| "I Don't Remember Mama" | |
|---|---|
| Season 4, Episode #15 (#88) in series (95 episodes) | |
 After Orson finally loses his temper with Mork's constantly limiting his reports to family life, he removes almost all of Mork's memories of his time on Earth. Not knowing what has happened to him, Mindy gathers the family (and Exidor!) to try to help jolt his memories, but becomes increasingly disconsolate when he shows no sign of remembering her in "I Don't Remember Mama" in Season 4 (ep.#15). | |
| "Mork & Mindy" episode | |
| Guest Star(s): | Elizabeth Kerr Martin Ferrero Robert Donner |
| Network: | ABC-TV |
| Production code: | 415 (4x15) |
| Writer(s) | John B. Collins & Deborah Raznick |
| Director | Bob Claver |
| Original airdate | February 11, 1982 |
IMDB 
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I Don't Remember Mama |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Drive, She Said" | "Mork, Mindy, and Mearth Meet M.I.L.T." |
| List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes | |
"I Don't Remember Mama" is the 15th episode of Season 4 of Mork & Mindy, as well as the 88th episode in the series overall. Co-written by John B. Collins and Deborah Raznick, the episode, which was directed by Bob Claver, originally aired on ABC-TV on February 11, 1982.
Synopsis[]
Orson loses his patience with Mork when he continuously puts his family obligations over his job as an Observer. When Mork refuses to cut ties with his wife and family, Orson erases his memory of Mindy and his time on Earth.
Plot[]
Mork is nervously preparing a report for Orson, that he knows is weak, as a lot of them have been lately due to his being distracted by family matters. He settles down to contact him, only for Mindy to come home early from work as planned, so they can take Mearth clothes shopping. Mork tells her he can't he has to make his report, but Mindy points out he's had all week to do it, and she got off work specially. She asks him to do it later, but Mork reminds her that Orson relies on him to get info on Earth's progresses, technological advancements and miraculous discoveries. When she finds out his report is on Ants however, Mindy proceeds to call Mearth and tells them they're going. She is surprised to see how eager Mearth is to go, sure that they would have had to deal with him kicking and screaming all the way. Mork tells her he thought that too, which is why he told him they were going to the Circus.
Mearth is not impressed when he finds out, and Mindy has to struggle with his temper, Mork's unhelpful additions, and a tailor who is only interested in their money and not in doing a decent job. Sending Mearth off to get fitted, she sends Mork off to browse for suspenders, under threat of knitting him a pair herself. While playing with one of the Mannequins, Mork goes as stiff as one himself, and finds himself standing in front of Orson tethered to a stake with a fire licking at his feet. Orson has finally lost his patience with not hearing from Mork.
Mork gets out of his immediate predicament, by saying he has a wide ranging report all ready, but then tells Orson it's about tying Mearth's shoelaces. When Orson reacts by looking for his lighter again, Mork apologizes knowing his reports have been the equivalent of a PTA newsletter, but Orson cuts him off. He accuses him of prioritizing his wife and son to the complete detriment of his job, the main reason he is even on Earth. Orson demands that he eliminate all contact with his family. When Mork tries to argue that his family needs him, Orson isn't having any of it, and insists that Mork put his family aside, Mork refuses point blank saying he can be cope with whatever Orson throws at him, but he will never forget his family. Orson promptly puts a memory wiping machine on Mork's head telling him when he's done the only thing about Earth Mork will remember is not to stick a fork in the toaster.
Back in the clothes shop, a kid notices Mork frozen and kicks him in the leg running away, coming to, Mork starts to swear in Orkan, using his original, real voice as the pain kicks in. Seeing the mannequin he was playing with previously, Mork introduces himself to it and asks it to take him to Earth's leader. Mindy walks up to him, saying she's done for the day, can't face trying to get shoes for Mearth and just wants to go home. When Mork asks how she knows his name, she just rolls her eyes thinking he's joking with her. When she tries to get the check book from Mork, he tells her he can't as there is no trade agreements between Earth and Ork, and asks her to take him to her leader. Starting to be unsure about whether Mork is joking or not, Mindy is distracted by Mearth coming out from his fitting, grumbling about the tailor. When Mork introduces himself to Mearth, and shows no sign of recognizing him, Mindy starts to get concerned. Deciding to take them home, Mindy is intercepted by the tailor who tells her the suit for Mearth will take 2 months(!) but wants to know if they're paying cash or charge. Mork happily provides him with a literal charge, which changes the due date of the suit to two days, and Mindy drags them all out.
