Mork in Wonderland, Part 1

"Mork in Wonderland, Part 1"
Season 2, Episode #1 (#26) in series (95 episodes)
When Mork takes an earthling cold capsule, shrinks his nasal membranes, as well as him altogether, as he's made up of mostly membrane, in Part 1 of "Mork in Wonderland", the first part of the two part Season 2 opening story arc.
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Ronnie Schell Jeremy Vernon Johnny Haymer
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	201 (2x1)
Writer(s)	Dale McRaven & Bruce Johnson
Director	Howard Storm
Original airdate	September 16, 1978
IMDB	Mork in Wonderland, Part 1
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"Mork's Best Friend" (Season 1 finale)	"Mork in Wonderland, Part 2"
List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

Mork in Wonderland, Part 1 was the premiere episode of the second season of Mork and Mindy, the 26th episode in the series overall, and the first of a two-episode story arc. A take-off of the film "The Incredible Shrinking Man",, this, and its conclusion "Mork in Wonderland, Part 2", it's the only episode of the series that boasts elaborate special effects which are variable but serve their purpose. Co-written by Dale McRaven and Bruce Johnson, the episode, directed by Howard Storm, premiered on ABC-TV on September 16, 1979.

A one hour broadcast, split into two episodes for syndication.

Synopsis

In order to stop Mork catching cold, Mindy gives Mork a cold capsule to shrink his nasal membranes. It transpires however that Orkans are entirely made up of membranes.

Plot

Having coffee Mr. Bickley in her apartment, Mindy, invites him along to Utah with her and Mork to visit her dad, Fred who has sold the Music Store, and taken Cora with him, to follow his dream of being a symphony conductor and is making his debut shortly. While in conversation, Mork returns home soaked to the skin, panicked about the Energy Crisis affecting the country, and confesses to having spent the afternoon in the rain taking out street and traffic lights to conserve power. While they talk him down and discuss why the crisis is happening, Mork starts to sneeze, revealing that Orkan sneezes come out like human laughter.

With the 'sneezing' getting worse and disconcerting, Mindy tells him to get out of his wet clothes, stopping him stripping in front of them, then tries to stem his cold by giving Mork a slow release antihistamine cold capsule to help shrink his nasal membranes. Which to, Bickley's bemusement, Mork tries to stick in his ear. Mindy tries to laugh it off as Mork just not being used to being sick, but Bickley isn't buying that, feeling that Mork isn't quite all there.

After he goes, and Mindy and Mork are sitting together later, she tells him why he can't go around breaking lights and the law, that he can't continue being a one Orkan vigilante band. He admits that he knows what he did was wrong, and says he's sorry in best puppy fashion, laying his head on her shoulder and nuzzling up to her. As usual she melts and forgives him. but makes him promise to her that he won't do it again. Promising with another nuzzle he lays his hands on her lap and it becomes apparent to Mindy that the sleeves of the nightgown Mork is wearing are far too long for him, though he tells her it's his usual one. Pulling out his nightcap he puts it on his head, only for it pull right down over his face. He asks her how tall she is, and she stands up, gesturing to about 4 inches above her own height, but when he stands up measure himself against her, it's clear that Mork has shrunk by about a foot. Perplexed at first, Mork suddenly realizes that the cold capsule must be at fault, as he forgot that Orkans are made up of 100% membranes. Afterward, his underwear falls off.

By the next morning, Mork has shrunk to half his size. Mindy has had to borrow children's clothes for him from a neighbour across the road, and has exhausted the medical encyclopedia trying to find some way to help. Fretting, she is uncomfortable with how lightly Mork seems to be taking it, but as he says all he can do is go with the flow. Mindy wants to call a Doctor but Mork doesn't think with his metabolism that they would be any help, and informs her he needs a shrink, to which she tells him, again, that that isn't what a shrink is! But he's already called for one, at which point Exidor drops by for a visit scaring the hell out of Mindy with a shrunken head. After bigging himself up, worrying Mindy more by advising her to take some snapshots of Mork, then 'analyzing' Mork and making some more jokes that an increasingly anxious Mindy doesn't appreciate he concludes that Mork isn't shrinking, everyone else is getting bigger. At which point, Mindy throws him out.

