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Mork, the Swinging Single

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"Mork, the Swinging Single"
Season 3, Episode #16
(#67) in series (95 episodes)

Mindy's suggestion that her relationship with Mork might benefit from them seeing other people, backfires when Mork turns into a party animal and girl magnet.
"Mork & Mindy" episode
Guest Star(s): Catherine Campbell
Bill Kirchenbauer
Wendy Hoffman
Network: ABC-TV
Production code: 316 (3x16)
Writer(s) Wendy Kout
Director Howard Storm
Original airdate March 12, 1981
IMDB Mork, the Swinging Single
Episode chronology
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"Mindy, Mindy, Mindy" "Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby"
List of Mork & Mindy seasons/episodes

Mork, the Swinging Single was the 16th episode from Season 3 of Mork and Mindy, the 67th overall episode of the series. Written by Wendy Kout, the episode, directed by Howard Storm, was shot on February 20, 1981 and premiered on ABC-TV on March 12, 1981.

Synopsis[]

Mindy gets asked out on date but finds herself unsure whether to go or not, because of Mork. But decides to go for it when Glenda Faye and Jeanie encourage her. Using the same line they gave her about it 'enriching' her and Mork's relationship, she encourages Mork to also get out and meet other people. Only for it to backfire on her when Mork becomes such a hit with the ladies she hardly sees him anymore.

Plot []

Mindy, Glenda Faye & Jeanie are chatting over cake at her apartment, when Mindy asks them if she can put something personal to them, about Mork. A guy she met through work has asked her out to dinner, and she's not sure if she should go or not, as neither she nor Mork have dated anyone else in over a year, more by accident then design. Glenda suggests that she should go, that meeting other people can enrich the relationship she already has with Mork...in other words, fool around. Jeanie agrees, meeting new people could be fun for both her and Mork. After the girls go, Mindy nervously approaches Mork about her decision, not made easier by Mork getting all set for their regular Saturday evening TV Marathon, complete with snuggle sacks (sleeping bags) and a massive bag of popcorn. She tells him she won't be joining him tonight, that she has a date, and at first he laughs thinking she's joking, but she tells him she's serious, that she's been thinking that'd be healthy for them to go out and meet other people. That she's been so busy trying to graduate and get a job that they've both cut themselves off in a cocoon. Mork wants to make her happy and doesn't want to stop her from meeting new people, and she's pleased he seems on board, admitting her nervousness in saying it to him. At that he redoubles his efforts to seem he's on board with meeting new people, going straight to the window and accidentally propositioning a construction worker outside.

Later, Mork is in his snuggle snack on the couch eating popcorn by himself, watching TV. Remo arrives with the pizza he ordered and asks where Mindy is. Mork confesses she's out with some guy having her horizons expanded, and Remo is shocked to hear she's on a date. Mork tells him that she said that these experiences will enrich her life and that they will have something to share in their golden years. Remo asks Mork if he actually bought that, and Mork replies that and the watch too. Remo urges Mork to follow suit, grab his little black book and get out there, but the only black book with girls in it that Mork has is the one with the kids from the daycare center. The only two women bar Mindy that Mork knows who he can call are Remo's sister Jeanie, which he bans immediately, and Glenda Faye. Remo gets him to ring Glenda, making sure that he doesn't sound hard up or lonely. The two of them fake a party and Mork wangles an invitation to a Japanese dinner party Glenda's throwing.

Over at the Singles Apartment Complex, Mork arrives at the dinner part in Glenda's Apartment with flowers for Glenda. Glenda takes him around to meet her friends. Underlining that he doesn't want any of this, Mork says hi, tells Glenda he has a lot to share with Mindy and makes a break for the door. She manages to stop him, and convinces him to stay a little while and mingle. Mork tries to talk to a girl called Pepper but she takes one look at his bell bottoms and tells him they have to stop seeing other. As he moves awkwardly around, another girl, Sheri, sitting with another guy, stares at him, asking with some concern if he's on something? When he replies the plush pile carpet, she shifts away from him uncomfortably.