At home, Mindy is disappointed to see that their apartment does not seem to jog any recognition in Mork, and he still wants her to take him to her leader. Mindy tells him, again, that he does not want to meet their leader. Starting to get upset she asks him if he doesn't recognize their apartment, reminding him that he lives there with her and Mearth. But he only wants to know who Mearth is. Mearth indignantly tells him he's his son, and Mindy tells him she's his wife, that they're married. But Mork knows this can't be true as marriage is outlawed on Ork. Mindy tells him that something has happened to him to make him forget his life on Earth, and gets him to sit down so she can talk to him. Only for him to sit on his face. With her unable to face going through all that again, Mearth helps his mother out and shows his father how to sit Earth style. Mindy shows Mork their matching wedding rings, but Mork suggests maybe they just like the same cereal. When she tries to tell him it's because they made a commitment to spend the rest of their lives together, Mork starts to freak out, thinking this is some kind of trap, and runs up into the attic, refusing to come down despite Mindy's appeals that they are not trying to hurt him.
Having kept him there, Mork is now dressed backwards and playing with one of Mearth's jack in the boxes, treating it as one of Ork's gods, Zeebow, God of humidity. Mearth emerges to begin the family's attempt to jog Mork's memory, leading him to sit, and presenting with a yellow binder with red writing on it marked 'This Was Your Life'. Running through Mork's life, neither Mindy in her wedding dress reminding him of their times together, nor Fred & Cora in full arguing mode (who Mork mistakes for a couple) help with his memories. And Fred takes the opportunity to pull Mindy aside and makes the suggestion that occasionally life offers you a second chance and this might be the moment to divest herself of Mork and reset her life. Mindy is unimpressed. The next blast from Mork's past somewhat unexpectedly has an impact, as Exidor emerges, and Mork remembers him. When Mindy presses Exidor to ask Mork more questions however he refuses, until Mindy promises to cover the money Mork might remember Exidor owes him. Exidor however has an idea to restore more of Morks memories, which they allow him to proceed with. However, by the end of it, Mork has actually forgotten who Exidor is as well, and Mindy throws him out.
Alone in the bedroom later, a dejected Mindy goes to the closet, which is crammed full of her and Mork's clothes and a lot of mementos and souvenirs from the past. As she's looking at it, Mork enters and then knocks, approaching her to thank her for her hospitality. While there he asks her what she's doing, and she explains that whenever she's depressed she cleans out the closet. He asks if he can watch, and she encourages him to help as half of it is his stuff. As he looks through it he discovers a giant stuffed Orkan toy. A Splot. When he asks her where she got it, she reminds him he won it for her on their Honeymoon on Ork by throwing lead bottles at a pile of softballs. When that doesn't jog his memory she continues her recollection herself, walking to sit on their bed, remembering how after the carnival they went to hear his favourite group, Wink Geezba & The Gold-diggers, at an anti-gravity bar, and danced on air through the night together, before going for a walk on the beach together as the suns came up. Going to recall what he told her then, she realizes from his expression that he has no recollection of any of it, and she starts to cry.
On seeing it, Mork notes, as in their earliest days together, that her eyes are leaking, which both makes it worse and makes her smile. Explaining again that its called crying, he asks why she's crying, and unable to hide her upset anymore she tells him it's because he's right there, but she misses him, and throws her arms around him. Unable to understand that either, he asks her what she's doing, and she tells him, expressing emotion...and to demonstrate what people on earth do when they love each other, she kisses him gently.
Which elicits an odd reaction in his expression, something akin to a mild, pleasurable, electric shock.
Wondering at the reaction she kisses him again, and the effect is marginally greater, before he blurts out that Albany is the Capital of New York. Starting to see a spark of hope, she pulls him to her and kisses him harder, and he recalls the mole on the bottom of her foot. Grabbing hold of him, she tries again, and he tells her Italian Restaurants don't open on Mondays. Trying again, this time he really reacts, telling her the memory dam is starting to break, but he needs help, and he pulls her into another kiss, after which he can remember everything except all the teams in the National Hockey League, and goes for it again with her, after which he finally remembers what it was he wanted to say to her...and tells her that he loves her.
