Mork & Mindy: Reflections and Regrets

Mork & Mindy: Reflections and Regrets
ABC
May 14, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This Tenowich & Scharlach story is a solid B for the most part.  The entire cast is present (except, significantly, Orson), yet they're all given moments to shine, and it would in fact be the final appearances for Hecht, Staahl, and Thomas.  (Stephanie Kayano and Amy Tenowich also briefly make their last appearances, as Stephanie and Lola.)  They're all gathered to celebrate Mr. Bickley's 50th birthday.  (Poston was actually pushing 60 but didn't look it.)  He has many regrets, including that he's never told his 27-year-old son Tom the facts of life.  The others share their regrets, ranging from funny (Remo's that women only want him for his body) to dark (Fred's that he killed a man in self-defense during the Korean War).

Mindy avoids sharing hers until everyone has gone home, so that she can tell Mork in private that she regrets that her mother didn't have the chance to meet Mork.  She couldn't say this in front of their friends because she'd have to talk about Mork being from outer space.  It's a sweet, moving confession.  And then Mork says what he'd say to Mindy's mom, and it's unclear if she's really there (as she was in the episode set in the old house).  Mork says that he loves Mindy, and then he tells her directly.  She says, "I love you, too, Mork."  And I dissolve into a pool of emotions.  (No, seriously, I was sobbing!)  It's a lovely way to close out the third season, and to lead to the beginning of the fourth.

Other than this episode, Season Three ranges from C to B, and factoring the B+ in gives an average on the C+/B- border, slightly to the B- side.  And, yes, there are a lot of cuspy shows for '80-'81, a time when television and the world were in transition.  The eighties but not The Eighties, if you will.  As for M & M, this episode proves that there was still life in the series, although Season Four would take it to some unexpected places, Ork among them.

Mork & Mindy: I Heard It Through the Morkvine

Mork & Mindy: I Heard It Through the Morkvine
ABC
April 30, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Staahl co-wrote this story about Mork learning about gossip.  (As with some of his other lessons in Season Three, it seems a bit late for something so basic, especially considering Mork lives with an attractive young woman and should've encountered rumors about them at some point.  But this is not Three's Company.)  The episode also makes a point about the nature of privacy and it's more intelligent than I expected.  (I laughed out loud at the references to the then fairly current autobiographies of Lauren Bacall and Shelley Winters, but maybe that's because I've read those books.)  And, yes, it's another one of those with added poignancy, because Williams's own death would be surrounded by gossip.

This episode has more of the supporting cast than usual, although Exidor does not become a subject of gossip.  Foster Brooks makes his last appearance as Mindy's boss, Mr. Sternhagen.

Mork & Mindy: Old Muggable Mork

This scene is not on the DVD and I don't remember it at the time.

Mork & Mindy: Old Muggable Mork
ABC
April 16, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
C+

While it's nice to see Elizabeth Kerr back, I wish writers Collins & Raznick had given her better material.  Grandma Cora is visiting for three days, although she lives in Boston and travels a lot with her Swinging Seniors group.  Her spirit is broken when she's mugged.  Then Mork goes proto-Doubtfire by dressing as an old woman, to teach the muggers a lesson.  I would rather have watched something where Cora had a new boyfriend or a new career; I don't want to see her afraid to go outside.  And again, Mindy's friends, especially Glenda Faye, suck energy out of the scene.  (What's odd is, Wilzak is sometimes fine with Williams and/or Dawber but she's generally over the top with Hecht, who in turn becomes muted around her.)

Garry Marshall's son Scott, who'd previously played a character named Scott, is the Boy Scout here.  Mugger #1, Charles Thomas Murphy, had two roles on The Bob Newhart Show, while Mugger #2, Anthony Peck, would be Jack Smith on Who's the Boss?  This is the first of three Mork episodes directed by Don Barnhart.

Mork & Mindy: Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby

Mork & Mindy: Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby
ABC
March 26, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This McRaven & Johnson story feels like such a wasted opportunity.  Rick & Ruby were a comedy musical act, with Brian Seff and Monica Ganas, but within the context of this show they're the members of a band called the Stupids, which they live up to offstage as well as on.  Now, Seff, under the name Rick Right, later in the decade and on into at least the mid-'90s (when I started to lose track of the comedy scene), had a sharp satiric edge and he was a fine musician as well.  Here, well, he plays his pink flamingo guitar but that's about the only resemblance.

