Mindy, Mindy, Mindy

"Mindy, Mindy, Mindy"
Season 3, Episode #15 (#66) in series (95 episodes)
Mindy comes back from an assignment to a disheveled Mork, gone half crazy from missing her, and a nasty shock in her Armoire.
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s):	Larry Gelman Vidal Peterson
Network:	ABC-TV
Production code:	315 (3x15)
Writer(s)	Steve Kreinberg & Andrew Guerdat
Director	Howard Storm
Original airdate	February 26, 1981
IMDB	Mindy, Mindy, Mindy
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Mindy, Mindy, Mindy was the 15th episode from season 3 of Mork and Mindy, the 66th overall episode of the series. Written by Steve Kreinberg and Andrew Guerdat, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, shot on February 13, 1981 and originally aired on ABC-TV on February 26, 1981.

Synopsis

Mindy heads out of town on an assignment for KTNS and Mork goes crazy missing her. When The Elder returns to visit them both, he regrets 'The Soft Lapped One' not being there and the 2 Orkans decide to Clone her, with somewhat extreme results.

Plot

In the Apartment, Mindy is prepping to head to the airport with Fred on her first away assignment for KTNS, covering the 'Winter Wheat Conference' in Topeka, Kansas. Fred teases her about it, asking if a chartered tractor is going to pick her up at the airport. Mindy takes is ribbing in good part but, tells him it is actually a big deal, as Mr. Sternhagen at the station has told her if she does a good job on this it could be a stepping stone to bigger more important assignments, like City Hall, she dreams, or Congressional Scandals...or the Summer Wheat Conference. She's all set to go, but wonders where Mork is, and why he ran off on her earlier. Fred assures her he wouldn't miss seeing her off, and Mork duly arrives at pace, with a gift for her, and presents her with a flea collar to give to Toto once she reaches Kansas.

With Fred taking her luggage down to his car, as Mork will be on his own for the weekend, Mindy takes the opportunity to run through some kitchen basics with him, pointing out what some appliances actually are, and how to work the blender, including turning it off from the 'outside'. Mork takes this on board, but assures her that she has nothing to worry about, he is a superior being after all, and he will be fine. With Fred blowing the car horn for her, she kisses Mork goodbye and he waves her off assuring her of how fine he will be on his own all the way. Before he heads to the kitchen to make himself some lunch, only to be immediately unable to work the can opener, peeling off the label and resolving that he'll have to eat it raw.

A day or so later and the Apartment is a disaster area. Apart from the washing line across the kitchen with his clothes strung up and strewn around the place, amidst the food cartons and cans, the entire room is now adorned with dozens of photographs of Mindy, including the window blind which is now a giant poster of her. Mork is unshaven, wild haired scruffily dressed, and obsessing over Mindy, placing kisses on her photos lined up along the length of the kitchen counter, then freaking out when he tries to turn her photos away in an effort to stop thinking about her, only for the photos to be double sided. Trying to stop himself obsessing over her when he's sure she's not thinking of him, he runs to the door in the desperate home she has heard his 'psychic message', when there is a knock on the door. Only to be crushed when he finds it's Mr. Bickley.

Bickley is there to tell him that their landlord Al Klevins, will be dropping by to install smoke detectors in their apartments, and on noticing the state of the apartment tells Mork he better get the place in shape. Klevins, he informs him is a creep and has tossed tenants out for having their doormat crooked. He also can't fail to notice all the Mindy pictures, and addresses Mork's missing her which Mork denies, but then seizes on the hope that maybe he and Bickley can head out together, which might help him. But Bickley turns him down as it sounds like a drag.

Left alone, Mork further demonstrates how much he's been obsessing over Mindy, when he turns on the radio to a romantic tune then goes to the Armoire to fetch his substitute for her. A "Mindy Mop", a mop with her picture attached to it, wearing her sweater and jeans, which he proceeds to sweet talk and dance with until the radio starts to fritz out. Turning it off, he hears the unmistakable sound of the approach of an Orkan egg, and realizes it's probably the return of the Ancient One. Dropping to his knees after opening the door, The Elders ship is revealed and he disembarks.

