Pajama Game II

"Pajama Game II"
Season 4, Episode #11 (#84) in series (95 episodes)
Under pressure from Mindy to be consistent in his parenting, in an attempt to get Mearth to behave, Mork offers the incentive of a sleepover with his friends, Which works, until the parents are faced with their son sleeping over alone with the equally physically mature Zelka, who has a thing for Mearth. in "Pajama Game II" in Season 4 (ep.#11).
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Maureen Arthur Harvey Lembeck
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	411 (4x11)
Writer(s)	Cindy Begel & Lesa Kite
Director	Bob Claver
Original airdate	January 7, 1982
IMDB	Pajama Game II
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List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

Pajama Game II is the 11th episode from Season 4 of Mork and Mindy, the 84th overall episode in the series. Co-written by Cindy Begel and Lesa Kite, the episode, which was directed by Bob Claver, was shot on December 4, 1981 and premiered on ABC-TV on January 7, 1982.

Synopsis

Mearth gains a sleepover for his Orkan friends as a reward for his good behavior, but Mork & Mindy don't expect Zelka the class flirt to turn up. The complexity of the full grown size of the 'kids' is further compounded for Mindy when she finds Mearth with an adult magazine in his pocket.

Plot

A cheery Mindy gets home from work only to find Mork yelling up into the attic, exasperated and on edge over Mearth's behavior. Wanting to know what happened to her "Hi Little Pooter, Big Kiss!" greeting from him, Mork complains about the stress he's under demanding that Mindy deal with 'her son'. Mindy wearily tells him she can't come home every day and be the villain. Asserting that, When there's a disciplinary problem, he's going to have to learn to deal with it.

Mork agrees she's right, but immediately considers using either threats or over the top rewards to deal with him. Mindy amused, reminds him that they may be new parents but they can't bounce from one extreme to the other, he's got to be consistent. Taking his hand she tells him they're going to go upstairs and act like two calm, rational parents. However, as she leads him towards the stairs, they hear the sound of a bowling ball hurtling down a lane, and a few moments later a second ball and the two remaining pins from the split come hurtling down the stairs.

Going up into the attic they find the room looking like a bomb has hit it. When Mearth goes to greet and hug his mother, Mindy wants to know why his room is such a mess, and why he was bowling in the house? Mearth replies it's league night and there weren't any lanes free. Mork reacts irritatedly, saying he has an answer for everything, and poses him a nonsensical brainteaser in return which makes Mindy pull him away and tell him to get on with reasoning with his son. . Consistency she reminds him, which Mork insists he knows. Finally getting to the point, Mindy looks approving, as Mork asks Mearth how he would feel if had any of his little friends over and they saw the pig sty he was living in. Mearth however is relaxed about it, as this is 'lifestyle' not some WestPoint white glove inspection. However, Mork's comment about having some friends over has caught his attention. Mork, he says, said something about having friends over, how about, he asks...sleepover?

Mindy, tells him that if he can prove to her and Mork that he's responsible and takes pride in his possessions then they'll consider it. Congratulating Mork on handling that like a real father, Mindy leads him to the stairs, but Mork is in the groove and wants to talk to her about the 'pantyhose jungle' she has going in their bathroom, and has they head down, Mearth gets up, looks around him, determined to aim for his prize, and uses his finger to go full Mary Poppins and clean up his room in a matter of seconds.

A couple of mornings later, Mindy is lying exposed in their bed, with no bed covers on her, bar one corner of a blanket she's clutching on to. Mork on waking turns to her asking if she slept well, which she confirms she did till about 3am when he stole all the covers. Actually he did it at 1am, he confesses, but she didn't notice, and her 'little bones shaking' helped him to get to sleep. Grinning at her he offers to keep her warm and pulls the covers over both of them to snuggle up with her, the pair of them giggling, only to jump apart as there is a knock on the door, and a white gloved Mearth enters with their breakfast on a tray, singing a good morning song. Another step in his plan of campaign, to be the model child, that he has carried out over the past few days. While Mork murmurs to Mindy to be careful, that he thinks he's angling for the pony. Mearth reminds them of their conversation about his having some friends over if he was good, and they agree that was the case and he can have some friends over. What they're not expecting is their immediate arrival as Mearth tells them to 'come on down!', and two of his friends from class, Ovits and the flirty Zelka arrive right in Mindy & Mork's bedroom beside their bed. As Zelka enthuses about their place being 'Really Raznick', and Ovits is unimpressed thinking it even tackier than Pluto, taken unawares Mindy & Mork can only shift uncomfortably as they are examined in bed together by the newly arrived Orkan kids.

