanding. We've been researching the Chekov/Davy link carefully. And, I must report, we've been shocked at the direction our findings seem to be leading us.

We submit for your consideration the strange case of the "Spectre of the Hillbilly Honeymoon" episode. In the belief that the evidence will speak for itself, here are synopses of a Star Trek episode featuring Chekov and a Monkees episode featuring Davy:


Spectre of the Gun	Hillbilly Honeymoon
Aired NBC 10/17/68	Aired ABC 10/23/67
Officers from the Enterprise find themselves transported into the midst of an explosive situation. They have knowingly entered Melkot space despite the fact they are warned that such trespass is punishable by death. Because Kirk's ancestors pioneered the West, the landing party finds itself teleported to Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881. On their way to the local saloon, the landing party witness the shooting of a bar patron by Morgan Earp. Inside the bar, Chekov (the small, dark-haired character with an accent) is accosted by a woman named Sylvia who claims to know him. Kirk and Chekov narrowly avoid a gunfight with Morgan Earp.	The boys find themselves in the midst of an explosive situation. They have accidentally trespassed into the middle of a feuding Ozark town. The locals agree that such trespass is punishable by death. On his way out of town to seek help, Davy (the small, dark-haired character with an accent) is accosted by a woman named Ellie May. Davy narrowly avoids being shot by Ellie May's father and her jealous boyfriend, Judd Wescott.

Kirk tries unsuccessfully to make peace with the Earps. When this fails, he and the landing party attempt to leave town, but they are stopped by a force field. Desperately, Bones and Spock co-operate to build a tranquillizer bomb which will incapacitate the Earps. Meanwhile, Sylvia proposes to Chekov. He is shot by a jealous Morgan Earp and believed killed.	The boys unsuccessfully to make peace between the Chubbers and Wescotts. Because Ellie May has proposed to Davy, he is kidnapped by a jealous Judd Wescott and believed killed.

Kirk tries to get the Sheriff to call the shootout off, but finds that he is more interested in having the Clanton gang kill the Earps. With time running out, Scotty volunteers to test the potion Bones has cooked up. Despite Bones' careful preparation, it does not work. Kirk vows not to leave the bar until after 5:00, but finds himself and the others transported to the OK Corral. A shoot-out commences, but the Enterprise officers are able to resolve the situation without resorting to killing.**	The boys try to get Ellie May's father to call the off the feud, but they find that he is more interested in finding a husband for his soon to be a fifteen-year-old old maid daughter. Mike and Micky rescue Davy. But he is re-captured, this time by Old Man Chubber. With time running out, the boys try to teach Judd some manners so he can win Ellie May. Despite Peter's careful tutelage in the finer points of romance, the ploy does not seem to work. The boys, with Judd in tow, proceed to Davy and Ellie May's wedding in time to stop the final "I do's". A shoot-out commences, but the boys are able to resolve the situation without resorting to violence.

Notice the amazing parallels -- right down to the month that each premiered on its respective network. Eerie, isn't it? Surely by now, you are coming to the same inescapable conclusion that we did:

Not only are there connections between the characters --

Chekov and Davy actually seem to be the SAME character!

(We'll give you a moment to reel with surprise as we did upon coming to this stunning conclusion.
Just be careful not to hit any furniture while you're reeling..... That can really smart.)

We believe only two explanations are possible:

This was an isolated incident. On a dare, the team of highly trained poultry that pecked out the scripts for most Monkees' episodes was coaxed into submitting a doctored treatment of "Hillbilly Honeymoon" to the producers of Star Trek. The script was accidentally accepted on a busy Friday while no one was paying much attention.
This was not an isolated incident. To fill the creative vacuum created by the departure of most of the writing team after the second season, NBC brought in an experienced coterie of media professionals. Yes, you're correct. That is what we're implying. The entire third season of Star Trek, like the entire run of the Monkees, was written by typing chickens.

A sobering thought, isn't it, fellow trekheads? But it would tend to explain "Spock's Brain," wouldn't it?

Well, our search for the real story goes on. We trek on strengthened by a quote from one our favorite FBI agents,

"The truth is out there, but so are lies... and typing chickens, and Monkees with Russian accents."

* Quoted from The Making of Star Trek, by Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry, Ballantine Books, New York, 1968, page 249.

**This synopsis is based on the one presented in Eric's Excruciatingly Detailed Star Trek (TOS) Plot Summaries

A Look at the Mysterious Chekov/Davy Connection

It has long been known that Walter Koenig was cast in the role of Chekov at least in part because of his passing resemblance to the then very popular Davy Jones of the Monkees. On September 22, 1966, Gene Roddenberry sent the following memo to casting director, Joe D'Agosta:*

Keeping our teen-age audience in mind, also keeping aware of current trends, let's watch for a young, irreverent, English-accent Beatle type to try on the show, possibly with an eye to him reoccurring. Like the smallish fellow who looks to be a hit on "The Monkees."

Spectre of the Gun

Hillbilly Honeymoon

Chekov and Davy actually seem to be the SAME character!

"The truth is out there, but so are lies... and typing chickens, and Monkees with Russian accents."

* Quoted from The Making of Star Trek, by Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry, Ballantine Books, New York, 1968, page 249. **This synopsis is based on the one presented in Eric's Excruciatingly Detailed Star Trek (TOS) Plot Summaries

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A Look at the Mysterious
Chekov/Davy Connection

* Quoted from The Making of Star Trek, by Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry, Ballantine Books, New York, 1968, page 249.

**This synopsis is based on the one presented in Eric's Excruciatingly Detailed Star Trek (TOS) Plot Summaries