Glenda, seeing how poorly he's getting on, tries to get him loosen up a little and, loving his humor herself, encourages him to tell a joke. Unfortunately Mork's humor is not the stand up kind, and the only joke he knows is an actual Venusian joke which no one gets, and afterwards all he wants to do is go hide with the coats in the other room. Glenda encourages him to stay just a little longer, just long enough to meet a guy who is the life and soul of the party. A moment later he arrives, and its the chain rattling swinger, Todd Norman Taylor aka TNT (Bill Kirchenbauer), last seen hitting unsuccessfully on Mindy, when she escaped Mork's destruction of their apartment. Mork watches TNT's success at being the life and souls of the party, including how his cheesy, shallow and vaguely sleazy approach sways both Pepper and Sheri. Both girls settling onto the couch, flanking him. Mork approaches him and his down at heel wallflower appearance convinces TNT to take pity on him and take him under his wing. He tells Mork he used to be like him, but with some props (chains), wardrobe (velour) and most importantly, style, he turned himself into the 'deep' character he now is, and takes Mork off to begin his transformation.

**********

Cut Scene[]

In a scene that was filmed but never aired, we see some of Mindy's date with journalist, Stan (played by Terrence E. McNally).

The date having gone reasonably well Stan is back at Mindy's apartment having coffee with her, while Mork is still at Glenda's party. Stan apparently has had quite the adventurous life as journalist, waxing lyrical about his near misses in dangerous situations, with Mindy quite impressed, and thinking he must be quite bored by Boulder. But Stan is one of those 'it's not the place but the people' guys, and having heard her mention she has a room mate is wondering where 'she' is? Mindy corrects him, saying it's a him, and his name is Mork.

Stan thinking from that he must be Swedish. Mindy comments that he's from a little 'further north' than that, and wishes Stan could have met him. Mindy, not realizing that Mork isn't in the attic, tells him he's not really a night person and is asleep upstairs. On hearing this Stan queries whether Mork is actually a grown person being asleep so early, immediately setting Mindy on the defensive.

Telling Stan that he'd like Mork, she starts to wistfully describe him as '...very special...sensitive, sincere, one of a kind...really genuine and down to earth.' Whereupon a newly TNT-ed Mork enters in velour and chains, spouting shallow TNT-isms at her and only back to grab his 'Bert Convy sings Telly Savalas' album from their record collection. On finally noticing Stan, he acts like he's met him before, and heads right out singing 'Funky Town' leaving Mindy stunned.

Time no doubt played a part in cutting the scene, but it's also likely that not having it lent further impact to the moment we do see Mork transformed, two scenes later.

***********

A week later, and Jeanie is back over for coffee at Mindy's and asks her how Mork has been lately. Mindy confesses she hasn't seen much of Mork since the night of her date, that it seems she has unleashed a singles monster on Boulder. Jeanie thinks its great that she's seeing new people and he's seeing new people, but Mindy is less enthused as she's not seeing much of Mork. Jeanie expresses doubt that he can be busy every single minute, to which Mindy moves to get a copy of his itinerary for Monday, for which almost every minute is accounted for, and with items such as comparative lip gloss testing and co-ed mud wrestling. Mindy is also effectively running an answering service for all the girls keen to hook up with Mork,

Jeanie eyes Mindy's reaction, and Mindy shrugs saying maybe it's good for him getting out like that, but is struggling with why she's so bugged by it. Jeanie suggests that's maybe she feels left out, and suggests she go over to the party at Glenda Faye's that night that's on Morks' itinerary, to check things out. Mindy, downbeat, admits she has an invitation, along with everyone else in Boulder, but isn't really up for it. Jeanie says she can't really not be curious about what Mork's up to? And Mindy reluctantly admits she is, but if he comes on to her in a swinging singles fashion, she'll 'kick him in the big dipper'.

Mindy arrives at Glenda's dressed up for the party and finds the door open but the place empty, a moment later a long Conga line of party goers, led by Mork and Glenda comes through the door behind her. Spying her, Mork - dressed in a red velour track suit, the jacket open half way down his chest, with a large medallion - leaves the line to slide over to her, taking her hands and greeting her in an unctuous fashion with a Hollywood air kiss, and a TNT style toss of the head. Mindy immediately feels uncomfortable, but asks him if he's having fun. Tossing his head again, Mork gives her more vacuous responses, before Glenda asks her if she'd like the specialty of the house to drink? A Morkarita - tequila and bologna, with an optional mustard rim. As Glenda goes to get her a regular drink, Mork excuses himself too, telling her he's got to go look for that deep meaningful relationship like 'she' wanted him to.