Despite her hope that he's stopped shrinking a few hours later Mork is now in Ken sized dolls clothes and using Barbie style furniture. Even though she's reluctant to go, Mork sends Mindy to take her journalism exam in college telling her he'll be fine. But as soon as she goes he shrinks again. An emergency call to Orson leaves Mork with the suggestion he take something that humans use to make things grow, and not having any fertilizer to hand, Mork lands on the idea of Mindy's Brewers Yeast. The only problem is its' on the kitchen counter and he's stuck on the table.

Using a strand of spaghetti to climb down, with the aim of trying to get to the yeast, Mork is disturbed by the arrival of Mr. Bickley to borrow a book from Mork, his dog, Bicky with him. Hiding, Mork shrinks again and to avoid being stepped on and being chased by Bicky, he ends up inside a mouse hole in the wall near the armoire. Mindy returns just as Bickley and Bicky are leaving with Mork's book, and when he tells her that Mork told him he could borrow his book, Mindy is hopeful she's seen him, but Bickley tells her that there was no sign of him, the door was just unlocked.

As he goes, Mindy sees he's gone from the table and notices the spaghetti strand, and starts to call for him anxiously. At the same time Mork runs for her help as the mouse who lives inside the hole turns up. Hearing him, she's shocked to see how much more he's shrunk. Getting down on the floor she opens her hand and he climbs into the palm of her hand. As she carries him back to the table, Mork explains his plan to her, but of course by now the Brewers Yeast tablets are too large for him to eat. Mindy races to crush the Brewers Yeast into a solution for him to take, only to watch in horror as Mork is hit with yet another shrinking bout, and helpless she can only watch as he disappears before her eyes and starts crying.

Promo

ABC's Notes

There were timely references woven into the plot about the greedy oil companies, which ABC honchos didn't like. Footage of the crew getting the network's notes is included in The Adventures of Garry Marshall.

• Modify Bickley's statement, "Most of us think the oil companies are ripping us off' to "some of us think..."
• Also delete Mindy's, "As long as the oil companies back politicians..."
• Lose Bickley's, "Well, I've never had jock itch either but I know where to put the talcum powder."
• Kindly modify Mork's blanket statement about doctors, "You mean one who that golfs on Wednesday, fee-splits on Thursday and sends you to a pharmacy he owns just a little taste of on Friday."

Goofs

• After Bickley leaves, Mindy can be heard to say 'We'll have to work on his attitude.' But Pam Dawber's mouth is clearly not moving at all.
• Perhaps not a goof per se, but Bicky, Mr. Bickley's dog does not seem to be the same 'Alsatian' like breed that Mork gave him in Season 1.

Trivia

Orkan 'Facts'

• Orkans are made up of pretty much entirely of membranes.
• When Orkan's sneeze it comes out as laughter (as will occur again in Mork gets Mindy-itis)

General

• This is Tom Poston's first episode as a credited series regular.
• Third appearance of Mr. Bickley's dog, Bicky.
• If considered as the first episode in a two parter this is one of the episodes that is entirely self contained within Mindy's Apartment
• To achieve the shrinking effects, they used chroma key technology, shot the episode on video and then transferred it to 35mm film to match the rest of the series. This results in a seemingly-deteriorated film quality. The ABC teaser promos which aired prior to the premiere utilized the raw video footage.
• Robin Williams shot all of his shrinking footage on a blue set and was superimposed over close-ups of various locations in Mindy's apartment. The only oversized prop was the spaghetti noodle.
• This episode was shot without an audience, which Pam Dawber recalled 'Robin, hated.'
• The FX were such a shake-up for the crew that they vowed never to do anything as elaborate again. The only other episode were significant FX were employed was the series finale, "Gotta Run, Part 3," which featured a 3-D segment which was never broadcast as intended.
• This episode was adapted as The Incredible Shrinking Mork by Robert S. Wagner, the second and final novelization of the show.
• The plot of this show was somewhat retreaded in an episode of the animated Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour also titled "The Incredible Shrinking Mork". A miniaturized Mindy, Mork and his pet Doing go on an adventure around the school, trying to get a wristwatch back from a thieving rat.
• Apparently Vigilans are an endangered species. And any guy looking for a girl from there is a 'Vigilante'
• The clothes Mindy borrowed for Mork were borrowed from 'Billy's Mom' from across the street, this may go on to be the same Billy (played by Corey Feldman) who is in Mork's Day Care Center class in S3.
• This is the first time Mindy actively orders Exidor out of the apartment.

