Before the monkees were on television, which group did the television producers originally want, but could not afford?

The producer originally would like to cast" the Lovin Spoonful "before Monkees in Screen Gems Television. "the Lovin Spoonful is a not so famous local folk rock group in New york. Although, they did not land the TV cast, "the Lovin' spoonful became a hit rock band producing hit songs in the 1960s.