| "Jeanie Loves Mork" | |
|---|---|
| Season 2, Episode #21 (#46) in series (95 episodes) | |
 Mindy, who became the head writer of a "Lonely Hearts" newspaper column, unknowingly encourages Jean to pursue a romantic relationship with Mork in "Jeanie Loves Mork" in Season 2 (ep.#21). | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Beverly Dixon |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 221 (2x21) |
| Writer(s) | |
| Teleplay by: | Ed Scharlach & Tom Tenowich |
| Story by: | Steve Kreinberg & Andrew Guerdat |
| Director | Howard Storm |
| Original airdate | January 31, 1980 |
IMDB 
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Jeanie Loves Mork |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Mork's Vacation" | "Little Orphan Morkie" |
| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
Jeanie Loves Mork was the 21st episode of Mork and Mindy from season 2, also the 46th overall episode in the series. Co-written by Ed Scharlach and Tom Tenowich, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, was shot on December 14, 1979 and premiered on ABC-TV on January 31, 1980.
Synopsis[]
When Mindy takes on a lonely hearts column, she figures out one of the letters is from Jeanie. In order to make Mindy happy and help her out, Mork sets out to make Jeanie less lonely using her letter as a guide. Meanwhile Mindy, incognito via the column, advises Jeanie to open herself up to unrealized possibilities in those around her, neither Mork nor Mindy realizing the consequences.
Plot[]
Mindy arrives into her apartment, calling up to Mork in the attic to let him know only to get a shock when she finds him waiting for her in the Armoire as she goes to hang her coat up. After recovering she asks him what he was doing in there. Trying to make her day go a little bit better he declares, before scooping her up into his arms and carrying her to the couch, to give her 'mental' and actual massage. All to help her unwind from her hard day at work.
TV Guide Ad - Jeanie Loves Mork - Jan 31 1980
Only she hasn't actually done any yet, she tells him, she's brought it home with her. Regretful that giving her the Algerian Mud rub is out, he follows her as she moves to the table with her work, wanting to know why she hasn't told him what he's doing at her job at the newspaper yet? Because she's not supposed to tell anyone, she tells him honestly...only to watch his face crumple, and turn away from her...as usual unable to take his 'hurt puppy', she caves and agrees to tell him, and he swings back to her with a huge grin. Making him promise not to tell anyone she informs him she's got a temp job with the Boulder Journal which requires her to work on the Lonely Hearts column, which Mork assumes means 'spare parts for donors!'
Explaining to him that sometimes people find it easier to talk over their problems with a total stranger. She confesses she's kind of nervous never having done anything like it before. But Mork assures her she's good at giving advice, like the time she told him not to eat soup with the thin end of the spoon. Grinning, she figures there's that and her Journalism Professor recommended her for the job But reminds him that no one is supposed to know she's doing this, the regular columnist in Reno getting his divorce. Mork begs her to let him read the letters with her, reminding her he's a super intelligent alien with highly attuned powers of sympathy. Going through a couple with him, Mindy realizes that the second one is actually from Jeanie, revealing how lonely she's been since moving from the Bronx, wanting to just meet a nice guy whose sensitive, likes the same things she likes, and is genuinely interested in what she has to say.
When Mork notes she sounds pretty low, Mindy agrees and wishes Jeanie could meet a guy like the guy she described. Caught up in Jeanie's problem, Mindy fails to see how Mork looks at her, or picks up on his tone when he asks her if that would make her happy? When she tells him it sure would he starts to think of ways to help Jeanie. The first thing she has to do, she tells him is figure out how to answer Jeanie's letter.
At the Deli Jeanie is in a funk, pouring coffee into tea cups, handing out the wrong checks. Watching her, Remo asks her what's wrong, she tells him of her loneliness but he can't really understand it, she has him, she has her friends, a TV in her room. But she elaborates she means a guy who thinks she's special. Remo suggests Turk down at the gas station. But she tells him she wants a guy who’s sensitive, who likes what she likes and cares about what she has to say, and there's no one like that around. Remo admits he gets lonely too, they're along way from New York, 'a couple of fish out of pollution'. He tells her to hang in there, that someday she'll meet a great guy who will appreciate her as much as he does. And in the meantime they have each other. He offers to close up but she says she's fine to do it and he zips out quickly to meet Turk. Enter Mork the compassionate, who approaches Jeanie and basically attempts to be everything she suggested in her letter that she wants, saying he's just there to keep her company, expressing common interests (dirty dishes), being fascinated by her mild exclamation of 'Oh', confusing Jeanie but amusing and charming her, and she takes up his offer to walk her home.