Mindy watches as he joins TNT and overhears Morks' nickname 'Hitman', which Glenda explains is because he is a 'hit' with all the ladies. Something that shakes Mindy sufficiently to the point that she considers actually having a Morkarita. Noticing Mindy's reaction, Glenda checks that she's not upset that she introduced Mork to all her friends. Mindy, assures her she's not, after all he's having such a good time how could she be? Still, she watches with a mixture of unease and bemusement as Mork and TNT chat up a couple of girls with some seriously cheesy lines. As TNT invites yet another girl up to his place for a nightcap, Mork tries the same on Mindy. When she reminds him she lives at 'his' place, he reacts like he's scored big time, celebrating with TNT.

Her worst expectations coming true, Mindy moves away, feeling as if she should be wearing a 'Yiiiichh' button. As she does she is approached by Pepper, the girl who had blown off Mork previously. She tells Mindy she overheard her saying that she lived with Mork and wants to check that's true. Mindy explains to the vacant headed blonde, that that's true but that Mork is a free agent. Hearing that, Pepper grabs Mork as he's passing and kisses him. As she finishes, Mork notes to Mindy that he thinks Pepper likes him.

A decidedly unimpressed Mindy nods and, as he continues to enthuse about Pepper, tells Mork maybe it's time that she got into the swing of things. Handing him her drink, she walks over to TNT she asks him if he'd like to have a 'tonne' of fun? Then grabs his face and kisses him, shocking him to the point he falls back over the couch, crowing about them getting a cage and 'jello'. Mork's jealousy is immediately evident, and grabbing her arm he pulls her aside wanting to know what she's doing? Mindy acting like one of the other girls, cockily tells him she's just mixing and mingling because *she's* single, and wanders away from him. The party moves on, via conga line, to Peppers. With Mork joining as the caboose, he calls on Mindy to come with them, but as the line leaves the apartment, she grabs her coat instead. Leaving, unable to face anymore of Mork like that.

At 4.15am, back in her apartment Mindy is still up, watching TV alone while eating peanut butter and crackers in her snuggle snack on the couch. Hearing Mork enter, greeting her in a TNT fashion, she greets him as 'Hitman' and notes he's home 'early'. Joining her on the couch, Mork he says he came back for her, wanting to know why she left the party? Not looking him in the eye, she tells him she just wasn't in the mood for a big party. Before noting, trying to hide her unhappiness, that he was certainly having a good time...especially, she notes with some jealousy, with 'that girl' Pepper. But Mork has no idea who that is. Mindy quietly but pointedly reminding him of 'the girl who kissed you'. Mork not any the wiser, shrugs, noting lots of girls kissed him, but reckons they were just 'load testing' their lips. Still unhappy, and still unable to look him in the eye, Mindy points out to him that it's been over a week since they sat on the couch together. Relaxing beside her Mork agrees saying it feels good. Trying to keep her own upset under wraps, she tells him she's glad he's found a way of life he can enjoy. Before she finally looks at him and asks him if he's happy.

Mork shrugs, giving a non-committal 'Sure', before revealing that he's only been doing it because he thought that's what she wanted him to do. And because it makes him happy to make her happy.

Hearing that, Mindy's upset and frustration floods out, and she bemoans the fact that she thought making new friends would make them grow together not apart. Mork confesses that he's really missed her, and that he'd rather be her cuddly caterpillar than someone else's social butterfly. Melting, she tells him happily that she'd rather be the same for him too, and realized that the moment she walked into Glenda Faye's building. He tells her he likes making new friends, but he already has a best friend in her, and she admits she needed to hear that, and that it's nice to have him talking to her again, rather than at her.

As they relax together, Mork asks her if its okay form him to still keep the friends he has made? Mindy contentedly tells him sure, that they're fun, not expecting them to all come conga-ing into her apartment when he yells for them.

