TV Band vs. Real Band: Is Prime Video’s The Runarounds the Next Monkees?

Prime Video’s new show, The Runarounds, is turning heads with its innovative approach to creating a TV band. The series was put together by Jonas Pate, the creative genius behind Netflix’s Outer Banks, along with his brother Josh Pate. Rather than hiring actors and teaching them to play instruments, they scouted real teenage musicians to form the band that the show revolves around.

The process began with a social media casting call, which led to five talented young musicians, William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Jeremy Yun, Zendé Murdock, and Jesse Golliher, being selected to make up The Runarounds. These musicians actually performed together as a band before filming began, bringing an authentic musical element to the series.

This unique approach to building a TV band drew comparisons to classic groups like The Monkees. The Monkees started as a scripted TV project but quickly became a real-life musical sensation. Hits like I’m a Believer and Daydream Believer launched The Monkees into stardom, blurring the lines between TV and music.

The Runarounds follow a group of recent high school graduates in North Carolina who join forces to chase their dreams of becoming a band during a memorable summer. Unlike The Monkees, the cast does not play themselves on the show. They portray characters with distinct names and storylines, adding depth to the storytelling.

Looking back at TV history, shows like Making the Band created successful musical acts like O-Town in the early 2000s. This reality series proved that TV could be a powerful platform for launching a band into the music scene.

To truly succeed, The Runarounds must establish themselves as legitimate musicians and not just actors. This involves performing live, releasing original music, and building a dedicated fan base. The authenticity and chemistry of the band members will be essential in connecting with audiences in today’s music landscape.

With its nostalgic vibes and youthful energy, The Runarounds has the potential to bridge the gap between TV and music once again. If the band can translate their success from the screen to real life, they could pave the way for a new era of TV-to-band crossovers in the streaming world. Just as The Monkees and O-Town left their mark on music history, The Runarounds might just be the next big thing on the horizon.