The next morning in the Apartment, while Mork is carefully stacking Cheerios on the countertop, Mindy excitedly discovers that her lonely hearts replies made the paper. 'Congrats, Kudos and Plaudits!' Mork offers, and asks her to read what she wrote. She reads out how moving away from home can leave one 'feeling an island in a sea of strangers', telling Mork it took her half an hour to come with that, Mork commenting ' Tennessee Williams move over, here comes Colorado McConnell!'. She goes to read how she advises that the person Jeanie could be looking for, might be right under her nose. If he's there she should try not to be shy, reach out and show him how she feels. He might become interested in her, if he thinks she's interested in him. Mork tells her that's a wonderful reply, Mindy just hopeful that it helps Jeanie somehow. Mork confesses that he was helping her the day before, Mindy asking how? He went over to the Deli to cheer her up, he tells her, and promises he didn't say anything about the letters, just walked her home, gave her a few laughs. Mindy says that's nice of him, that the worst thing they could do is embarrass her. Finally she gives in and asks him why he's building a tower of Cheerios. 'Because it's hard to stack oatmeal'. Wondering why she asks, but having to head to class, she tells him his 'Peanut Butter Pagoda' is in the fridge if he's hungry, and heads out, the door closing sending Mork's tower of Cheerios tumbling.
He's just about got it rebuilt later, when a knock at the door sends them all tumbling again. Cackling madly and feeling like he's living on a fault line he heads to the door, and opens it to Jeanie, who has come by to thank him for walking her home again. That she had a great time. She then quotes Mindy's line to him about feeling like an island in a sea of strangers. Telling her it's a catchy phrase, he admits he knows what it's like to be a stranger in a strange land. She asks if Mindy knows he walked her home last night, and he nods saying he told her all about it. Jeanie asks how she feels about that? Mork, not picking up on the meaning of the question, says Mindy is happy if Jeanie is happy. She asks if its still the case that he and Mindy are friends, and that's all. Still not getting it, Mork confirms they are. At that, Jeanie tells him there' something she forgot to give him the previous night, and kisses him. Bemused, Mork asks her why she did that, and she expresses the hope that they can go on seeing each other like they did the night before. Smiling he suggests they could do something really special like...ringing doorbells and hiding.
Some days later in her Apartment, Mindy, as Miss Lonely Hearts, gets another letter from Jeanie, telling her her answer to her letter helped her a lot and updating her on what's been happening in her life, telling her about her dinner date with this guy she's met, a montage of Jeanie's and Mork's goofy dinner date a couple of nights before unfolding as Jeanie talks about how great this guy is, him giving him her a gift to remind her of him (a pair of rainbow suspenders), getting closer before dinner (them accidentally sitting in the same chair), holding hands (having a thumb war and arm wrestling), his being a gentleman (Mork having difficulty shifting her in her chair and having to move the table towards her), knowing how to make her laugh (Mork hanging a spoon off his nose) telling her how sweet an sensitive he is, how he wouldn't hurt a fly (Mork giving CPR to a fly that landed in his soup), his really caring about whatever she has to say (Mork taking down notes in his pad for future use) liking the same things she likes (using 2 straws to drink out of the same Chianti bottle). Almost like a dream come true, her letter says, and hopes it won't be long before he starts getting serious. Still clueless that Jeanie is talking about Mork, Mindy is well pleased for Jeanie thinking 'She must've found somebody great!'