Pop Culture

• The Energy Crisis of 1979 is a central plot point for the double episode (in both worlds), referring to the oil crisis precipitated by the Iranian Revolution which caused a dip in oil production. However, as Mindy points out there is a feeling that the companies are manipulating it to their own end using scare tactics, a correct assumption as although the global oil supply only decreased by approximately four percent, the oil companies reaction raised the price of crude oil drastically over the next 12 months, more than doubling it to $39.50 per barrel.
• Mork refers to the (non-existent) book 'The Life & Hard Times of Prince Rainier of Monaco' who had of course married one of the worlds most beautiful women, Academy Award winning actress Grace Kelly, had three children a happy marriage and transformed the fortunes of his country. At that point leading an outward fairytale of an existence.
• He says there's a world beyond 'I Love Lucy' returning to one of his favorite references in Lucille Ball's seminal comedy show.
• Continuing his panic about the energy crisis he points out there aren't any more dinosaurs dying (to help create fossil fuels) and Dinah Shore is still in residuals. The Dinosaur / Dinah Shore gag is an old one (even popping up in 1950s movies like On The Town), in this case added to by the fact the long time singer/actress/entertainer and her show are still both active and in syndication so she's still being paid residuals and isn't 'extinct' yet.
• In trying to explain to Mork that he can't take the law into his own hands and 'do right' all the time, Mork's confusion at everything he thought he knew being turned upside comes out as '...Amrak. Phased and Confusion' Amrak being Karma backwards.
• His confusion and mental readjustments also result in 'Frank Lloyd Wrong' (the architect Frank Lloyd Wright) 'the Wrongous Brothers' (1960s/70s soul singers The Righteous Brothers) and 'Bo Didn't do Diddley' (influential R&B guitarist Bo Diddley)
• Mork's shrinking is akin to Grant Williams in the 1957 classic The Incredible Shrinking Man.
• Mork comments in regards to his shrinking that in the words of Esther Williams he has to 'go with the flow'. Esther Williams being the former Champion Swimmer turned MGM Musical Movie Star of the 40s and 50s whose water based musical numbers are iconic and still parodied / paid homage to repeatedly
• Mork's still in his old shoes which are now seriously oversized, but he tells Mindy he considers them his personal tribute to Emmett Kelly, a professional clown who with his 'Weary Willie' persona revolutionized the role and was the U.S.'s most recognizable clown.
• In trying to look for the bright side for Mindy, he says perhaps he brings up Paul Williams again, suggesting he could be the highly talented but diminutive composer/songwriter's valet. Exidor later asks Mork if he looks up to Paul Williams.

