| "There's a New Mork in Town" | |
|---|---|
| Season 3, Episode #13 (#64) in series (95 episodes) | |
 Xerko (special guest star Lyle Waggoner), a famous Orkan whom Mork idolizes, comes down to Earth in order to challenge Mork, and tries to "woo" Mindy from him as well in "There's a New Mork in Town" in Season 3 (ep.#13). | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Lyle Waggoner Bebo |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 313 (3x13) |
| Writer(s) | Jeff Reno & Ron Osborn |
| Director | Howard Storm |
| Original airdate | February 12, 1981 |
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There's a New Mork in Town |
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| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
There's a New Mork in Town was the 13th episode from season 3 of Mork and Mindy, also the 64th overall episode in the series. Co-written by Jeff Reno and Ron Osborn, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, premiered on ABC-TV on February 12, 1981.
Synopsis[]
Orson informs Mork that he is to be honored by a visit from one of Ork's greatest ever citizens, 'Xerko The Magnificent'. But Mork's excitement at the arrival of his idol is short-lived, when Xerko makes an unexpected announcement to him and Mindy about their future.
Plot[]
In the Apartment, Mindy is happy to be working but caviling at the fluff pieces she's getting at KTNS, While she and Mork are talking about it, Mr. Bickley knocks on the door to ask them for a favor. He is having a special lady, Louise Ann Ruttenberg, in from Phoenix on a date the following night, and he's after any Perry Como records they might have. Mindy only has his Christmas Album, but Mr. Bickley is more than happy with that.
As Mork is shaking his hand wishing him good luck and goodbye he freezes in place. Despite Mindy's surreptitious poking and prodding he won't let go of Mr. Bickley's hand and she's forced to pull Mork's hand from his. With Bickley gone, Mork finally comes back. He tells Mindy that Orson called informing him that he is to receive a visit from 'Xerko The Magnificent'. He tells her Xerko is his idol and the greatest Orkan that ever lived. Mindy wonders why someone like Xerko would want to come to her apartment, but Mork says Orson didn't say and is too in a flap to care, going into a tizz over getting the place cleaned up for him.
In the early hours, Mork is watching out his window for the arrival of Xerko's Egg. Instead Xerko (Lyle Waggoner) beams into his room, via Air Ork's prototype H28 beam, which he himself invented. Strapping, 6'4" handsome, poised, with a perfect smile, and his own personalized Orkan uniform, Xerko is supremely confident and a massive egotist. And Mork his total groupie. Xerko tells Mork he will talk about his mission with him later, but admires very much what Mork has done, and in fact admires a lot of what Mork has.
He tells Mork that his reports are so colorful that Earth is being considered an 'up and coming planet on the move', but it feels as if Earthlings are in need of leadership to take them into the next century,. He is there to provide that leadership, and Mork is a key component in his plan. Mork pesters him to know what his plan is, but Xerko tells him he must be patient as the plan also involves his Earthling, Mindy, and wants to tell the two of them together. Unable to wait, despite the early hour, Mork brings Xerko downstairs to wake Mindy, and surprise her with Xerko. But she is already awake, unable to sleep knowing another Orkan is coming to visit. Xerko introduces himself in an un-Orkan fashion, complimenting her on being more lovely than Mork's reports had them believe. Mork fanboys over Xerko to her, comparing himself to 'wormsweat', which she laughs off. When she tries to greet Xerko in return, Xerko comes on to her, which neither she nor Mork expects, and making her query with Xerko if he is actually an Orkan. Chuckling he admits to having studied Earth's ways finding them very fascinating, with her helping to make them that way.