The other wasted aspect is that Mindy stands up for Ruby's right to work, in this case for chauvinistic Remo, while pregnant, but this issue is blurred because Ruby is such a moron that she doesn't even know what month she's in.  And then Mork gets up and sings, despite Mindy's discouragement, even though he already showed he could sing on the Nelson Flavor Saturday morning TV show.  Not a terrible episode, and it certainly has its moments, but just as frustrating now as it was at the time (when I of course didn't know who Brian Seff was, but was disturbed by the idea of such idiots reproducing).

Mork & Mindy: Mork the Swinging Single

Mork & Mindy: Mork the Swinging Single
ABC
March 12, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Kout & Zateslo story, Mindy has her first date in a year.  She and Mork are just friends but she feels funny socializing when he isn't.  So he goes to a party at Glenda Faye's, where he meets TNT (Bill Kirchenbauer again).  TNT teaches him how to be a swinger, although since it's Mork, it's all still pretty innocent.  In the end, M & M realize that they can spend time with others but still need to make time for each other.  (And we never hear anything about how Mindy's date went.)  Note that Mork makes a Nancy Reagan joke.

Wendy Hoffman, who plays Sheri (the girl in green in the picture), would be Jackie in The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island.

Mork & Mindy: Mork Meets Robin Williams

Mork & Mindy: Mork Meets Robin Williams
ABC
February 19, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This McRaven & Johnson story to some degree has to be separated from the poignant irony it's gained in light of Robin's death, and his struggles before then.  Mindy has an assignment to get an interview with Williams, who's in town, and meanwhile Mork is attacked by fans who see a resemblance to the celebrity.  There's an awful lot of set-up to get to the good scene with Mork, Mindy, and Robin, and the sad report to Orson where Mork mentions celebrities who found fame hard to deal with, including John Lennon (whose death would've been very recent at the time of filming).

Even in '81, Williams had been struggling with fame for awhile and there is an undercurrent of Dawber, a genuine friend, trying to speak to him and help him maintain his selfhood, whether or not this was a conscious intention on anyone's part at the time.  We (especially a certain naive 13-year-old fan) didn't know about Williams's cocaine usage, but it's impossible to not think of it, and his other problems, now.  And I think there's also the subtext of Williams trying to figure out who Mork was to him, both burden and opportunity, even as he bemusedly watches Mork eat roses.  Not a great episode but certainly an interesting one, especially for the last five minutes or so.

Foster Brooks returns as station manager Mr. Sternhagen, again with a sober scene and a drunk scene.  Guard Rance Howard (Ron's father) had appeared in both versions of the That Girl pilot as a Customer.

Mork & Mindy: Mork and the Bum Rap

Mork & Mindy: Mork and the Bum Rap
ABC
January 15, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
C+

John B. Collins and Deborah Raznick's first of four Mork scripts has Mork learning the difference between begging and charity.  Political references include the then recently revealed Abscam and Eagleton ('72).

Man #1 John Miranda previously played a Cop on this show, while Man #2 Ed Greenberg was Jack.

Mork & Mindy: Alas, Poor Mork, We Knew Him Well

Mork & Mindy: Alas, Poor Mork, We Knew Him Well
ABC
January 8, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This story by Steve Kreinberg and Andy Guerdat takes awhile to get going but the stuff with Mork in his glass bubble (I'm surprised there's no John Travolta reference) is good.  And, yes, Mork deciding to fully live life is a bit poignant considering Williams's later life and death.  Note that Glenda Faye denies that she and Nelson are an item, although he says they are.

Will Porter, who previously previously played the baby-seller "Sleazy," here is an insurance salesman named Ernest.

