| "Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 1" | |
|---|---|
| Season 3, Episode #1 (#52) in series (95 episodes) | |
 Mork begins to annoy his friends and family as takes on an "alter ego" named "Mory" as Mindy contacts Orson to get him to relearn his Orkan ways and go back to being the old Mork in Part 1 of "Putting the Ork Back in Mork" in Season 3 (episode #1). | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Vidal Peterson Julia Hendler Jonathan Ian Elliot Jaffe Stephanie Kayano Amy Tenowich |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 301 (3x1) |
| Writer(s) | Ed Scharlach & Tom Tenowich |
| Director | Howard Storm |
| Original airdate | November 13, 1980 |
IMDB 
|
Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 1 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Way Mork Were" (Season 2 finale) |
"Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 2" |
| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
Putting The Ork Back in Mork (Part 1) was the opening episode from Season 3 of Mork and Mindy, also the 52nd episode in the series. The episode was the first part of a two-part, two episode story arc. Co-written by Ed Scharlach and Tom Tenowich, the episode, directed by Howard Storm, originally aired on ABC-TV on November 13, 1980.
Originally aired as an hour-long episode. It was split into two parts for syndication.
Synopsis[]
After years of pressing him to be more human, when Mork starts behaving like the most boring of Earthlings, Mindy feels so responsible for his losing his Orkan-ness, that she suggests the only way to rectify it is if he lives away from her. Desperate to avoid that Mork turns to Orson, who sends drastic help.
Plot[]
Fred is in Mindy's Apartment, back home in Boulder after two months on tour with the orchestra and Mindy is filling him in on what's happened since he's been away. Specifically on the unsettling, to her mind, change in Mork. Fred however doesn't believe that Mork could have changed any more dramatically, beyond growing a second head.
At that, Mork enters, dressed in a blue lounge suit, shite belt and loafers, sporting glasses and a new Ivy League haircut, carrying a briefcase and newspaper. Greeting Mindy with a 'Big Kiss, hon' that's actually just an air kiss, he re-Introduces himself to Fred under his new 'Earth' name of Mory, having decided that Mork was too ethnic and 'Old Planet'. It quickly becomes clear that not only has Mork sworn off Ork-ish ways, but he's become the most mundane of middle class suburbanites.
Mindy is unsettled by this, but Fred doesn't see the problem. On the contrary, he quite likes this nice new 'normal' Mork, and even makes plans to play golf with him the next day, telling Mindy not to worry.
Mindy however is worried, afraid that something has gone badly wrong between herself and Mork. Her agitation growing as Mork, preparing for an evening in with her, dons a straight up regular pair of pajamas and a dressing gown, adding a pipe to the mix. Clearly leaning into the existence of a middle class, middle aged, suburbanite couple with her. Showing no interest in anything bar the most tedious of human past times, he forensically examines the TV Guide, and when Mindy tactfully tries to raise the difference in him, he barely even seems to remember what he was like.
After he's gone to bed, alone downstairs unhappy and unable to sleep Mindy makes her way to the couch and thinks back on how Mork used to be, and how they were together. A little while later, coming down for a glass of water 'Mory' discovers her awake, sitting in the dark, crying,
Immediately concerned, he tries to find out what's wrong, and Mindy confesses that she thinks she's 'ruined him'. That she remembers how special and exciting, and different he was when he first arrived. But she feels her insistence that he behave more human, and 'normal' has eroded what was so special about him. Confused, he tries to recall the person she's talking about, and though he doesn't doubt her, can't seem to remember doesn't doubt her. After a moment, she tells him that to try and help him get that back she's had to make an incredibly hard decision, before dropping the bombshell that she thinks he shouldn't live with her anymore.
Visibly and immediately upset by her decision, Mork wonders if she truly believes that. Mindy explaining that maybe if he gets away from her he may be able to get back to who he was. But Mork doesn't want to believe that, and definitely doesn't want to leave her, trying to cast around for someone who might be able to help them. Mindy noting it will be hard enough to even find someone to believe them, never mind help them. At that Mork, gets a brainwave, commenting that there is one person, before he takes Mindy aback by telling her to stick her finger in his ear. As she looks bewildered and somewhat wary of the kinky sounding request, he explains he's going to take her 'with him' when he goes to speak to Orson. Amazed that she can actually do that, and excited by the prospect of going along to 'meet' Orson, she does as he asks and the two of them appear as he calls for Orson.
Mindy, looking around, is giddy at the fact that she's actually inside his head, 'Mindy McConnell who has never even been to New York!' before she jumps behind him as Orson's voice booms out wanting to know what he's doing bringing an Earthling into his mind. Mork tries to explain, but finds it difficult as he can't really access what he was like in order to do so, and ultimately pushes the nervous Mindy forward to address the hulking Orkan.