Mork tells her that Xerko has a wonderful surprise to tell them, and that he had to tell them both together. When Mork asks him what the surprise is, Xerko comes straight out and tells him, "I want your job." Mork immediately starts to celebrate, not taking it in. When it does sink in, both he and Mindy want to know what Xerko means, and he explains that he intends to challenge Mork to the duel of the Holitacker and when he wins he will become Earths new Observer. When Mork wants to know why he wants to take that from him, Xerko tells him that Mork's reports have become far too popular on Ork, and he can't have that continuing, unless he is the one giving them. Doing so would be a giant step in his illustrious career. To Mindy's dismay, rather than rise to the challenge, Mork simply deflates, feeling he has no chance at all against Xerko 'the Godlike', literally handing her over to Xerko assuring her she will be very happy with him. When she tells him he can't just give up, he assures her he can and goes to go outside to re-carve the Mork & Mindy heart in the tree outside to Xerko & Mindy.
Deeply concerned, Mindy discusses Mork's lack of resistance, and how quickly Xerko is making the place his own, with her father, and Fred assures her that he will talk with this Xerko and tell him he can't just breeze in to her life and replace Mork. But on meeting the now dapper dressed Xerko, Fred, en route to his job as conductor with the Boulder Symphony Orchestra, is genuinely impressed with Xerko's charm, and normality in comparison to Mork, and especially his knowledge of Stravinsky. And Mindy can only watch in alarm as her father tells Xerko to call him Fred and invites him along to that evening's performance of Schubert with him. On his way out after Fred, Xerko stops in front of Mindy to remind her that the Holitacker is at midnight that night, that he wants her there when Mork concedes, wearing 'something tight'. Pissed off, Mindy glowers at him and tells him as long as she has anything to do about it, Mork won't concede. That Mork may not believe in himself but she believes in Mork. Telling her he loves it when she's angry Xerko grabs her and kisses her telling her she's like an 'E Ticket' to Disneyland.
Marching upstairs, Mindy discovers Mork in the middle of packing, and demands that he stop, telling him he's not a quitter. To encourage him to believe in himself she tells him the story of going up a girl who was better than her at everything in school, even the thing she was best at, spelling. But every year she'd go up against her in the School Spelling Bee, being beaten repeatedly, until one year she finally won, and the unexpected victory was all the more wonderful. In fact she still has the ribbon to prove it ...though the other girl went on to win the Nobel Prize. The story is enough to encourage Mork to at least give the Holitacker his best
Midnight arrives with the Holitacker's two sets of 'perimeter goals' set up, which if either duelist is driven through signals loss of the duel. Formally caped and ready, Xerko issues the challenge to Mork still upstairs, and almost pounces on Mindy when she emerges from her room. As she watches him warily he tells her that when its done he will present her with the fruits of his victory. Mork's Ears. Horrified Mindy confronts him saying Mork told her it was a non-violent contest, and Xerko assures her that it is. Orkan ears, in fact, screw off. Trying to hide the knocking of his knees and cracking of his voice, Mork also in full uniform and black cape comes down from the attic to face Xerko. Steadying him, telling him no matter what he's a winner to her, she pins her Spelling Bee ribbon on him as a token to wear during the duel, and goes to kiss him, Mork stopping her to lift his cape to hide the kiss from Xerko, both of them giving him smug looks when he lowers it. Mindy tells Mork to give Xerko hell.
Both Orkans remove their cape, Xerko with panache handing it to Mindy, Mork getting himself tangled up in it and then throwing it over her head. Mork is alarmed however when Xerko, as the challenger, picks the weapons they will use, the Invisible Swords of Cletus, which sound like Lightsabers as they move through the air. Xerko demonstrates his skill on candles and a fly, which petrifies Mork again. Just about holding himself together, he begins the duel, stopping himself going straight through the 'goal posts' and then getting his sword stuck in the wall. Weaponless, he is only able to avoid Xerko's attacks as Mindy tries to find the invisible sword. Meanwhile her apartment is being dismantled with her lamp, wicker chest, couch and phone all cut to shreds. Finally finding the sword stuck in the wall she pulls it and a chunk of plaster out and throws the sword back to Mork.
The two Orkan's resume their fight going up into and back down out of the attic, at which point Xerko gets his sword point to Mork's throat. Diving on Xerko, Mindy tries to wrestle him away from Mork, which Xerko takes as amorous intent on her part. At which point a furious Mr. Bickley enters, his date with Lorraine Sue ruined by the noise coming from their apartment, and his date heading back to Phoenix. As he rants all of them try to pretend nothing is going on, and go to resume as he leaves, only for him to enter again, forcing them to freeze again, before he leaves for good.