Mork & Mindy: Mork's New Look

Mork & Mindy: Mork's New Look
ABC
January 1, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
B-

April Kelly wrote this story where Fred considers plastic surgery, after watching 10 and feeling like he's too old and unattractive for his wife.  (The age difference between Fred and Cathy of fifteen years is indeed that between Janis and Fabares.)  Mork also wants to change his appearance, to Fred's!  It's a bit far-fetched the pace at which appointments are made and surgery planned in this episode (not unlike when Janet Wood considered a boob job), but otherwise it's a good episode, with Williams's ad libs sharper than they sometimes are this season.  Note that there's a reference to an urban cowboy bar with a mechanical bull; the Travolta movie (released the previous June) had more of an impact on ABC sitcoms than I'd realized.  The weird thing here is that 10 actually came out in October of '79, yet the McConnnells act like they're seeing it in first release.

There's a scene set at the Da Vincis' restaurant, but Remo appears without Jean.  Amy Tenowich and Stephanie Kayano return as Lola and Stephanie.  And, yes, that's 31-year-old Ilene Graff as the Receptionist; she'd return as Tracy in the last season.

Mork & Mindy: Putting the Ork Back in Mork

Mork & Mindy: Putting the Ork Back in Mork
ABC
November 13, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
B

As the title suggests, this Scharlach & Tenowich season-opener has Mork, and the show, trying to find the way back to what was lost.  The result is in turns bittersweet, funny, moving, and meandering.  Although Janis was back for good, the second season additions weren't dumped, and in fact we also get Crissy Wilzak in her first of 22 appearances as Glenda Faye Comstock.  The Da Vincis now run a restaurant ("Eat your last supper here," Remo suggests as a slogan), while Nelson is changing his self image after losing the election.  These four young characters still don't have terribly much to do though, which is why the episode isn't a B+ or higher.

When the focus is on Mork and Mindy, with and without Fred and The Elder (Vidal I. Peterson in the first of two appearances), things really hum though.  Williams starts out doing a very bland, whitebread Earthling and then gradually returns to something more like (but not identical to) first-season Mork.  His jokes and his energy are stronger than they've been in a long while, and I laughed out loud a few times.  (There are a couple swipes at Republicans, including, yes, Nixon, but my favorite line was the throwaway about ABC shaking up the schedule the previous season.)  The sweetness of M & M's relationship also gets more attention than it usually did in Season Two.  Whether the show can sustain this quality for the rest of the season is unknown, but it certainly has more potential than Soap's season-opener indicates.

I remember this episode from the time, including that at twelve I got that the joke about "You should've seen the way we used to do this," in reference to Mindy putting her finger in Mork's ear so she can speak with Orson, was a sex joke.  I remember enjoying the episode then, especially Peterson's performance; I'd forgotten until watching it now that the Orkan backwards aging didn't come up before.  Note that most of Mindy's memories, set to a cover of "Memories," look like they're extended clips of scenes from the credits, such as flying the kite.

Amy Tenowich returns as Lola.  And this is the episode that introduces Mork's pet noggachump, Bebo.

Mork & Mindy: Invasion of the Mork Snatchers

Mork & Mindy: Invasion of the Mork Snatchers
ABC
March 20, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Tenowich & Sharlach episode hasn't aged well, not just because the references to specific ads are very dated.  I mean, yes, I vaguely remember "Chow Chow Chow" for cat food, and the hand lotion thing about which one is the mother, but these aren't inherently funny in the way that, for instance, two of the Calgon commercials were ("Calgon, take me away!" and "Ancient Chinese secret, huh?").  It's also that the message that child-like (except when he's making sex jokes) Mork needs to just use careful judgment when shopping feels even more contrived than it did back then.  Yes, I get it, this is a network show and you can't have a totally anti-advertising message, but it does weaken the episode to pull back into wishy-washiness.  Note the Ray Walston reference, which almost qualifies as a double in-joke, since not only was My Favorite Martian a sort of predecessor to this show, but Williams would at the time of this episode's shooting probably not yet have filmed his Popeye scenes with Walston as Poopdeck Pappy.

Gina Hecht's absence is referenced, as if M & M couldn't have had just Remo over for dinner.  Samantha Harper, who plays Mrs. L.W., was Nurse Burke on The Bob Newhart Show.  Laxative Salesman Terrence McNally would be Brad on Who's the Boss?  And, yes, that's That Girl's Ruth Bauman, AKA Alice Borden, as the Floor Wax Saleswoman.