Beyond relieved, she melts into his arms, telling him how scared she was and asking him what happened? He explains to her what happened with Orson and how he's been spending so much time with her and Mearth that he's been neglecting his work, and Orson thinks he's a bad Observer. Mindy admits that, because he doesn't have things like tax forms or a pension plan, and that he gets paid in sand, she keeps forgetting how important his job is, and that they are going to have to make sure that he has all the time he needs to make sure he does a good job, till he's the best Observer Ork ever had. Cadging another kiss off her 'for old times sake', they are disturbed by the phone, and Mindy goes to answer it to find it's Fred, telling him she has great news, that Mork has his memory back, after which he asks what the great news is. Hanging up, she turns back to Mork to find him apparently experiencing a relapse...but catching quickly enough that he's joking, especially when all he can remember is the word 'Big Kiss'...which he duly gets, pulling her down onto the bed with him.
The episode ends with a rejuvenated Mork back in front of a surprised Orson, sending him greetings from The McConnell Clan. Mork assures him his memory machine is working fine, but nothing can stop him remembering his family, and his report is on the importance of balance between family and work and how you have to be careful to fulfill your duties to each one. This and future reports will be, he says, complete with 'handsome leading man' 'staggering special effect's' and its own theme song 'Morko the Boy from Beyond' at which point Orson sends him packing, wondering why he bothers with Mork and if it wasn't for the pension he'd quit.
Trivia[]
Orkan 'Facts'[]
- Mork says Zeebow, is Ork's God of Humidity, confirmed by Mearth who says when it's his birthday they're off school.
- Mr Bromax was Mork's shop teacher in High School on Ork.
- Orkan's have Anti-Grav Bars where they can listen to music and dance in Zero G.
- Ork has Twin Suns, and Oceans, Mindy talking about how after spending the night dancing they went to watch the suns rise and took a walk on the beach.
General[]
- The title of the Episode I Don't Remember Mama is a play/homage on the title of the famous play (1944) and movie (1948) I Remember Mama
- This episode marks the final appearance of Robert Donner in the part of Exidor.
- Mindy says Mork wouldn't want to meet their leader, a swipe against U.S. President Ronald Reagan to follow the previous week's Nancy Reagan-bashing in "Drive, She Said" (ep.#14).
- Martin Ferrero, the Tailor here went on to many memorable guest roles in shows like Miami Vice and The XFiles and movies such as Heat, Get Shorty and perhaps most 'popularly', the unfortunate lawyer Gennaro who gets eaten on the toilet by the T-Rex in Jurassic Park.
- Mearth refers to the effects Ginger Ale has on Mork harping back to Season One's Mork Moves In
- Mork dresses in the same backwards shirt and tie fashion he did in The Mork & Mindy Special when he first met Mindy.
- At Chester A. *raspberry* School for Boys, Mork was 'Voted The Most Likely To Wear Wool' (in his own High School Robin Williams was voted least likely to succeed).
- We learn from Mindy that weeks after Mork was turned into a dog, he kept sneaking out for Gaines Burgers special dog food shaped like hamburger patties made from 1965-1991.
- We see Mindy in her Wedding Dress from The Wedding (Part 2) again.
- We learn a lot more about one of the romantic days Mork & Mindy spent on Ork during The Honeymoon going to the Orkan Carnival where Mork won the Stuffed Splot for Mindy by throwing lead bottles at a pile of Softballs, before they went to the Anti-Gravity Bar to listen to Mork's favorite group, Wink Geezba and the Gold-diggers, and danced on air together until the Orkan Suns came up, then went for a walk on the beach, and he told her that he loved her.
- Mindy has a mole on the bottom of her foot shaped like the noted American musician and actor Scatman Crothers probably best known for his part in 1980's The Shining.
- Morko the Boy from Beyond...Mork's theme song for himself, is most likely a twist on Robin William's 'Morko the Pin Headed Boy'' moniker for the character when he felt that Mork was being written as too dumb or not evolving/learning as quickly as he should (especially around relationships/love/sex).
Popular Culture[]
- When she tells him to go check out new suspenders, Mork references Emmett Kelly the famous American Circus clown again, saying he's waiting for his garage sale.
- Mork reminds Orson his family needs him and cites himself as being like the home version of the M.C. of the celebrity filled, tic-tac-toe based TV game show Hollywood Squares
- As his memory is being drained, Mork uses his punch drunk boxer voice 'Boxing has been good to me, Howard' again, referencing the legendary sports caster Howard Cosell as he would again in Gotta Run, Part 2
- As in Three the Hard Way, Mork references the Hawaiian 'Tiny Bubbles' singer, Don Ho again, this time commenting to Mindy that he would never marry anyone from a species that would make Don Ho rich.