Xerko tells Mork the time has come to finish it, that Earth and Mindy are now his. Mork gives him a faceful of garlic breath and with Mindy encouraging him to 'cream' Xerko, and Mork intent on doing it for her, Xerko slices Mindy's ribbon from Mork's chest. Outraged, Mork goes full Errol Flynn offensive on Xerko only to be unceremoniously disarmed again. Back to avoiding Xerko's sword thrusts again, Mork is worn down and on the ground on the verge of defeat only to literally pull Mindy's rug out from under Xerko's feet, unbalancing him and sending him through one of the sets of goalposts, dropping a net on his head, and giving Mork the victory
Xerko to his credit takes it in good part, congratulating Mork on his valiant fight, and trying to deal with never having lost anything before, especially to the likes of Mork. Mindy tells him that he's learned a good lesson, on Earth called humility. Xerko understanding this new feeling, agrees that he has indeed acquired humility. And now having acquired it he will leave even more perfect than he was before! As he beams out, Mindy tells Mork how proud of him she is, and he admits that he's proud of himself too. He apologizes for her wrecked apartment, but while regretting that, she feels the more important thing is that he's back together, while he feels the very most important thing is that they are back together again. Sitting together on her couch which he pulls back together, they discuss the fact he never told her that his ears unscrew, and what if anything else might come off.
The episode ends with Mork's report to Orson, Mork brags about his bravery only to be ratted out by Bebo. Orson tells him and has lost a bundle on a bet against Mork. Mork confesses that he actually bet against himself, but has found out that if you bet against yourself you always lose. He feels good over winning but better that he tried, commenting that it's not what's in front of you that blocks your way, it's what is inside you that holds you back.
Goofs[]
- After Mork comes out of his Orson induced trance and is telling Mindy about Xerko's imminent visit, two different takes have clearly been spliced together, as first Mork is holding Mindy's hands then his holding his hands up in front of him, and then has her hands in his again.
- Mindy's couch that gets cut in half during the Hollitacker Duel between Mork & Xerko, is clearly not the regular couch, but a 'stunt couch' , the arms of which are good 8 inches lower in height then that of the regular couch, making it the third couch used on the show (after its initial replacement in Mork vs. The Necrotons, Part 1).
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- This is the first time the Orkan H28 beam, created by Xerko is used, which will feature again numerous times in Season 4 when it's moved beyond it's prototype phase.
- Van Yuck is the Orkan responsible for Mork's landscape in his room, a pre-eminent Orkan Artist. Van Yuck himself hanging in Xerko's home.
- Xerko is the composer of the Orkan National Anthem (though as Mork previously said this was 10 minutes of sucking through your teeth in Stark Raving Mork it remains to be seen how lyrical this is)
General[]
- This is one of the 10 episodes that take places entirely in Mindy's Apartment.
- The title is possibly a take-off of the popular CBS sitcom "Alice," which featured the theme song "There's a New Girl in Town.", but could also be referencing the The Eagles 1976 Hit 'New Kid in Town' about a guy being replaced by the arrival of a more popular character, including with his girl. Where you've been lately? There's a new kid in town. Everybody loves him, don't they? He's holding her, and you're still around'
- Xerko's costume is different from all of the other Orkans featured on the show, in that his triangle is black with silver trim, rather than silver, he has more ranking insignia on his sleeves, and he also has epaulettes on his shoulders signifying his considerable rank.
- Mork's famous/infamous Baloney Sundaes come up again, this time a forlorn Mork telling Xerko that Mindy prefers hers without Baloney
- After being referenced in several episodes (Mork's Greatest Hit, Mork vs. The Necrotons, Part 2 ) this is the first episode featuring an actual Holitacker.
- Mindy's 'Ribbon' story features again in the show (Drive, She Said) as a bit of a running joke
- Mork gives his report to Orson from his 'Killer Naugahyde' Chair installed in his revamped attic room by The Elder.