Later that night, with Mindy out, Mork, has delved into Mindy's mail to see what Jeanie's saying, reading the same letter and saying if serious is what Jeanie wants, serious is what she'll get. And when she knocks on the door, Mork opens it and greets Jeanie in Richard Nixon's voice. Bemused, Jeanie asks him if everything is okay? He assures her, still as Nixon, that it is, he's just in one of his 'serious' moods right now. Asking if Mindy is in, Mork tells her she's not but she doesn't have to take his word for it, Exidor and Mr. Bickley both know her and they'll vouch for him, he is not a liar. Saying it was such a hectic day, she thought it would be fun to come over and sit and talk for a while. Sitting on the couch with her he tries to tell her a 'What's black and white and red all over...?" joke only to cut off when he thinks he 'hears a hum', doing a suspicious Nixon scan around the room. While she's laughing, Mindy comes home, pleased to see Jeanie there.
Greeting her, Jeanie tells her she's been wanting to tell her how much fun she's been having with Mork. With Mork, Mindy queries, her smile dissolving as Mork tells her he's been showing Jeanie a good time for the past two days 'wink wink'. Mindy's discomfort grows when Jeanie tells her, she hopes it will be for a lot more days to come, and that she's so glad 'It's Okay' with her. Deeply uneasy as Jeanie starts to play with Mork's hair, Mindy quickly reminds her of the blue blouse she borrowed from Jeanie last week and asks the rather confused Jeanie if she'll go fetch it for her from her bedroom. As soon as she's gone, Mindy zips to Mork, in disbelief that he's the terrific guy she's been writing to her about, Mork confirming happily that it's him. Horrified she asks him if he realizes what he's done? Confused Mork says that Mindy said it was nice if he made her happy, and when Jeanie said she wanted to see him again he thought it was even nicer. Groaning, Mindy tells him Jeanie wants someone more than just a friend, she wants somebody she can spend her life with. Like he and Mindy share their lives, he asks? And then some, she assures him!
Jeanie comes out with the blouse having forgotten all about it, suggesting to Mork that if he likes it she could wear it for him tonight. Cringing, Mork looks up at Mindy who awkwardly invites Jeanie to sit. When she does, Mindy takes a seat by Mork, and nervously informs her that they have a problem. A big one. Fidgeting as she and Mork share looks, she tells her she doesn't know how to tell her this, but feels she has to before it goes too far, if it hasn't already. Sucking it up, she confesses that she is Miss Lonely Hearts, laughing nervily. Jeanie's face however makes it clear she doesn't find it funny, looking between them uneasily. Feeling more and more uneasy herself, Mindy admits she's the one been reading her letters...and she supposes so has Mork. Seeing Jeanie start to look crestfallen Mindy gently but hurriedly tries to tell her she was only trying to help. Nodding slowly, Jeanie gathers her things, and Mindy rapidly trying to explain how she got the job at the paper, and trying to stop her from leaving, but Jeanie tells them she has to go. Turning to Mork with a glare, Mork cringes and reminds her that she said she wanted him to make her happy. The trouble is, she replies, he made her 'Ecstatic'.
At Jeanie & Remo's Apartment, Jeanie drowns her sorrows in Rocky Road as Remo quizzes his sister about why she didn't come to him instead of writing those letters. But she didn't want to dump her problems on him. Shaking her head she declares that she's made a fool of herself, but he's adamant it's not her fault, how could she know that Mork was such a heartbreaker. But he can't believe that whatever happened that Mork & Mindy would have done anything to hurt her, and tries to get her to focus on how at least she has some fun, came out of her shell, and didn't get pregnant. Her look ending that particular attempt, a rapid knock on the door giving him an escape as he opens it to a sheepish Mork & Mindy. Remo's not sure now's a good time for them to try to talk to her, but relents, asking them to try and make her feel better. As they take a seat beside her on the couch, Remo tells a downcast Jeanie that he'll be in his room if she needs him, taking care of the ironing.