Telling Mork not to be so formal and reminding him to use his name (a blown raspberry sound), he tells him he's there to visit him and Mindy for his birthday, having turned the equivalent of 87 in Earth Years. He is especially looking forward to seeing 'The Soft Lapped One' again, and is vastly disappointed when Mork tells him that she is away working. As they play a game of Orkan Checkers, Mork and The Elder discuss Mindy and Mork inquires about the comment The Elder made during his last visit about his ability to build a Mindy, asking if that was actually possible? The Elder says he thinks he could and in fact he has his genetic cloning kit with him.

After another timelapse, The Elder and Mork have constructed the cloning device in Mork's attic room, and are making final adjustments and additions to what is needed, with Mork reminding him that Mindy is quite intelligent with a college degree and, to him, pretty much knowing everything about everything. Noting that the Elder starts the procedure. Which is apparently entirely successful, a perfect albeit be-spectacled replica of Mindy stepping out of the machine. When Mork steps in to get a 'Big Kiss' she refuses point blank, looking down her nose at him, and its soon revealed that her intellectual capacity is set way too high. An intellectual elitist who is only interested in reading or writing books or debating on plains of higher discourse. Wandering off downstairs she leaves the 2 Orkans alone and bemused, Mork telling the Elder it appears he Orked up.

In asking the Elder to try again, Mork suggests that they focus instead on Mindy's athletic side, that she's not a spectator, she's a doer,, and the Elder starts again, vowing that Elders don't fail, twice. The Mindy that emerges this time is definitely more energetic, but more interested in practicing her wrestling moves on Mork than being close to him. With her flinging him around the place, The Elder informs him he has put a deactivation button on the sole of their left foot, but Mork can't get anywhere near it. Wrestled to the ground, and with the doorbell ringing, he manages to escape downstairs, pleading with The Elder to make the next one more affectionate and loving, with one less turn on the butch bolt, Athletic Mindy rising at that sending him scurrying down the stairs in fear as she smirks.

Downstairs Intellectual Mindy has raided Mindy's room for books, and tells Mork she'll get the door as comes down, telling him she hopes it's Gore Vidal come to 'borrow a cup of aphorisms' telling him she needs 'social discourse' on a much higher level than him. Trying to stop her again, he shifts persona to an intellectual elite and challenges her to a way to resolve their imbroglio, by a conflict of intellects / battle of wits, wherein the loser must reveal a layer of epidermis. "Ah" she muses "A strip debate". After she provides a head spinning topic on the Cartesian and Kierkegaardian concepts of being, he points out that as she is holding books which constitutes a foul and requests her left foot, promptly turning her off when she does. With the door being hammered on, he carries her to the Armoire and stores her inside. Answering the door he finds Al Klevins, who demands to know where Mindy is, and who he is, 'The man who lights up her life', before commenting on the state of the place. He goes into Mindy's bedroom to install the smoke alarm. As soon as the door is closed Athletic Mindy swings down and comes at Mork again, taking her on in a martial arts challenge, he grabs hold of her leg when she goes to kick him and deactivates her, managing to get her into the Armoire with the first clone.

Almost as soon as he's done with that The Elder's 3rd attempt comes down from the attic, replete with feather boa and southern accent, eyeing him like a piece of meat. Greeting him as 'Hot Stuff' as he approaches her, Vamp Mindy grabs a hold of him, more than happy to give Mork a 'Big Kiss' and more without being asked. Realizing that the Elder has created a 'human hickey maker', he eyes her warily as she sashays after him, telling him he's cute, plucking at his clothes, sliding her finger down his bare arm. Smirking as she tells him 'Today a boy, tonight...a man', snapping his suspenders, making her intent on ravaging him clear. Mork tries to talk her down saying he's a kind innocent alien, to which she assures him she's *not*, before going for one of his weak spots, flicking his earlobe repeatedly, sending him into spasms of pleasure. Begging her that he wants to wear white at his wedding, she heads for the bedroom with the aim of getting into something more comfortable 'like skin'. With Klevins in the bedroom he has to stop her, and pulls her to him, telling her she can't go in there, and she challenges 'Blue Eyes' to stop him. With no other choice he engages his 'Movie' romantic leading man mode, spinning her to him, to 'seduce' her and lure her to the couch.