Mork & Mindy: Clerical Error

Mork & Mindy: Clerical Error
ABC
February 28, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
C-

This is another episode where I don't question the sincerity but I do question the execution.  Mork is unsuccessfully looking for a job.  (Confusingly, his experience at daycare is horrific, but maybe this April Kelly script was written before the previous episode.)  He meets a priest and decides that he wants to be one, so he can help people.  Soon he's dressing like a priest, in a church, and people are coming to him with their problems, including a suicidal man.  Mork suggests "50 Ways to Meet Your Maker."  Luckily, this is just what the man needed to hear, to realize he was being foolish.  The "advice" scene is mostly played for laughs, so we're not supposed to worry about the man until Mindy does.  But not much of the episode is funny, with the low point actually when Mork meets a bride and wonders why she's not invisible.   (As in, you can't see the bride before the wedding.)  I suppose there's a way this episode might've worked a little (like C+ level), but this ain't it.  I might've gone with a D+ but I do like Remo's wedding cake and the naughty line about the pickle.

Paul Willson makes his first of two Mork appearances, as the Suicidal Confessor; later in the decade he'd be Leonard Smith on It's Garry Shandling's Show.

Mork & Mindy: Looney Tunes and Morkie Melodies

Mork & Mindy: Looney Tunes and Morkie Melodies
ABC
February 14, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Tenowich & Scharlach story, Nelson has an hour of Saturday morning time on local TV, so Mork, Mindy, their friends, and the kids from the daycare where Mork has a new job put on a show.  I usually like "talent show" episodes but this one never quite builds to anything.  Some nice moments though, like the "Frog Lake" ballet.

The episode was on high nepotism alert, with various staff's kids making up the daycare bunch.  although only Amy Tenowich, making her first of eight appearances as Lola (I think the one who wanted to hear Dick Cavett), would return.  Peggy Pope, who would return to Soap shortly as Carol's mother, plays Mrs. Thompson.

Mork & Mindy: Jeanie Loves Mork

Mork & Mindy: Jeanie Loves Mork
ABC
January 31, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Scharlach & Tenowich wrote the screenplay based on a story by Steve Kreinberg and Andrew Guerdat (their first of three for Mork) and, while not a classic episode, it does give Hecht and Thomas more to work with, including some relatively serious scenes, than just hanging around the deli.  Mindy takes over writing an anonymous advice column and, as Lovey Hart could've told her (actually she could've since Susan Lawrence made a couple appearances on the show), she's asking for trouble.  Unlike Lovey, she realizes when her friend writes in asking for romantic advice, but unfortunately Mork, not having learned anything from the time he pretended to be an old man wooing Cora, charms Jean, not realizing she wants more than friendship.  There are some sweet moments with M & M, and Remo, comforting Jean, who realizes she loves them all, and now she remembers how to love herself.  Loving a boyfriend will come in time.  Note that Mork's idea of "getting serious" is to do a Nixon impression.

Beverly Dixon, who's Woman #1, would be Evelyn on Three's Company and Bickering Wife on Roseanne.

Mork & Mindy: Mork's Vacation

Mork & Mindy: Mork's Vacation
ABC
January 24, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Tenowich & Scharlach story feels unfocused.  There's a flashback to M & M going to a dude ranch, apparently right after they went to Exidor's cabin, as if this is from an episode that didn't air.  And then Mork body-swaps with two other aliens: a cat and a swinger.  Remo and Jean's old-fashioned Italian mother is visiting and it feels forced, like they had to bring on someone shockable out of left field.  There are some good moments but the script definitely needed a couple more drafts, at least.  Note that Williams slips in a couple drug jokes, about laughing gas and catnip.

Jack Dodson, who'd played Julie's father on Welcome Back, Kotter but probably would've been more recognizable as Ralph Malph's father on Happy Days, is Ricky here.  Scott Marshall (Garry's son) plays Scott here and would return as a Boy Scout.