Pop Culture[]
- Bickley comes looking for Perry Como albums from Mindy, Como being along with Sinatra and Tony Bennett one of the great 'crooners' of the post WWII era, as well as having Seasonal TV Specials. One of which in Spring of 1979, Pam Dawber had appeared in, and sang several numbers with him.
- When Mork tells Mindy 'Xerko' is coming she queries if he means one of the Marx Brothers, confusing Xerko for Zeppo, The fourth (of five) and youngest of the Marx brothers and 'straight man' who made appearances alongside his brothers in their early movies.
- Mork again uses record company parlance for a song moving up the singles charts rapidly, 'sixteen with a bullet?!' for the rise in interest in Earth as an up and coming planet, possibly also side referencing Peter Wingfield's 1975 hit 'Eighteen with a bullet'
- Xerko tells Fred and Mindy he wrote the Orkan National Anthem, 'I wrote the song that made my whole world sing', a gag around Barry Manilow's 1975 hit "I Write The Songs"
- Xerko's reference to Mindy as an "E ticket" is a reference to the type of admission ticket used at the Disneyland and Magic Kingdom theme parks before 1982, where it admitted the bearer to the newest, most advanced, or popular rides and attractions.
- The Swords of Cletus used in the Holitacker can't be seen but give off the same sound as lightsabers from Star Wars.
- Xerko's 'Beam Me Up, Scotty', is a direct reference to Star Trek.
- Show host Monty Hall gets another mention in Mork's report to Orson
Quotes/Excerpts[]
- Mr. Bickley: I was thinking more along the lines of Perry Como
- Mindy: All I have is his Christmas Album
- Mr. Bickley: Perfect! Little Drummer Boy works quicker than liquor!
_________________________
- Mindy: Gee Mr.Bickley it's too bad you have to run
- Mr. Bickley: (backing away from Mork) I don't think so. That boy's a little thin from the neck up.
_________________________
- Mork: Oh Mind! You'll never guess what! You'll never guess what!
- Mindy: I never have yet.
- Mork: Oh Mind, you'll never guess whose going to grace us with his magnificent presence!!
- Mindy: Who?
- Mork: Xerko!
- Mindy: Xerko?! One of the Marx Brothers?!
_________________________
- Mindy: Why would this ehh...Xerox, want to come here?!
- Mork: No, his name...his name is Xerko, Mind! And there's no duplicating him!
_________________________
- Xerko: But it seems as though the Earth people are so hungry for leadership, they need someone to guide them into the next century. And I know just the Orkan who can do it.
- Mork: Oh thank you sir, I'd better go hop in the shower.
- Xerko: Mork! Mork...silly misguided Mork. I was referring of course to myself! Twinkle of Eye! Sparkle of Teeth!
_________________________
[As Mr. Bickley bursts in, Mindy stops struggling with Xerko who pulls his invisible-sword back from Mork's throat and everyone straightens up]
- Mr. Bickley: What have you got against love?! Lorraine Sue's heart was beating faster than The Little Drummer Boy's stick, and you have to start playing hide-and-go-kinky! And what's the situation now? Lorraine Sue is thumbing her way back to Phoenix, and I'm left with my motor racing and no place to park! *he goes out, and they start to fight and struggle again, but he comes straight back in* Oh and by the way, don't bother trying to explain this. I'm sure I'll be filled in by the vice-squad later.
_________________________
- Mindy: You know, you never told me that Orkan ears unscrew. Gee, I'm afraid to ask what else comes off.
- Mork: You got me, Mind, I've tried everything.
Image Gallery[]
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
- Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley
- Ralph James as Voice of Orson
- Jay Thomas as Remo DaVinci (credited only)
- Gina Hecht as Jeanie DaVinci (credited only)
- Jim Staahl as Nelson Flavor (credited only)
- Crissy Wilzak as Glenda Faye Comstock (credited only)
Guest starring/Recurring cast[]
- Lyle Waggoner as Xerko
- Gregg Berger (Voice) as Bebo