A little later Mindy's attitude is rather more awed as she and Mork stand in the kitchen staring at the 15 versions of their phone that the kids just happily cloned while their backs were turned. Mork is philosophical about it, until the phone starts to ring and looking at each other they realize they have to figure out which one is ringing, and start answering each phone. Mork triumphantly finds it and deals with the prank caller at the other end 'Yes we have Prince Albert in a can and we Did let him out already!', before a loud explosion interrupts their good humor and they witness the three young Orkans come down the stairs Mearth carrying his pet giraffe George, whose head has been blown off...by Ovits, who thinks its hilarious. Zelka is on Mearths' side, calling Ovits, mean, which he takes as a compliment, and when Mearth tries to say something to him, Ovits calls him a wimp and tells him to shut up. Mindy having to get in between them to break them up, before she stares at Mork saying she thought Orkans were supposed to be non-violent! When she tells them to make up, they do after a fashion, and then shake...literally. Further hostilities are cut off by the sound of the H28 beam notification, and Mindy escorts the visiting kids to the beam spot by the door, where Ovits gives a rehearsed polite goodbye to Mork & Mindy and is beamed out. But not Zelka. Confused, Mindy comments that she's missed the beam, but Zelka bouncily says no, Mearth asked her to sleep over and grabbing her egg shaped bag, heads up the stairs telling Mearth she wants to hear that new Olivia Newton John record...Let's Get Physical...which makes her crazy.

Watching the two middle aged kids head up the Mindy freaks a little, grabbing at Mork, confused and suggesting that Zelka can't stay over, can she? But he points out they were the ones that gave permission for a sleep over, and she was the one who said, consistency. He also reminds her that they're innocents, just kids. Mindy agrees, and confesses she's just having a rough time trying to get her head around the age reverse thing, and keeps forgetting that in their minds they're just babies, even if their bodies are anatomically correct. Her nascent calm however, is blown away when she moves Mearth's jacket and finds a copy of 'Bronco' magazine underneath it, complete with a 'Miss January' centerfold, which she shows to Mork to make her point. They never know what he's going to do next, he's just growing up so fast. But she knows one thing, that when boys start looking at those kinds of magazines its time for their fathers to have conversation with them about the difference between boys and girls. But Mork says he's already done that, telling him that boys like sports and girls like to wear make up and if you're Alice Cooper you can do both. Mindy however is not impressed, and tells him that after Zelka leaves they're going to sit him down for 'the talk, but Mork still feels he's too young for it. They are further divided when Mearth comes back down looking to borrow a stethoscope from Mindy, which she of course doesn't have, and he grins widely saying he's just going to have to use his ear, going back up to Zelka Picking up on what he means, Mindy looks askance at Mork, but he is just proudly reacting to his son 'the Doctor'. Rolling her eyes, she insists they are going to have to keep their eyes on the two kids all night.

Come time for the sleepover and Mindy & Mork have moved the kids into the living room, with them, setting up a 'camp site' with tent, sleeping bags and a small Sterno butane burner, over which they are roasting marshmallows. However, while Mork & Mindy are upbeat and cheery, Mearth & Zelka look unhappy and bored. Mearth demands to know what's going on? He only wanted to take a hot bath with Zelka and suddenly they're camping out like The Wilderness family. Mindy and Mork try to get them enthused about their indoor camping experience, and encourage them to tell stories. Finally Mork tries to stir their imagination, telling to imagine they aren't in the living room, but in deepest darkest Africa. Getting up and setting the mood, with tribal 'chants', animal sounds, and encouraging Mearth to take on the role of the 'Reasonable White Hunter' with he his 'Rochester' like bearer, out to collect samples for San Diego Zoo. Father and son then embark on a wild adventurous 'trek' through the imaginary hunt, complete with wild cats, huge snakes, and bazookas, which bewilders Zelka but certainly makes Mindy laugh.

