BB relationship with Van Dyke Parks

[Andrew G. Doe]

Mike didn't need to be on set. They have telephones in California. 

[Dancing Bear]

Andrew, I didn't deny the influence. Whatever original Beach Boy Mike Love had to say surely would be listened to. But it's different from claiming that Mike was the mastermind behind American Family - which you didn't anyway.

[endofposts]

I don't think Mike comes off entirely well in AF, but that might be to compensate for making him look like a Beach Boys mastermind, which is almost as egregious as making Brian look like a fool and bedbound veg from 1967 on.   I don't think Mike micromanaged the project, but the people behind the scenes knew who dominated the corporate side of the Beach Boys.