Once there he manages to get her foot, and her 'turn off' and hoists her over his shoulder carrying her to the Armoire to join the other two, but doesn't quite manage to get all of her in before Klevins emerges to catch him. Convinced that Mork has murdered Mindy, Klevins grabs the phone and starts to call the police. With Mork in a complete panic behind him, Mindy returns greeting Mork happily only to see him collapse at her feet. Dragging him up she's mystified when Klevins puts the phone down and greets her as being alive. He then accuses Mork of having some other woman stuffed in the Armoire and moves towards it. Pre-empting him, Mork gets there first and admits there is something in there and he'll show them. Opening the door he reaches in and pulls out the Mindy Mop. Backing Mork up as it being a logical explanation, Mindy sees a disturbed Klevins out, before turning on her heel and marching right over to see what's 'really' in the Armoire, opening it taking one look and slamming it shut again, in complete shock. Demanding to know where he got the 'Dead Mindy's' Mork explains that they are clones, his own 'personal pile of perkiness'.

When she finds out The Elder is upstairs making more of her, she rushes to try and stop him only for a disconsolate Elder to come down ignoring her as one on of the clones, and having to admit defeat, unknown for an Elder. He feels he is getting too old, and depressed he lies his head down in Mindy's lap discovering it's the real 'soft lapped one' in the process. When Mindy asks them why there are clones of her in the Armoire, Mork explains it was because he missed her. Stating that she missed him too she still feels it's more than a little strange to make physical replicas of her. Both Mork and the Elder confess that it was the Mindy-ness they missed, not merely her outward appearance, but they couldn't capture it, and the Elder admits that humans are not toys to be played with.

Finding out it's his birthday, Mindy gives him a birthday kiss and The Elder bemoans the fact that he's not 30 bleams younger, though he would still be too old for her. He tells them he will take the clones back to Ork with him, for scientific study, but tells them they can keep the one upstairs which didn't turn out as he hoped. Mindy rising with Mork in alarm rush towards the attic only to back off as a large, man sized composite of all three clones, 'Big Mindy' , with glasses, head band and feather boa heads down the stairs to greet Mork with 'Big Kiss!'

Mork's report to a snippy Orson announces that he has discovered what distinguishes one human from another. Every one has something unique and very very special, a personality. When Orson asks to see one, Mork can't, explaining its not something he can see or touch, something reaches out and touches others. It makes each one very very different. Isn't that inefficient, Orson asks? Absolutely, Mork agrees but enthuses about how it makes life on Earth so interesting. Thanks to personality even identical twins are different, and the smallest person can stand out in the crowd. They may all have the same number of chromosomes, but each person has their own designer genes.

Promo

Mork & Mindy - Mindy Mindy Mindy - Episode Promo

February 25th 1981, ABC Promo for Mindy, Mindy, Mindy (followed by promo for Bosom Buddies episode)

Goofs

• Pam Dawber, while playing the 'Intellectual' Mindy clone, who was supposed to be shut off, can be seen reaching up to help close the Armoire door from inside it, after Robin Williams accidentally closes the door on her foot the first time.
• When 'Vamp Mindy' snaps Mork's suspenders, one of his four badges accidentally comes flying off and can be heard clattering along the floor.

Continuity

In Season One's Mork Runs Down Orkan "Birthdays" only occur every 2,000 Zarms and appear to be a cause of great concern, with the Orkan requiring recharge (with a Gleek) or risk the Gorgles and death. And despite his apparent age, Mork was only experiencing his first. Yet here The Elder's Birthday appears to be merely the passing of the anniversary of his birth as per humans.

Trivia

Orkan 'Facts'

• Orkan Checkers is not overly complex, with only one counter and two squares.
• Mork was on an athletics scholarship in school, and had to substitute basket weaving for cloning.