Mindy tries to explain to Orson what's happened to Mork. Orson concluding that it sounds like Mork has contracted 'Observer's Syndrome', a behavioral state that affects Orkans have spent too much time on another planet ultimately behaving like the 'creatures' that live there there. In addition, he informs them, if it cannot be cured then Mork will have to be Ostracized. Meaning he will be brought back permanently to Ork, where he will be stripped of his name, his honor and his uniform, then sprayed purple and doomed to wander Ork forever as a 'Fallen' Orkan. Guilt ridden, Mindy asks Orson about the cure he mentioned, and he tells them to have any chance of curing him, he will have to arrange for one of Ork's most exalted Elders, the very wise and very old, 'Ancient One' to travel to Earth to try and retrain Mork in Orkan ways.
The next day, Mindy tells Fred over the phone that this Ancient One is coming, and that if it doesn't work she may never see Mork again. Meanwhile Mork is trying to up his chances of recapturing his old self, talking to the kids in the Day Care Center about his problems, and trying to find out from them what he was like 'before'. Only for them to tell him they haven't really known him long enough to say what he was like. Suggesting that he talk to Mindy. Confessing that he's already spoken to Mindy about it, and is unsure how anyone could be the way she described and not be 'coming in on one engine', whereupon the kids suggest he talk to other people he knew from 'before'.
As that happens, Orson sees the Ancient One's space ship off to Earth.
Taking the kids advice, Mork heads to Remo & Jeanies new restaurant, Da Vinci's, to speak with them. Coming away from them with the idea that he was weird, unpredictable and 'goofy with a side of nice'. When Nelson arrives, newly relaxed and casual in the wake of his election defeat, to meet the newly bereaved Widow Comstock, Mork asks him how he managed to get back to his old self, after getting all uptight during the election. Nelson explained that he had to. That he had become too uptight, so he joined a support group to help him relax and think positively. Which is where he met Glenda Faye Comstock who lost her husband Randolph four months previously, and with whom he is buddying with in the group. On the arrival of the beautiful blonde young widow, they talk with her about how she's coping with the loss of her husband and change in her circumstances. Glenda explaining about her husband's wish that she never lose her spontaneity, at which point she whisks Nelson away to go dune buggy to the border.
Meanwhile the Ancient One nears Earth.
Mork seizes upon Glenda's mention of spontaneity as being one of things Mindy wants from him. Taking that, and what he's picked up from the others, returns home and attempts them all on Mindy. But it's obvious that he's trying far too hard. Mindy, seeing it, assures him he doesn't have to perform for her, but that what he's doing is not going to fool the Elder. Berating herself, she wishes she had appreciated what she had with him when she had it. Feeling terrible she tells him she doesn't want him purple! Before thinking what a weird thing that was to say to someone.
At that moment the lights in the apartment start to fritz, Mork recognizing it as The Ancient One's arrival. Both of them scared, Mork goes to the door and opens it to a blinding gold light which fades to reveal an Orkan Egg Ship. As it opens, to Mindy's shock, it reveals a bespectacled 10 year old boy. Mork remarking that he's even older than he thought, before he falls to his knees in front of him.
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- Orkans can take others into their minds with them via 'the new way' of sticking one's finger in the projecting Orkan's ear and holding onto their nose, though the latter doesn't seem entirely necessary during the events of The Wedding.
- Orkan Observers are susceptible to 'Observer Syndrome' where in they get too close to the species they are observing and begin to take on their traits.
- Orkans who do not measure up to Orkan standards are returned home, stripped of their name and clothes, painted purple and ostracized by the wider Orkan public, getting hassled by the Orkan police.
General[]
- This episode is the first of Mindy's forays into Mork's mind to meet Orson.
- Glenda Faye is introduced through Nelson, but later she's revealed to have been one of Mindy's classmates
- This episode marks the first appearance of perpetually-hungry Stephanie and the second of wise-beyond-her-years Lola, two girls Mork befriended at the daycare center. Genius, Lola was portrayed by Amy Tenowich, daughter of the show's writer/producer, Tom Tenowich, and had already appeared in S2's Looney Tunes and Morkie Melodies, though she was unnamed at that point.
- This episode marks the introduction of the 'Big Kiss' phrase back and forth between Mork & Mindy, which starts off as 'Mory's' substitute air kiss to Mindy but becomes a way to humorously initiate kisses between the two right to the end of the show.
- This is the first appearance of Da Vinci's, Remo's new fully licensed restaurant, further downtown on Walnut Street in Boulder.