*********************

Cut Scene

At that point Mr. Bickley suddenly bursts in through the door with a fire extinguisher in his hand, having smelled smoke, he realizes his mistake on seeing the Sterno 'campfire', before taking in the group pajama party. And promptly jumping to the wrong, smutty, conclusion. Mindy thanking him profusely for his neighborliness tries to get him back out the door as quickly as possible but handing off the fire extinguisher to her he holds his ground, stating he's shocked, appalled, and staying. Mindy tries to tell him its not the kind of 'party' he thinks it is, but a disbelieving Bickley laughs that off, sarcastically noting that a 'lot' of consenting adults sit around in P.J's talking world peace.

Bickley suggesting 'Telephone Repairman and Aunt Mary'

Mindy tries to enlist Mearth and Zelka to prove what she's saying by pointedly noting that this is a perfectly normal party with perfectly normal 'earthlings'. Right? Mearth picking up on his mother's cue, greets Mr. Bickley as his Great White Hunter character 'Lord Whitney Flatbush' and introduces Zelka as his 'hand maiden'. Entirely backfiring on Mindy, with Bickley running with it as a 'Fantasy' role play element of the Swingers party going on. Trying to hit on Zelka Bickley asks if she's ever played 'Telephone Repairman and Aunt Mary'? Zelka says no, but adds that she's a fast learner, to Mindy's expectations, and Bickley's delight . Bickley immediately taking off his clip on tie and tossing it over his shoulder, extoling how he's been wasting his time with videos down below while heaven was just one flight up!

Bickley 'Bedding' in.

Mork, not understanding what Bickley is thinking, asks Mindy if he should fetch a stick and marshmallow, Bickley remarking that could be fun too as he takes a seat by the Sterno. Mindy however quietly and urgently impresses on Mork the need to get Bickley out of there now! Grabbing a shoulder each they get him up and try and walk him to the door, Mindy telling Bickley its a real shame he has to go. Bickley pleads with them to let him say, telling them his Betamax is in the shop. But Mork tells him not to worry he can read about what happens in the building newsletter. Resigned as he opens the door, Bickley agrees to go, but says he never would have guessed all this, especially of Mindy. Looking her over he notes, with a smirk, that the raciest books always come in plain brown wrappers, and exits with a trademark. la la la...

Having got rid of him finally, Mork asks the kids what they'd like to do now, only for Mearth to say he and Zelka want to go up to his room to play. Quickly asserting they don't want to go before they hear Mindy's Raisin Loaf story. Much to the kids disappointment he tells her to hit, . Kicking off her story, Mindy tells them she was 8 years old, and it was October...or maybe November. Trying to earn her Brownie merit badge in baking, she had flour all over the kitchen, yeast rising...but not a raisin in the house, wondering how do you make raisin loaf without raisins? At this point Mork, giggling throughout, is on the floor laughing, holding his sides in full Arr Arr mode, declaring this story always kills him. As Mindy progresses, recounting how she put on her coat and gloves and went across the road to the Nelsons only to find they didn't have any raisins either, Mork is in convulsions of laughter unable to stand it, 'Two houses, no raisins!!' as Mearth and Zelka stare at each other in disbelief.

*********************

The next morning, Mork and Mindy wake up in their sleeping bags in the living room, and after enjoying the peacefulness notice they are alone. Mearth & Zelka having abandoned their sleeping bags in the night. The pair appear moments later coming down together from Mearth's room, singing 'Let's Get Physical'. Mork immediately reverts to Mearth being *Mindy's* son, and dumps the matter in her hands wishing her good luck. When Mindy nervously asks them what they were doing up there, Zelka tells her in no uncertain terms 'sleeping', as they couldn't get to sleep due to the noise downstairs. Mearth telling Mindy that she may have a little bump of a nose but she snores loud! Mindy's embarrassment only lasts seconds, as Zelka thanking Mearth for not letting her sleep alone makes her anxious again. As does Zelka telling Mork and Mindy that she enjoyed their son very much, right as the alert for the H28 beam goes off for her to go home.