General

• The episode script formally names the Clones as: 'Intellectual Mindy'; 'Athletic Mindy'; 'Vamp Mindy' and 'Big Mindy'.
• Another of the episodes to take place solely in Mindy's Apartment.
• The title is not only an allusion to the 3 clones, but a play on the 'Judy, Judy, Judy' catchphrase attributed to Cary Grant, though like Beam Me Up Scotty, it was never actually said. He did however say "Susan, Susan, Susan" in the classic, Bringing Up Baby (1938), which this episode definitely has screwball elements of.
• Robin's deliberate attempt to throw Tom Poston with his adlibbed confused 'What?' in answer to Bickley's whether Mork got all the pictures of Mindy at 'Shiksamat', was kept in, as it was funny and played to only Mork making Shiksa jokes about Mindy.
• Robin Williams was a Varsity Wrestler in his High School Days, making his being wrestled into submission by the 'Athletic Mindy' clone something of an in-joke.
• The 'Vamp Clone' resembles Pam Dawber's Bonny Lee Beaumont who she'd played mid season in 1980's "The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything," a sexy siren complete with southern accent. Both this and all of the physical comedy in this scene (Dipping Mork for the kiss, snapping his suspenders, tweaking his ear, and their flailing dance together) was improved by Pam and Robin.
• This episode is the one time only presence of Mindy and Bickley's landlord, Al Klevins (Larry Gelman), who like the DaVinci's hails from the Bronx, NY.
• Though he receives no on screen credit, according to the shooting script/budget breakdown for the Episode, the part of 'Big Mindy' (who comes down the steps at the end), is played by Arthur 'Art' Hanson. However, from both the non actor rate of pay, and dissimilarity in appearance to character actor Arthur Hanson, this appears to be Arthur A. Hanson, one of the prop men (who later became property master on other productions).

Pop Culture

• As Mork enters, in time to see Mindy off, his repeated greeting to Fred and Mindy, of Pops and Min morphs into a paraphrased rendition of The Rivingtons (1962)/Beach Boys (1964) hit 'Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow' (A Robin adlib)
• When Mindy leaves for Kansas, there are several references to The Wizard of Oz. (A Flea Collar for Toto; Glinda Impersonation 'Don't be afraid!') and again when Al Klevins arrives (Midget Convention looking for a small dog)
• The song Mork describes as "our song" to the mop version of Mindy he's created when it comes on the radio, and which he dances to with 'Mop Mindy' is 'Seems Like Old Times' a popular song from the 40s by by Carmen Lombardo and John Jacob Loeb, made popular again a couple of years before this episode, when Diane Keaton sang it in The Godfather.
• Mork suggests he could sell a Mindy clone to the Osmonds as back for Marie Osmond who would also have been considered exceptionally 'perky'.
• Intellectual Mindy Clone tells Mork she hopes whoever at the door is 'Gore Vidal come to borrow a cup of aphorisms' the American writer and public intellectual known for his epigrammatic wit, patrician manner, and polished style of writing, the Clone obviously intent on providing him with some pithy observations.
• Mork has proven to the Intellectual Mindy that Darwin was wrong, referring to Mork's lack of evolution in her eyes.
• In challenging the Intellectual Mindy to a Strip Debate, Mork impersonates William F. Buckley the noted Intellectual and host of the public affairs program, Firing Line
• Intellectual Mindy suggests as the topic for their Strip Debate, 2 philosophers dictums, René Descartes 'I Think Therefore I Arm (Cogito Ergo Sum)' and Soren Kierkegaard's view on subjective/objective truths.
• Mork's 'French' seducer voice with the Vamp Mindy clone is likely an homage to Charles Boyer who was famous for his romantic roles in 30s and 40's Hollywood.
• Mork's line "I will drink from no slipper before it's time' to the Vamp Mindy is a direct spoof of Orson Welles line "We sell no wine before its time." for the Paul Masson wines Ads he did.
• Mork does a little dance to 'Ooh La La Nanu...' after he mentions Designer Genes, the dance/song a little parody of 'Ooh La La Sasson' Sasson being Designer Jeans and the commercial very popular in the late 70s early 80s.

