Mork & Mindy: Mork Moves In

Mork & Mindy: Mork Moves In
ABC
September 21, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is the first of four Mork stories co-written by Lloyd Turner, who wrote for George of the Jungle, and Gordon Mitchell, who among other things would go on to write The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island (which I hope I still have a copy of).  It's difficult to say how much of the wackiness of the episode is due to them and how much is due to Robin Williams being let loose-- especially when Mork gets drunk on ginger ale-- so he can first unleash his insanity on America.

The episode is also interesting for the daughter-father-"boyfriend" dynamic.  Ann Marie a decade earlier had trouble getting her overprotective father to accept the perfectly sane Donald Hollinger, so Fred can't be entirely blamed for his reaction to Mork, especially when he finds out that Mork is an alien.  Mork offers to leave so he won't interfere with the filial relationship.  (He's a test-tube baby himself.)  But he gets drunk and so doesn't leave.  Fred comes over, on Mork's invitation and he and Mindy quarrel when she refuses to kick out Mork.  Then he returns almost immediately and they make up.

Now, it could be argued that Mork is sort of pre-sexual.  (Not asexual.)  Donald was a gentleman and he probably did wait till marriage to deflower Ann, but he made it clear he was attracted to her.  Mork apparently has never even hugged a woman before, and he doesn't understand why he can't share a bed with Mindy.  But he is still, as far we know, anatomically male.  And that's a problem for "puritanical" Fred.  It's interesting to see how the show negotiates this, at a time when Jack living platonically with Janet and Chrissy on Three's Company was still considered racy.  (Including by Goldie Hawn, her variety special would have us believe.)

And at the same time, this honestly is a show where you can ship the main pair almost from the get-go.  Mork admits to Orson that he has "feelings" (yes, he sings the song) for Mindy, even though emotions are frowned upon on Ork.  Mindy and Mork find each other the nicest, most interesting aliens they'll ever meet.   There is at least a basis for a best-friendship, early though it is, and the later romance is definitely plausible.