After her departure (along with their front door) Mindy informs Mork that it's past due for 'the talk', and Mork accepts that he's in the batter's cage. After they all troupe to the table, Mork begins by complimenting Mearth's shirt, and Mindy calls strike one. Feeling she's calling them a 'little close', Mork moves on by outlining there are males and females in the world, and sometimes they fall in love, register at Bloomingdales, get married, and then try and marry off all their single friends. Mindy reminds him he left out one crucial part. And nodding he adds, sometimes they just go for the cash. Mindy mutters she *meant* how babies get to be babies. Mork mutters he's not sure Mearth is interested in that right now, but Mearth mutters that he is interested in that right now. Mork shifts uncomfortably, and tries a few times to get started but cant get the words out, and decides the only way he can do it is a mind probe. Standing up he presses his forehead to his son and with the neurons flying shows his son how babies are made. Mearth reacts only with mild surprise and curiosity, but isn't really entirely sure what it has to do with him? Mindy awkwardly reminds him that Zelka said she didn't sleep alone, Mearth takes that on board, and agrees that she didn't sleep alone. He gave her his teddy bear. She slept with his bear upstairs, and he slept in their bed downstairs while they were asleep on the floor in the living room. He then tells them about the 'story' Mork just told him, he figures he'll make sense of it someday. Mindy starting to feel a little foolish, asks him one more question as they get up, wondering, if he didn't understand his Daddy's story, why he had 'that funny magazine' in his pocket? That, Mearth says was in Mr. Bickley's garbage and he took it thinking to make paper airplanes out of it, but thought better of it. He excuses himself as he wants to go make up the beds now, to continue his campaign of good behavior as he wants to earn enough brownie points to be able to earn a sleep over at Zelkas on Ork. Feeling foolish, Mindy admits they jumped to conclusions, laughing at it being the Teddy Zelka slept with. But Mork is less amused, telling her that he still has he really hard part now...heading for the stairs to go tell a Teddy Bear the facts of life.

Mork signs in to report to Orson, who is glad to see him, but just because he wants Mork to play RacOrk Ball, and promptly provides Mork with a headband and an oversized racquet. Orson is playing in a celebrity tournament on the planet Fuca, that he needs the practice, and tells Mork he can give his report as they play. Mork tells him as he returns a backhand, that this week his report is on parenthood. Orson responds 'Again?' and tells him he could use some variety that lately all he seems to talk about is raising his son. Mork notes its a tough job keeping the children of today from becoming the children of tomorrow. Orson calls one of his returns out, and after a brief argument, Orson pulls his thunder card, and Mork goes back to playing muttering Orson would never get away with that at Wimbledon.

Cut: Mr. Bickley Scene

Obviously episodes shave scenes for time, as a matter of course, and often they show up on DVDs as extras. This has not, as yet, happened with Mork & Mindy DVDs. It may be the case that many aren't in existence anymore, but the plethora of new outtakes/bloopers etc., that came in the tributes and documentaries in the wake of the sad losses of Robin Williams and Garry Marshall, seem to indicate that they may well still be in existence

Sudden or slightly awkward edits/cuts here and there through some episodes of the show indicate where scenes may have been lifted out for time in the show. The late great Tom Poston in his Television Academy Interview, speaks about acting on set alongside Jonathan Winters. However In the one episode he does actually appear in, in Season 4, (Three The Hard Way).he never interacts with Jonathan Winters, as Mearth only appears at the end.

Bickley is however mentioned by name in Pajama Game II (as the owner of the adult magazine 'Bronco' Mearth has in his possession) and it appears very much as if he actually appeared in the episode itself, as shots of at least one scene from Season 4's Pajama Game II exist. They indicated that Bickley came upstairs during the 'camp out' scene in Mindy & Mork's apartment with Mearth & Zelka. As Mearth is wearing his Pith Helmet this seems to be post his imaginary Jungle Trek riff with Mork, and judging by the fire extinguisher in Mindy's hand there was either an incident or the need for preventing one.

Trivia

Orkan 'Facts'

• This is the first time we see Mork use a mind probe to convey information near instantly. Whether this is just possible between Orkans or he can transfer info to humans/other beings isn't known.
• Orson is apparently an Interplanetary Celebrity.