When he goes, Mindy contrite, apologizes and tells her it was really dumb of her to think she could just step into a job and just become Miss Know It All, after all who is she to go around telling people what to do with their lives. For his part, Mork says he was just trying to be a friend. He didn't realize she wanted 'and then some', and apologizes as well. When she doesn't respond or even look at them, Mork indicates to Mindy that maybe they should go, but when they move to stand up, she tells them to wait. She tells them how hard a time she's had fitting in since she moved to Boulder, and never told anyone, till finally she wrote Miss Lonely Hearts, who told her that this wonderful guy might be right in front of her. Which he was. And all she had to do was reach out to him. Which she did. And she had so much fun, because both Mindy and Mork helped to bring out qualities in her she'd forgotten she had. 'We did?!' both of them chorus in surprise. Jeanie nods, saying they made her realize why she hasn't met that right guy. She hasn't been the right girl. She always has been to them, Mindy assures her. Moving closer to them, Jeanie tells them both that she loves them, and thanks to both of them she's starting to love herself. Both of them glad.
Mork reports into Orson, blaring a horn at an imaginary driver ahead of him, before Orson asked him what he learned about this week. About shyness which is a major problem on Earth, keeping people apart when they want to be together. They see someone they want to know but they're afraid to approach them. What causes it, Orson asks? Mork conjectures about Jeanie, saying she became shy when she moved away from home to where she didn't know anybody. He did that too, Orson points out of Mork. And Mork agrees saying at first it was very hard to feel at home on Earth, people were so strange, talking in heavy accents, drinking with their mouths, sit on what they play checkers with. He was able to overcome it because he was willing to reach out. What about his friend he asks of Jeanie, Mork replying she spent a lot of time being lonely but realized her best chance of going out was to be more outgoing. Which reminds Orson of an old Orkan saying. Me too, Mork smiles, 'If one spends too long in his shell, he'll wind up nuts'.
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- Orkan's purportedly play checkers with their rear ends. This is entirely feasible when we see that Orkan Checkers only has one huge counter and two squares in Season 3's Mindy, Mindy, Mindy...but Mork and The Elder don't use that particular part of their anatomy to play it.
General Facts[]
- This is the only episode that shows Jeanie & Remo's Apartment.
Pop Culture[]
- Mork tells Mindy her lonely hearts reply is so good she's going to make 'Abby Crabby' referring to Dear Abby, probably the most famous of the Lonely Heart's Columnists.
- Mork tells Jeanie he knows what it's like to be a 'Stranger in a Strange Land' referencing Robert Heinlein's (1961) Science Fiction Classic of the same name, about a human 'alien' (born on Mars and raised by Martians) who comes to Earth and learns to interact with (and change) their culture.
- Mork does the old comedy 'foot pop' when Jeanie kisses him, often done in early movies by the woman, but made popular comedically by the man in Chaplin / Bob Hope movies. He will do it again when he and Mindy kiss again (Mork the Prankster) with enough force to lift her jeep.
- Mork channels Richard Nixon in an attempt to 'get serious' with Jeanie.
- Mork quotes/paraphrases Walter Scott's poem 'Marmion' when he says to Mindy 'Oh What a tangled web I weave'
Quotes/Excerpts[]
- Mindy: See, the regular Miss Lonely Hearts is in Reno. Getting his divorce.
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- Mindy: Okay, okay how would a highly evolved alien answer this one? 'Dear Miss Lonely Hearts I found a pair of panty hose in my husband's pocket. Should I be worried?"
- Mork: Don't panic, they may not be his!
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- Mindy: Oh, Mork, listen to this one. 'Dear Miss Lonely Hearts, I've only lived in Boulder a few months, but they've been very lonely months. Somehow men just don't notice me.'
- Mork: Poor guy.
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- Mindy: Why are you building a tower of Cheerios?
- Mork: Because it's hard to stack oatmeal.
- Mindy: Why do I ask? *shrugs*
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- Remo: Y'know if it had happened to me, I think I'd look at it in this way. Hey at least I had a little fun! I didn't sit at home with a long face. I came out of my shell. And I'm not pregnant!
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- Remo: *carrying out dress he's just ironed* Well, how does it look?
- Mork: Remo? Did you ever write a letter to Miss Lonely Hearts, signed...'Confused'?
Image Gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley (credited only)
- Jim Staahl as Nelson Flavor (credited only_
- Jay Thomas as Remo DaVinci
- Gina Hecht as Jeanie DaVinci
- Ralph James as Orson
Guest starring[]
- Beverly Dixon as Woman #1