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Mork's New Look

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"Mork's New Look"
Season 3, Episode #8
(#59) in series (95 episodes)

When Fred starts to contemplate plastic surgery to compensate for the age difference between himself and Cathy, Mork starts to consider 'improving' himself for Mindy in "Mork's New Look" in Season 3 (ep.#8).
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s): Shelley Fabares
Ilene Graff
Angus Duncan
Sandy Sprung
Stephanie Kayano
Amy Tenowich
Bebo
Network: ABC-TV
Production code: 308 (3x8)
Writer(s) April Kelly
Director Howard Storm
Original airdate January 1, 1981
IMDB Mork's New Look
Episode chronology
← Previous Next →
"Gunfight at the Mork-Kay Corral" "Alas, Poor Mork, We Knew Him Well"
List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

"Mork's New Look" was the eighth episode of the Season 3 of Mork & Mindy, also the 59th episode in series overall. Written by April Kelly, the episode, which was directed by Howard Storm, originally aired on ABC-TV on New Year's Day, January 1, 1981.

Synopsis[]

When Mork & Mindy go with Fred & Cathy to see the movie '10', Fred confides to Mork that he is considering the age difference between himself and Cathy, and doing something about his looks. After which the Orkan considers some self-improvement so he can look better for Mindy.

Plot[]

At Da Vinci's Cathy & Fred are sitting with Mindy, finishing dinner and waiting for Mork's return, in advance of going to the movies, with Mindy noting how frequently they are away due to Concert Season, and Cathy bemoaning missing their wicked little stepmother/daughter chats. Remo frets that Cathy didn't enjoy his Eggplant Parmesan when he sees she didn't finish it, but she assures him it's only because she's watching her figure. Remo in turns says she doesn't have to, every guy in the place is watching it for her, before slapping Fred's back and calling him a lucky 'old dog'. Realizing he called him old, Remo gets flustered and proceeds to make it worse before retiring ungracefully.

A moment later an enthused Mork comes rushing back in having been gone 20 minutes checking the movie times on the phone outside. Excessively thorough he has gathered all the movie times in all the cinemas in the theater, but has forgotten to check which one is *their* movie. Rather than let him go off for another 20 minutes, Mindy drags him back and suggests they drive over and take their chances, but she's looking forward to seeing '10'. Cathy confesses she's already seen it, when Fred was out of town, but enjoyed it so much she wanted him to see it. Fred isn't so sure, thinking it sounds a little farfetched, and attractive young woman falling for an older middle aged man...looking at his wife, he trails off sheepishly. As they get up to go, Fred is addressed by a man who turns out to be an old High School friend of his, Bob Turnbull. Introducing him to his family, and his Mork, Bob is very taken by how attractive Cathy is, and congratulates him, joking about whether he met her when she was helping him across the road. Fred in turn notes that Bob doesn't seem to have changed at all since High School, and Bob confesses that he's had plastic surgery, and highly recommends it to Fred, pointing out an area or two he could 'have some work' done on. When Fred sits back down a little glum, Mork tries to cheer him up, but only ends up insulting him further.

The next day Mork is playing with Bebo in the apartment, but sends his Naugachomp into Mindy's bedroom when there's a knock on the door, though it transpires to be Fred looking for Mindy. But Mork tells him she's in the bath and offers himself if he wants to talk but Fred it's somewhat personal. Mork take's this to heart as a non-McConnell, and says he knows he insulted him and that he deserves it, and can live with it, getting increasingly dramatic over being excluded. Fred gives in to the drama and confesses to Mork that he's been to see a plastic surgeon He tells him that Cathy is 15 years younger than he is, and while he can't make himself her age, he can make himself a lot younger. Mork is fascinated to hear that humans can change their appearance, thinking this would make a great report to Orson. Fred confesses he's doing it for Cathy after spending so many years alone he's going to do anything he can to keep her interested in him. Mork though is sure that Cathy likes him just the way he is, and while Fred appreciates that says there's nothing wrong with looking your best, especially for someone you love. Fred thanks Mork for listening, and now that he has gotten it off his chest decides not to say it to Mindy, and will save it as a surprise, and that tomorrow at 4pm he'll become a new man.

