The Mamas & the Papas their original roles, Mackenzie Phillips taking Michelle Phillips' part and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane of Spanky and Our Gang taking the part of Cass Elliot. Little progress was made until after Phillips had been sentenced and served his time in jail. The quartet began rehearsing in earnest and recording demos in the summer of 1981. Their first performances were in March 1982, when they were praised for their "verve and expertise", the "impressive precision" of the harmonies, and the "feeling ... of genuine celebration" on stage. The group toured the United States, including residencies in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but
The Mamas & the Papas to the stage, making a disastrous start in John Phillips' "Man on the Moon" (1975). In 1977, he returned to his birthplace, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and started playing legitimate roles, including Shakespeare, at the Neptune Theatre under the tutelage of John Neville. This led to television work, beginning with a variety program, "Denny's Sho*", which ran for one season in 1978. He went on to host and voice parts in the children's program, "Theodore Tugboat", and to act in various series, including twenty-two episodes of the drama "Pit Pony". Doherty also performed with the New Mamas and the Papas (see