General

• The Episode Title aims to sound like a sequel to the popular Broadway musical, later Doris Day film, 'The Pajama Game', but bears no resemblance at all to the plot which is set in a pajama factory.
• Mork says he saw Ordinary People twice, and Popeye once. Robin Williams starred as the title character Popeye, which was shot between the second and third seasons of Mork and Mindy and it came out the same year's Ordinary People, the family drama which won the Academy Award for Best Picture that year.
• The "Pajama Game II" episode continues the Orkan school storyline, with Maureen Arthur returning as Zelka, and Harvey Lembeck back as Ovits, in what turned out to be his final performance (broadcast two days after his untimely death at age 58).
• Zelka enthuses about Mindy & Mork's bedroom 'Really Raznick' which maybe an inside writers joke referring to fellow writer Deborah Raznick.

Pop Culture

• Mork tells Mindy only people like Richard Simmonds care about home makers like him, Simmonds being the American fitness instructor, actor, and video producer, known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality.
• Mork says Mearth is doing things that would upset the Turkish Police. Ever since Midnight Express (1978) came out the Turkish police (and prison system) had been given a bad reputation
• Mindy tells Mork he can't bounce from one extreme to the other and he tells her to tell that to Elridge Cleaver who was a Muslim radical and early leader of the Black Panther movement, who later converted to the Church of Latter Day Saints, and a conservatives Republican.
• Mork says he doesn't understand why they make Häagen-Dazs Ice cream in the Bronx. Häagen-Dazs was established by Reuben and Rose Mattus in The Bronx, New York, in 1960.
• Mork references Robert Conrad and the Eveready battery on his shoulder, in his nonsensical brainteaser to Mearth.
• Olivia Newton John's 'Physical' was a massive hit in late 1981, only a couple of months before this episodes airing, whose suggestive lyrics helped change her image from a clean cut 'Sandy' from Grease to a more assertive, sexually aware singer.
• When Mindy shows him 'Miss January' from the Western Themed Adult magazine 'Bronco', that Mearth has apparently been checking out, Mork exclaims 'Cowabunga, Buffalo Bob!' the greeting exchanged between the characters Buffalo Bob and Chief Thunderthud, in the western themed Howdy Doody kids show, and where the term Cowabunga originated from.
• Mork says he's spoken to Mearth about the difference between boys and girls, telling him that boys like sports and girls like to wear make up and if you're Alice Cooper you can do both. Alice Cooper's glam metal phase (and horror influences) saw him wear a lot of heavy make up through his career.
• Mearth wants to know why they're suddenly camped out together in the front room like The Wilderness Family. A series of 3 movies running from 1975 - 1979 filmed in Gunnison National Forest in Colorado about a city family that rebuild a new life out in the wild and the adventures and trouble they run into.
• They are sitting around a Sterno butane burner which is still a popular brand of camping and indoor burners.
• Mork tells Zelka her Orkan Salesman story has 'more plot' than Kurt Vonnegut ever uses. Vonnegut was known more for the use of narrative voice (often two way forwards/back) than plot.
• In Mork & Mearth's riff on the 'Reasonable White Hunter' trek through the jungle, Mork takes on Eddie Anderson's character of Rochester van Jones, the wise cracking valet to Jack Benny in his radio show and later the CBS TV program for 1950 - 1965.
• At the end of Mork & Mearth's jungle 'adventure', Mork warns Mearth he's done it now, having shot 'Marlin Perkins!' Richard Mariln Perkins being a noted American zoologist, best known as a host of the television program Wild Kingdom from 1963 to 1985.
• Mork extols to Mindy the 'peacefulness' of waking up in the morning in the living room to no noise, no smog...no Underall commercials. An undoubted in joke on the part of the writers, Pam Dawber having appeared in one of the more famous Underall Commercials in 1977, the year before the show started.

Quotes

• Mork: *as Mindy enters* He's your son, *you* go up there and talk to him!!
• Mindy: *bewildered* What?
• Mork: *yells up the attic stairs* You're gonna get it now, your Mother's home!! Don't make a face like that it might freeze that way! And take that out of your mouth you don't know where its been!.

______________________________________

• Mindy: What are you so hysterical about?
• Mork: Hysterical?! Moi!?! Your son is up there doing things that would embarrass the Turkish Police. *flounces away* Now you, you go upstairs and you beat some sense into him! *collapses to the couch dramatically* Uhhh...oh...ohhh!! My head! I can hear snails!!