• Mork references Dr. Joyce Brothers (as he would again) who at the time was the biggest 'TV Psychologist' working.
• Mork asks Exidor if he's bigger than various 'Doctors' including Doc Severinsen the leader of the band on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Doctor Scholls, the orthopedic footwear company and Dr Pepper, the drinks company.
• Exidor asks Mork if he gets mad if he hears the song 'Short People' a hit for Randy Newman in 1977. Newman would go on to score the Penny Marshall directed / Robin Williams starring 'Awakenings' in 1990.
• He also asks Mork if he'd like to be Ricardo Montalban's sidekick, an oblique reference to Hervé Villechaize who played Tatoo to Montalban's Mr.Roark on ABC's Fantasy Island
• Exidor tells Mindy that just the night before legendary CBS News Anchorman and 'most trusted man in America' Walter Cronkite said the entire world was suffering from inflation, as his way of justifying the Mork is fine, we're all getting bigger theory.
• Exidor tells Mork he's one lucky cat as he goes, Mork waving him away with a 'Ciao Ciao Ciao', a play on the Purina Cat Food 'Chow Chow Chow' slogan.
• Down to doll size, Mindy apologizes to Mork for there not being any Ken dolls (of Barbie & Ken fame) for her to get clothes from. Mork says it's a bit odd wearing 'Tacky Bob' clothes, but better 'late than never' a side gag aimed at the real life anatomically correct 'Gay Bob' doll that had come out in 1977.
• Mork tells Orson that if he doesn't stop shrinking he's going to see 'How many angels can dance on the head of a pin' an originally theological 'reducto ad absurdum' question that has become more a metaphor for wasting time debating topics of no practical value.
• Mork says he feels like The Incredible Hulk in reverse, i.e. getting smaller rather than growing, the TV show currently airing at the time on CBS.
• Looking down from the top of the table getting dizzy commenting 'Mondo Vertigo. Hitchcock City' meaning the Alfred Hitchcock directed 1958 movie 'Vertigo'
• Mindy uses so much garlic in her pasta, according to Mork, that he feels like an Italian version of Tarzan Tarzan-elli climbing down the spaghetti strand.
• Mr. Bickley comes looking for Mork's copy of Cheryl Tiegs: The Early Years, and references the model and designers famous pink bikini poster which was an icon of the 70s.
• As he runs from Bicky towards the mousehole, Mork yelps 'Tiny feets don't fail me now' which was a slight paraphrasing of the catchphrase of the comedian Stepin Fetchit.
• Mork tells the Mouse that he loves Steamboat Willie. Which was Walt Disney's animated short debut of Mickey Mouse.
• Mork tries to explain what's happening to Mindy as an example of 'Lousy Living through Chemistry' a paraphrasing of the Dupont advertising slogan 'Better Living Through Chemistry' (itself a paraphrase). The Dupont company having its roots in explosives.

Quotes/Excerpts

• Mr. Bickley: That boy is a little short from the neck up, he doesn't even know how to take a cold tablet.
• Mindy: Well, he hasn't been sick much.

• Mr. Bickley: You don't have to have a high fever to know where to stick the thermometer.

____________________________

• Mork: Mindy don't you think I know right from wrong?
• Mindy: Well...Yes! But....you just can't run around doing right all the time! It's...it's just not right!
• Mork: *puts hand to head* Shazbot. Mayday. Amrak. Phase and Confusion. Just when I think I have Earth communication down! Right is wrong. Alright readjust...famous architect Frank Lloyd Wrong. Famous soul group the Wrongous Brothers. Bo Didn't Do Diddley!

____________________________

(Mork pull his night cap on and it comes all the way down over his face)

• Mindy: You look like a Klu Klux Kandy Kane

____________________________

• Mindy: What you need is a real doctor.
• Mork: Oh you mean a real doctor, like the that golfs on Wednesday, fee-splits on Thursday, puts you on hold on Friday?

____________________________

• Mindy: Most doctors are highly qualified.
• Exidor: Oh sure! In their own backward way! But I'm strides ahead of them, and I don't mean little froggy steps, I mean giant strides ahead! I'm strides ahead of every doctor in the world!

____________________________

• Mork: You mean you're bigger than Dr. Joyce Brothers?
• Exidor: I even have prettier hair.
• Mork: Bigger than Doc....Doc Severinsen, Dr. Scholls, Dr. Pepper?
• Exidor: Oh, please! We're not talking fruity-flavored drinks here, Mork!

____________________________

• Mindy: What?! *to Exidor* You are out of your skull!!!
• Exidor: *to his shrunken head* Did you hear that Pedro? La Senora no en Casa!
• Mindy: I'm no en Casa! *You're* no en Casa!!! *points to Mork* He is getting small!
• Exidor: My dear lady! There never has been anything wrong with him! The rest of us are getting bigger!
• Mindy: *exasperated* What?!
• Exidor: Just last night Walter Cronkite said the entire world is suffering inflation!
• Mindy: *points sharply at door* Out!!!

Image Gallery

Cast

Starring:

• Robin Williams as Mork
• Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
• Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley
• Robert Donner as Exidor
• Ralph James as Orson

Guest starring

• Ronnie Schell as Bob Faith
• Jeremy Vernon as Jerry Looney (as Jeremy Krispien)
• Johnny Haymer as Danny St. Tommy

External links

• "Mork in Wonderland, Part 1" episode at Hulu