Almost as soon as Fred heads out, Mindy comes out of her bedroom fresh from the bath and wondering if Mork has seen her eyeliner, which he borrowed to play connect-a-dot with the freckles on his chest. When she takes it back to finish her make up, Mork is insistent she does not need it, but she tells him everyone could do with a little help. Especially for those you care most about, he queries? And when she agrees, he tries to 'subtly' ask based on the movie they saw who her 'Perfect 10' is? Excepting him, of course, she provides a short list, but tells him she always thought it would be nice to meet a man like her father, he always kind of idealized the Perfect 10 to her. As she heads back to her room to dry her hair, Mork sees the mirror she left behind and checking to see if Mindy is near starts to examine himself in it. Considering, he figures all those years of sitting on his face are starting to show and decides he could use some improvement. Fred saying he should do it for someone he cares about, he decides he'll make a change for Mindy.

At The Boulder Medical Center Mork goes to the offices of Dr. Charlotte Dubin the plastic surgeon Fred is seeing. On talking with the receptionist, she realizes, just from how hard it is to get Mork's name sorted, that he has to be the man who called to say he wanted to "shoot the works". Chatting with a woman also waiting to see the doctor, he tells her he wants to get his face tucked, his cheeks pinched and his bags packed. The receptionist coming back to him, he's called straight in.

At the apartment, Cathy is having coffee with Mindy and asks her if she has noticed anything different about her father, citing how Fred asked her whether he would look younger with his 'fringe' permed. Mindy laughs it off suggesting it's just a phase. Cathy hopes so as he mentioned to her during a romantic interlude that when she was 65, he'd be dead. She can't understand it as she's not said or done anything to make him defensive about his age. Mindy assures her she's the best thing that's ever happened to her father, and maybe he thinks he doesn't deserve her. But Cathy feels that any woman would be lucky to have Fred. When Mindy suggests maybe he just needs to hear that a little more often, Cathy thinks it's so obvious, in fact she even told Mork this morning. Which immediately makes Mindy curious as to how she was talking to Mork. Cathy tells her he came over to borrow a cup of 'liquid plumber' which perplexes both women, and then, Cathy says, he asked her who she thought was a Perfect Ten, her answer being Fred. That catches Mindy's attention considering her own conversation and answer. A knock at the door reveals Lola & Stefanie over from the Day Care Center to see Mork wanting to see how he 'turned out'. When Mindy asks Lola what she means, she tells her Mork said he was going to a plastic surgeon that afternoon, to shoot the works. Mindy perplexed, asks Lola did he mention what doctor, and she tells her Dr.Dubin.

Fred is already in situ as Mindy & Cathy arrive at Dr. Dubin's office, hiding his face behind a magazine on hearing their voices, and Mindy heads straight to the receptionist in the hope they're in time to stop Mork, Cathy however sees enough of him to spot him, and approach him, and as he sheepishly greets her, Mindy walks quickly towards him demanding to know if her Father brought Mork there. But he denies it. When the receptionist arrives, she refuses to give Mindy any information on Mork beyond the fact he requested changes that would make Mr Potato Head proud, and laughing uncontrollably. Vaguely alarmed Mindy returns to her father and Cathy, who asks where Mork would get the idea of going to a plastic surgeon, and doesn't buy it when her husband feigns ignorance. Fred fesses up that he may have put the idea in his head, but swears he didn't know anything about Mork gong there, as Mindy rushes out to see what Mork's done, Fred suspends his appointment and goes with her and Cathy.

When they get back to the Apartment, Mindy calls for Mork and grimaces when he answers her from the armoire, where he's waiting to make his 'grand entrance'. On tenterhooks, still not used to moments like these, as Mork gives a fanfare Mindy is shocked when Mork comes out dressed and looking exactly like Fred, right down to the same kind of bald pate as Fred's. It gets even weirder when Mork imitates Fred's movement and voice. Mindy however starts to relax and laugh when she notices that Mork's newly bald head is 'bunching' and clearly latex, Mork saying he got it from Pierre Trudeau. When Fred asks him why he is 'him', Mork explains that both she and Cathy said Fred was their perfect ten, so he thought with all his other attributes if he took on some of Fred he might turn out to be an Elven. Judging from their reaction he can tell he's done wrong,, but Mindy tells him it's more that they like him they way he is. Having made another mistake he shuffles off 'pathetic' and Mindy excuses herself to go help her 'pathetic friend'. Alone, Fred queries her calling him a ten to Mork, and she tells him with a capital T. Fred confesses he was feeling insecure with her being so pretty and young and without a wrinkle. Making him sit down, Cathy tells him if he wants to have plastic surgery it's fine, providing he is doing it for himself, but if he's doing it for her it's a mistake. Cathy puts her husband's fears at ease by proclaiming him the most beautiful man in the world: "you're kind, you're loving, you're sensitive, and it's written all over your face, don't erase a line!" Mork sticking his head out of Mindy's bedroom as Fred & Cathy are kissing is cue for them to head home, that and the fact it's almost '7.30'. On his way out Fred tells Mork & his daughter that he's reconsidered and his face shall stay as it is.