______________________________________

• Mork: Oh Mr Smarty Pants, you have an answer for everything don'tcha hah hah.. Well how about this one. If the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, and the speed of a slug is one inch an hour? How long has Robert Conrad had that battery on his shoulder?

______________________________________

• Mearth: However, you said something about having some friends over? *looks at Mindy*
• Mindy: *confirms* That's what he said.
• Mearth: How about.even..sleepover?
• Mindy: *takes Morks arm* Well Mearth, if you could prove to us that you are a responsible young man who takes a little pride in his possessions, then maybe we'll see?
• Mork: Me too?
• Mindy: No!

______________________________________

• Mindy: *in front of 15 phones* Those kids are amazing! We turn our back for one second and they cloned the phone!
• Mork: Look on the bright side though, Mind. If we ever have a telethon we're prepared!
• *phone starts to ring, they look at the phones, then look at each other, sigh and start to answer phones*
• Mork: Hello? Mindy: Hello? Mork: Hello? Mindy: Hello? Mork: Hello? Mindy: Hello? Mork: Hello? Mindy: Hello?
  • goes on until Mork gets to the last one*
• Mork: Hah HAH! *picks it up* Yes? ........Yes we have Prince Albert in a Can and yes we DID let him out already! HAH HAH!! *hangs up, and looks triumphantly at Mindy* They're Not going to get me twice in one day!!
• Mindy: *laughs, then jumps in alarm at sound of explosion coming from the attic* What was that?!
• Mork: Sounded like a loud noise!

______________________________________

• *Mork talks as Mindy moves Mearth's coat and does a double take at the 'Bronco' magazine beneath, opening it, her eyes widening*
• Mork: When you think about it Mearth's just into snakes and snails and puppy dog tails.
• Mindy: *holds up centerfold, aghast* And Miss January!!
• Mork: *blinks* Cowabunga Buffalo Bob!

______________________________________

• Mindy: Well isn't this fun?! Camping out in the living room all together.
• Mork: Hey you get the best of both worlds! You get...you get that great outdoor feeling and that great indoor carpet!.
• Mearth: *laughs, then his smile disappears rapidly* What is happening here?! You tell me. What is happening here?! All I wanted to do was take a hot bath with Zelka, and suddenly we're the Wilderness Family!!!

______________________________________

• Mork: Hey c'mon! We're sitting around the old Sterno. We can swap stories and make stew. Or we can...we can swap stew and make stories. Or we can all get stewed!

______________________________________

• Zelka: *about a story* Oh! Mearth I've got one! i was at the Ork Farm milking a Fring. And this travelling salesman came along and asked me if I wanted to know what was inside his sample case?
• Mindy: *stands up rapidly* Would anyone like a soft drink?!
• Zelka: No thank you! *Mindy freezes and has to sit back down again* So! I said no! And he went away. And I never saw him again. The end.
• Mork: Ohh! That's great Zelka. That's more plot that Kurt Vonnegut ever uses.

______________________________________

• Mork: Alright son, basically in this world here are two types of people. Lets just say Male and Female.
• Mearth: Now...which is which?
• Mork: Well you learn that on the street. And these male and female they fall in love. Annnnd...they register at Bloomingdales and they get married and they try and marry off all their other single friends.

______________________________________

• Mindy: I think you left something out
• Mork: Oh yeah, well sometimes they don't register they just ask for the cash.
• Mindy: *out of the side of her mouth* I meant the part about how the babies get to be babies.
• Mork: *out of the side of his mouth* I don't think he's interested in that right now.
• Mearth: *out of the side of his mouth* I am interested in that right now.

Promo

Mork & Mindy & Best Of The West 1982 ABC Promo

Promo for Pajama Game II as part of ABC's Thursday January 7, 1982 Line Up (with Best Of The West)

Image Gallery

Cast

Starring

• Robin Williams as Mork
• Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
• Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
• Jonathan Winters as Mearth
• Ralph James as Voice of Orson

Guest starring

• Maureen Arthur as Zelka
• Harvey Lembeck as Ovits

External links

• "Pajama Game II" at TV.com