Mork & Mindy: The Night They Raided Mind-ski's

Mork & Mindy: The Night They Raided Mind-ski's
ABC
January 10, 1980
Sitcom
DVD
C+

While I don't question the sincerity of this Scharlach & Tenowich story about Mork learning about bigotry, I do have some issues with the execution.  In particular, the studio audience is encouraged to laugh at Mork's ethnic jokes and to identify with his destruction of the Pure Power headquarters.  (Some of this may be Storm's fault.)  Also, while I like the device of Mork making the bigots change colors, did the soundtrack have to do a quick "Oriental" theme for the Asian woman?  (It's not presented satirically, like in, say, Down with Love.)  Dawber does well under the circumstances, and I like that she's proud of her Polish grandmother, although it does feel a bit ret-conny to find out Cora's background at this point.  (Or is it Fred's mother?)

Tom Kindle's middle of three roles on the show is Lloyd Prescott.  Nancy Steen, who's Helen Anderson, was a Nurse on M*A*S*H.  And among Ed Peck's many credits are five appearances on That Girl, although at the time he played Jim Blake he was probably most recognizable as Police Officer Kirk on Happy Days.

Mork & Mindy: Exidor's Wedding

Mork & Mindy: Exidor's Wedding
ABC
December 16, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C

In this McRaven & Johnson episode, Mork finds Exidor's long-lost (after 35 years) mother, Princess Lusitania (Anita Dangler, who had recently played the lobotomy patient Virginia).  There's a lot of wackiness here but not much actual humor, and the attic wedding (presided over by Nelson for some reason) isn't as memorable as the one Mork performed for Eugene in the first season.

Mork & Mindy: The Mork Syndrome

Mork & Mindy: The Mork Syndrome
ABC
December 9, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Kelly & O'Malley story doesn't successfully blend the serious issue of nuclear waste (the title references The China Syndrome) and comedy that pushes the limits of plausibility, including Mindy in drag, but points for trying.  And, yes, yet another Nixon reference.  Note that Mork says Mindy is about 23, which fits with her being 21 in the first season.

Alan McRae, who plays Airman McFarland, was Corporal Nessen on M*A*S*H and by this point had played his first of two Three's Company characters, Phil.  And Robert Hogan, who has a lot of credits and a face you can't quite place, was Smilin' Jack Mitchell on M*A*S*H as well as Capt. Chapman here.

Mork & Mindy: Hold That Mork

Mork & Mindy: Hold That Mork
ABC
November 25, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This Kalish & Taylor story is another one where "sex" was used to boost ratings, but the Denver Bronco Pony Express Cheerleaders aren't exactly memorable sex symbols compared to Raquel Welch.  (I remember from that era as it being all about the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, although admittedly the DBPEC were more local to Boulder.)  The most interesting thing here, besides seeing hairy Williams in a halter top and skirt, is how Mindy reassures him after he's hit by stage fright.  (Apparently this was shot at an actual game.)  As for the message of sex equality, it's of course as muddled as you'd expect.

Melanie Vincz, who plays Kathy, had recently been Sylvia on Three's Company.  James Staley also was on 3'sC that Fall, as Special Agent Banning, and he has his first of two Mork roles here as sportscaster Stu Scully (presumably a blend of Stu Nahan and Vin Scully).  Linda Henning plays her second Mork role here, as Pam Stockhaus.

Mork & Mindy: Dial "N" for Nelson

Pam looks understandably dubious.

Mork & Mindy: Dial "N" for Nelson
ABC
November 11, 1979
Sitcom
DVD
C+

In this Misch & Kelly story, Nelson is being threatened, apparently by someone who works at the local strip club.  Along with a "Lolita" joke earlier, there's some borderline tasteless and not particularly funny innuendo, with the exception of Mork's strip act, which made me smile.  Not a bad episode but the show continues to drift from what it does best.

Timothy Blake, who plays Madge, was Midge on The Bob Newhart Show.  Dick Yarmy has his middle of three Mork roles, as Ron.  David Wall, who does the Club Owner's voice, had played Julius.  John Miranda makes his first of two Mork appearances, as the Cop; he'd recently played Bill on Three's Company.