- In this episode, Jay Thomas, Gina Hecht and Crissy Wilzak each have featured credits in the opening titles. In subsequent episodes, their names are superimposed over footage of Mork & Mindy.
- Apart from being a good way to help 'reboot' Mork and the original theme of the show, having Mork be more the preppy suburbanite human was also a good way to explain Robin William's super short haircut which was a result of his only having just finished shooting Popeye.
Pop Culture[]
- The playing of Canasta was a running gag through the show as indicative of games of the elderly or super middle class/dull crowd. Massively popular in the 1950s and early 60s in the U.S. it began to wane in popularity and soon became associated with the older, staid, crowd, hence Mindy's appalled reaction to 'Mory's' enthusiasm for it.
- Mork wonders to Fred whether Earl Scheib really does current U.S. President Ronald Reagan's hair. Earl Scheib was a company which specialized in low cost repainting of automobiles.
- Mork is settling down to watch Merv sing 'My Way' underwater with Jacques Cousteau. Merv being Merv Griffin who hosted a late night American television show host and Cousteau the world famous French marine conservationist and explorer, and notes that he'd like to see Phil Donahue, the host of the long running The Phil Donahue Show, do that.
- He tells Mindy they can watch That's Incredible! a realty TV show that ran from 1980 to 1984, featuring real people doing incredible feats, stunts or focusing on paranormal acts. Bo Derek the breathy styled a star of the oft referenced '10' this season, garnered herself, whether rightly or wrongly, a reputation of not being the brightest.
- Lou Grant, a drama show that spun off the massively successful sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show, starring Ed Asner, whose character, a grouchy newspaper editor, rarely changed his habits or his clothes.
- He also mentions Quincy, one of the first medical mystery/cop shows, starring Jack Klugman, a veteran of another of Garry Marshall's sitcoms, The Odd Couple.
- Mork mentions that he read a Stephen King story to the kids at daycare and "nap time didn't go very well." Today King is an internationally known household name, but then his star was merely on the rise. King's sixth book (not counting two published under a pseudonym), "Firestarter," had just been released a few weeks before this episode debuted, and half of of his bibliography had already been adapted as films.
- Mork says either The Elder is arriving or Led Zeppelin is playing nearby. Due to the timing of the episode's airing it was likely this was filmed before the death of founding member John Bonham in October of 1980, which led to the break up of the massively popular hard rock band in that same month.
Quotes[]
- Fred: Hey! You got a haircut!
- Mork: I got 'em all cut!
___________________
- Mork: Uh, not Mork anymore, Fred
- Mindy: Wait'll you hear this
- Mork: It's too ethnic. Call me Mory.
- Mindy: A spaceman called Mory.
___________________
- Mork: I'm working with children now Fred at a daycare center, because I think they are the future of America. Tomorrow's Republicans.
- Fred: Daycare Center that sounds interesting.
- Mork: Well, it's a start Fred. *lays his hand on Mindy's leg* Besides we have our future to think of, don't we Hon?
- Mindy: Right......Mory.
- Mork: Ohh....Oh Minny *air kisses her* Mory & Minny, sounds like something you'd see on the TV doesn't it? Do you play Canasta Fred?
- Mindy: *aghast* Canasta?!?!
___________________
- Mork: Stick your finger in my ear.
- Mindy: *stares at him* I beg your pardon?!
- Mork: No no Mind, we're going to talk to Orson, you and I both! But first I've got to plug you into my mind, so stick your finger in my ear, hold my nose.
- Mindy: You mean I can...I'm gonna go with you into your head...into...into your mind?! Can...can I do that?
- Mork: There's plenty of room!
- Mindy: *slides her finger into his ear* Ohhh this is very strange.
- Mork: You shoulda seen the old way!
___________________
- Julia; I know! Why don't you ask Mindy what you were like?
- Mork: Well I did and I can't see how anyone'd be like that and not be coming in on three engines
___________________
- Mork: Either Led Zeppelin's playing nearby or he's here.
- Mindy: Oh The Elder?!
- Mork: Ohhh the Ancient One is here!
- Mindy: Mork what do I say how do I act?
- Mork: Just be very respectful to the old coot.
Promo[]
Image gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
- Ralph James as Voice of Orson
- Crissy Wilzak as Glenda Faye Comstock
Guest starring/Recurring cast[]
- Vidal Peterson as The Elder
- Julia Hendler as Julia
- Jonathan Ian as Jonathan
- Elliot Jaffe as Elliot
- Stephanie Kayano as Stephanie
- Amy Tenowich as Lola
External links[]