The episode concludes with Mork's report to Orson, telling him of his running with humans who have no mates called 'singles'. Orson queries if this means he's left Mindy? A shocked Mork telling him to bite his tongue. That they only met other people to enrich their own relationship and now they are closer than ever...if he knows what he means. Orson is intrigued by the concept of being separate but still be together. Mork's discovery was that it was no fun to be single alone, which is, he guesses why single people flock together.

.

Trivia[]

General[]

  • When Mindy helped Glenda Faye decorate her apartment (in Mork the Prankster) she appears to have taken a page out of Susan Taylors old apartment. With the same white fabric palm tree that was present in Susan's apartment (Mork's Seduction), now in Glenda's apartment.
  • Mork's preferred 'usual' Pizza topping is 'Everything' except tomato and cheese.
  • TNT's last previous appearance, making no inroads whatsoever with Mindy, was in Mork the Prankster
  • Mork's signature drink as 'Hitman', a Morkarita is Tequila with his favorite once again, Baloney (mustard rim optional)
  • When the party at Glenda's is declared to be moving to Pepper's, TNT sings (and dances) 'Wouldn't you like to be at Pepper's too?!" a play on the Dr. Pepper's advertising song "I'm a Pepper" Which in the campaign was sung/danced to by David Naughton, who would go on co-star with Pam Dawber in My Sister Sam.

Pop Culture[]

  • Jeanie asks Mindy if Mork is still lighting a candle in memory of Edith Bunker. Jean Stapleton who played Edith, had wanted to leave All In The Family, after playing the role for 8 years and her character was killed off (off screen) in the first episode of Archie Bunkers Place (the show Mork and Mindy had gone up against the previous season) in November 1980.
  • Mork's experience of a 'Little Black Book' is Alex Haley's epic 'Roots' the famed generational story of a family's enslavement in the U.S.
  • Mork relates how out of place he's feeling to First Lady Nancy Reagan at a soul food parlor. Johnny Carson once joking that Nancy Reagan's favourite junk food was caviar.
  • Mork wants to know if the guy whose coming is more fun than Mr Rogers, the exceedingly mild mannered host of the seminal American children's show Mr Roger's Neighborhood.
  • Mork's gag about Norman Lear making great jets, is a nice play on the noted TV producers name and Lear Jets.
  • TNT's chat up line recalling the girl as Cleopatra and himself as Richard Burton references Burton's role as Marc Anthony in Cleopatra.
  • Mork's (kinda filthy!) chat up line involves Lady Godiva who wrote naked through Coventry on a horse to help the tenant poor, and Mister Ed. the talking horse from the TV show of the same name.
  • Mork tells Orson Bebo is kind of like his George Jessel, 'his best audience' doing a short impersonation of him. Jessel a comedian in his own right, well known as a master of ceremonies at major political and entertainment events.
  • Mork tells Orson to bite his tongue and Hush his Puppies rather than his mouth, when suggesting he and Mindy have split up, referencing the Hush Puppy shoes, which in the 1980s were only worn by workers or older people, before they became popular among celebrities in the 90's.

Quotes/Excerpts[]

  • Mindy: *to Glenda & Jeanie* No it's true, Mork should meet more people. After all it's why he came to this planet...place....why he came to this place!

_______________________

  • Mindy: Mork? How would you feel if I told you I wasn't going to watch television with you tonight?
  • Mork: Well...I'd say that Mork & Mindy have reached a new level of intimacy. I'll go upstairs and put on my see-through suspenders and we'll snap till dawn.

_______________________

  • TNT: Tell you what guy, you stick with the master and in no time I'll make you just like me from top to bottom.
  • Mork: Well I guess I got a good head start cuz my bottom looks like your top!

_______________________

  • Jeanie: C'mon Mindy, now you've got to be just a little bit curious to see old Mork in action
  • Mindy: *sighs* Well yeahhh I am. But if I go to that party and he says to me 'Hi there, chickie baby, what's your sign?' I'm going to kick him in the Big Dipper.

_______________________

  • Pepper: Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing, because I was listening. But are you and The Hitman living together?
  • Mindy: Oh yeah *nods* Oh, but it's not what you think.
  • Pepper: Oh you'll have to tell me, I'm not into thinking.

Image Gallery[]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest starring/Recurring cast[]

External links[]

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