- The 'This Was Your Life' attempt to restore Mork's memories is a direct homage of 'This Is Your Life' the reality retrospective biographical show where guests (normally celebrities) were surprised and their life gone through with guest appearances from notable people through their lives, with Mearth taking on the part of Ralph Edwards (in the US version). The folder Mearth uses (red on yellow) is the reverse color of the one used by Edwards (yellow on red).
- During the This Was Your Life segment Mork (and later Exidor) get excited by the idea that Moms Mabley is there. Mabely having been a hero to many stand up comedians (like Robin Williams), had however passed away three years before the show started.
- When Mindy tells Mork he's going to be the best Observer Ork ever had, he asks if he'll even better observer than Andy Rooney the famed wartime correspondent and (from 1978) 60 Minutes contributor who offered whimsical observations on every issues people faced. Considering himself a writer rather than TV personality, he was also somewhat disheveled, prompting Mindy's 'and neater too' comment.
Quotes[]
- Mindy: *to tailor* Excuse me sir, we're ready to be altered!
- Mork: Altered?! Like Mrs Simmons cat?! I don't want him moping around the house all day and then laying on the TV.
_________________________
- Mindy: *peering at Mork* Are you putting me on?
- Mork: Oh I can't, you wouldn't fit!
_________________________
- Mindy: *takes Mork's arm* C'mon!
- Mork: But where are you taking me?
- Mindy: Home.
- Mork: Oh! But we've just met! Shouldn't we have a drink first? *as she pulls him away* I'll still respect you!
_________________________
- Mork: Woahhhh...wait a minute there! Woaaaaah!.Getting a little too intense now.. Woah..I don't know what your game is lady, but I'm not staying here. I'm not going to stay until some hunchback goes *throws hunchback shape* Quickly we must do this! *straightens up* And puts my brain in a pickle jar!
_________________________
[Doing This Was Your Life Segment]
- Mearth: You were sent to Earth to observe. There you met a beautiful, small nosed woman. Listen...
- Mindy: *voice* I'll never forget the day we exchanged our vows. Remember? Orson turned you into dog? And for weeks you kept sneaking out for Gaines Burgers.
_________________________
- Mork: *as Mindy emerges in her wedding dress* Ohhh...it's you again! Woahhhh....you look great. I can't believe anyone as foxy as you isn't married.
- Mindy: I am married, Mork! I'm married to you!
_________________________
- Mork: *to Fred* Mr Bromax it really is you!
- Mindy: No, Mork! It's Dad! Fred McConnell and Grandma Cora! Look at them Mork and concentrate!
- Mork: *of Cora and Fred* Oh isn't she a little young for him?
_________________________
- Fred: *to Mindy* Now, c'mere honey, Now look, every now and then we are given a second chance in life. And when that opportunity comes along you gotta be smart enough to know how to take advantage of it! Now look, I'll go warm up the car. We'll take Mork out for a little ride and we'll drop him off. Say...in a silo in South Dakota.
- Mindy: *storms away* Grandma he's doing it again!!
- Cora: Oh Fred lay off! Now the kids are very happy!
- Fred: Happy?!? He doesn't even know who she is!
_________________________
- Fred: *singsongs* Mindyyyyy...I gotta full tank of gas?!
- Cora: Good. I'll get you a match.
_________________________
- Mork: Your eyes are leaking.
- Mindy: *sighs forlornly at how he puts it* It's called crying.
- Mork: Why are you crying?
- Mindy: *looks up at him* I'm crying...*breaks down* because you're here, and I miss you! *rise up and throws her arms around him and buries her face in his neck*
_________________________
- Mindy: Oh Mork I was so scared! What happened to you, where have you been?!
- Mork: When?
- Mindy: *blinks* When....when you got amnesia!
- Mork: Oh I was trying to forget that, Min. No, no...you know what happened? Well Orson got a little mad at me and well he...well he he closed my account in the memory bank.
Promo[]
Mork & Mindy - I Don't Remember Mama - Episode Promo
Promo for I Don't Remember Mama, aired the 7th of January 1982 (with the episode airing on the 11th). Followed by promo for Tom Hanks/Peter Scolari's Bosom Buddies (possibly one of the most future Oscar laden 22 second TV promos ever!)
Image Gallery[]
Cast & Crew[]
Starring[]
- Robin Williams as Mork
- Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell
- Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
- Jonathan Winters as Mearth McConnell
- Ralph James as Voice of Orson
Guest stars[]