Quotes/Excerpts

• Fred: I'll go warm up the car.
  Mork: You know what? The best way to do that is to blow in its carburetor and say that you love it.
  Fred: I'll do that, but I'll hate myself in the morning.

_______________________

• Mindy: Okay Mork! Now I want you to pay close attention, we have a lot of things to cover if you're going to manage by yourself.
• Mork: *laughs* C'mon now Mind, scoff scoff, derisive laughter, ahrr ahrr ahhrr ahrr, I mean manage by myself! Do you know who you're talking to?
• Mindy: Yes
• Mork: Oh.

_______________________

• Mindy: And remember what I told you about the blender?
  Mork: Yes, just turn it off, don't just stand there waiting for it to flush.

_______________________

• Mork: Ohhhh I gotta stop thinking about her!!! No!! *moves down counter turning all Mindy's pictures around* I've gotta stop thinking about her! *gets to the end, turns and finds they're all double sided pictures* NOOOOO!!! Oh she's not even thinking of me!!! *doorbell rings* She's here! She got my psychic telegram! *runs to the door* Oh my darling!! My darling!! *pulls open door to Mr. Bickley, swings away rapidly* Oh what a disappointment!!
• Mr Bickley: You're no Aurora Borealis yourself.

_______________________

• The Elder: I just wish the Orkan aging process wasn't reversed. It seems like every day I look in the mirror, I get a little bit cuter.

_______________________

• The Elder: Where does the time go?
• Mork: I don't know, probably the same place that socks go when you lose them in the dryer.

_______________________

• Mork: You know sir, the last time you were here you said you could build a Mindy. Can you?
• The Elder: I suppose I could, I have my genetic toolkit in the Egg. *pauses* What would you do with the one I build you when the real Mindy gets back?
• Mork: Well I could sell her to the Osmonds in case Marie gets trampled at a family reunion?

_______________________

• Mork: *to Clone* Hi Mind! Big Kiss *puckers*
• Intellectual Mindy Clone: *pulls head back* If you think I am going to flex my Obicular muscle to Osculate you are sadly mistaken.
• Mork: *to Elder* Wha' she say?
• The Elder: No.
• Mork: Oh.

_______________________

• Sexy Mindy Clone: You're cuuuute. Today a boy... *runs her finger down his bare arm* tonight *snaps his suspenders* a man!
• Mork: *exhales* Listen I'm a very kind innocent...innocent little alien
• Sexy Mindy Clone: Ooo... *leans close to tell him a secret* I'm not!

_______________________

• Al Klevins: Where's my tenant, Mindy McConnell?
• Mork: She's in Kansas right now looking for a small dog at a midget convention
• Al Klevins: Who are you?!
• Mork: I'm Mork the man who lights up her life!

__________

• Al Klevins: This place is a mess!
• Mork: I don't see how you can tell with all this junk lying around!

_______________________

• Mindy: What is going on here?! Why does this mop have my picture on it?!
• Mork: Oh That's kinda hard to explain, Min.
• Mindy: Oh I'll bet! Now what's really in the Armoire? *marches across the room*
• Mork: Mind you don't wanna....!
• *Mindy opens it partially and slams it shut right away, grabbing her stomach in shock, before her eyes find Mork who stands there in trepidation, as a variety of emotions shoot across her face *
• Mindy: Mork, where'd you get the dead Mindys?

Image Gallery

Cast

Starring

• Robin Williams as Mork
• Pam Dawber as Mindy McConnell / Intellectual Mindy / Athletic Mindy / Vamp Mindy
• Conrad Janis as Fred McConnell
• Ralph James as Orson
• Tom Poston as Mr. Bickley

Guest stars

• Vidal Peterson as The Elder
• Larry Gelman as Mr. Klevins
• Arthur Hanson as 'Big Mindy'
• Gregg Berger (Voice) as Bebo

More external links

• "Mindy, Mindy, Mindy" at TV.com