Mork's report to Orson is on the fact that human's can change their appearance. They use shoes to give them lift, girdles to make then thinner, wigs to make them hairier, then ask why their loved ones can't accept them for who they are? Bizarre, notes Orson, Mork agreeing, adding their bizarres are padded also. Some Earthlings he tells him go to doctors to have bumps removed from their noses and he won't believe where they put them! Orson asks do the changes make humans look better, but Mork isn't sure, but he thinks it must make them feel better. However, he feels some of them are unnecessary as most of them seem to make changes on the grounds they don't look good to others, but the real problem is they don't look good to themselves.

Trivia[]

General[]

  • "Mork's New Look" was Shelley Fabares' second appearance as Fred's wife Cathy (making her third and last in next Season 4's "The Wedding")
  • Ilene Graff who plays the Receptionist at the Cosmetic Surgeons, would play Tracy Andrews next season, Mork's mortal enemy Kalnik's 'wife' (Gotta Run, Part 1)

Pop Culture[]

  • Mork jokes that if he'd known he was going to see 10 he would've gotten his suspenders corn rolled. This was due to Bo Derek's character in the movie sporting a famous corn rolled (and magnetic beaded) hairstyle that became iconic.
  • Mork wonders of Fred, whether Orson Welles should be made into a National Park, combining the famed writer/director's cultural impact with his increased size.
  • Mindy names (Mork aside) her 'perfect 10s' as actors Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Walter Cronkite, before citing her Dad.
  • Mork comments on the 'coin' Mindy gives him as a tip after he jokily helps her with her hair, as a Susan B. Anthony dollar. The United States dollar coin was minted from 1979 to 1981, when production was suspended due to poor public acceptance, and came back again to greater acceptance/use in 1997.
  • Cathy tells Mindy, Mork came over to her and Fred's house to borrow a cup of Liquid Plum-R. A a chemical drain cleaner made by Chlorox.
  • Mork says he got his bald 'hairpiece' from Pierre Trudeau, the Premier of Canada at the time, Margaret Trudeau being his wife.
  • Mork says if he had a broom he could shuffle off pathetically like Emmett Kelly's. Weary Willie downtrodden clown persona.
  • Mork gives a quick rendition of 'Roll out the Barrel' paraphrased to 'Roll out the Orson' an impersonation of TV variety show host Lawrence Welk as he waits for Orson to answer his call in report.

Quotes[]

  • Mindy: I'm really looking forward to seeing 10.
  • Mork: 10?! If I'd known we were going to see 10 I'd've had my suspenders corn rolled.

____________________________________________

  • Mork: Aww cheer up Pops! Y'know wine improves with age. Cheese improves with age. It's not your fault you're not wine or cheese.

____________________________________________

  • Fred: I...I...I'm just troubled about something.
  • Mork: Ohh...I always hoped that you would look to me as son, because I've always looked to you as well...umm...Mindy's father.

____________________________________________

  • Fred: Now this is just between you and me, Mork.
  • Mork: Shh shh *looks around surreptitiously*
  • Fred: I've been to a plastic surgeon.
  • Mork: Why? Couldn't you find a real one?

____________________________________________

  • Mork: *shocked* Make up?!! On vous?!!
  • Mindy: *nods regretfully* Oui.
  • Mork: Oh Min Min Min, no no! I mean, would you stain the painted desert?! Would you flock the giant redwoods? Would you fill the Grand Canyon with cheese whizz? I say nay, nay, nay, nay, nay!
  • Mindy: *touched and flattered* Ohhh well thank you very much!
  • Mork: No no Min, you see *puts his arm around her* You're very very special. I mean the way your nose kinda veers to the left. And the way your eyes sparkle, especially the greener one. And the way your chin comes to that lovely point, so convenient for opening beer cans.

____________________________________________

*Mork:sits down in Reception area*

  • Woman: You have to let them know you're here.
  • Mork: Oh, thank you! I'M HERE!!!!!!

____________________________________________

  • Lola: I hope Mork doesn't get too many things changed. He had such a charming Chaplinesque quality.

____________________________________________

  • Mindy: We thought you'd done something ridiculous at the plastic surgeons.
  • Mork: No they laughed me out of the office so I had to do something ridiculous on my own.

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Image Gallery[]



Cast[]

Guest stars/Recurring cast[]

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