Sergei Krushnev, is a Russian immigrant and musician who penniless in advance of starting his job with the Boulder Symphony meets and is befriended by Mork, who, without asking Mindy invites him back to live with them in her apartment, starting a chain of events that could bring Mork to the attention of the US Government, in Season 1's Mork and the Immigrant. He is played by Tim Thomerson.
About Sergei[]
Sergei is a tall, rugged, highly affable Russian émigré and professional cellist, newly arrived in the United States, having secured a job with the Boulder Symphony. But, as he doesn't' get his first paycheck for a couple of weeks can't afford anywhere to stay and is sleeping rough in the park.
Sergei arrives in to the McConnell's Music Store on a cold winters day with his cello, and speaks with Fred, who tries to explain to the Russian that they don't fix cellos in the store only sell them. Fred's confused when Sergei tells him there's nothing wrong with the cello he just wants him to keep it, that it would be safer with him. But Fred refuses to take it and gives the guy a card of a repair man wishing him good luck. As the Russian goes to head out, he greets Mork, his 'Dobry den’ getting a Nanu Nanu in return, which stops Sergei in his tracks, delightedly thinking Mork is foreign like him.
Sergei from Slavisgrad, as he introduces himself is from very far away. He is, he says, an alien, which delights Mork, who thinks that Slavisgrad is a planet he's not familiar with, leaving Sergei wondering if Ork is near Minsk. Sergei's troubles strike a chord with Mork, who recalls his own difficulties when he arrived. Wondering if Sergei has to make reports back about what he observes too? Sergei denies he's a spy and says he's a magician (musician) and student, and has a job with the sympathy 'symphony'. Mork tells him that he has to report back to Orson who made him come there. But Sergei tells him no one made Sergei Khrushnev come to America. He is there to be a part of the Democracy there. And Mork, who has been discussing Democracy and how it works with Mindy, is even more enthused by this,
Sergei tells Mork he has studied Democracy, Mork excitedly telling him he and Mindy are forming a Democracy! Thinking it's perfect, Mork suggests that Sergei can come live with them so there can be a third and they can have a democracy and Mork can ask him questions about the process. Sergei wonders about Mindy, saying he doesn't want to make trouble for him, but Mork tells him Mindy will love it.
Sergei loves Mindy's apartment, marveling at the 'rock star' lifestyle Mork has. Mindy, however, on returning from Susan Taylor's beauty shop, while happy to meet Sergei definitely does not love discovering that Mork has invited him to live with them, without even discussing it with her. While Sergei goes to the bathroom, she makes it clear to Mork that theirs is not a democracy. She pays the rent, and while he seems perfectly nice, and can stay overnight, Sergei is not living with them. Sergei returns while Mork is mid plead for her to let him stay, as he is excitedly pointing back into Mindy's bedroom telling them that in Russia he has to sleep with 11 brothers, and finding it hard to believe that tonight there'll just be 3 of them in the bed.
Ultimately Mork lets Sergei have the attic while he sleeps in the Armoire. Mindy discovering him doing his 5 second yoga and calisthenics work out, is met by Mindy who is surprised to see him downstairs in his pajamas. Speaking to him again, Mindy tells him that he just can't invite his friends, strangers, to live there, and that this is a very different to his situation when she brought him home and let him stay. She agrees however that Sergei does need help and suggests that he help Sergei find an apartment, show him around Boulder. And she will take some money out of her savings account to help Sergei find himself a place to stay, and he can pay her back when he gets on his feet.
After she heads to work and Mork entertains Sergei with his Lone Ranger adventure. Sergei happily sits down to breakfast commenting that everything is going so well for him, he has a new friend, a great place to live. But Mork tells him he has to talk to him about that. Mindy says there's only room for 2 in the apartment and they have to find him a place of his own. Rather than being upset at that, Sergei is stunned to think he can live alone, finding he has so many things to learn, Disco, Dirt Bikes, Burritos, registering as an Alien.
When Mork queries him on that, Sergei tells him all aliens have to register by January 1st. Mork wonders why Mindy never told him that, but Sergei points out she's not an Alien how would she know? Sergei advises him that's a big law and he needs to do it Mork wonders if they'd kick him off the planet? Sergei's not sure they'd go that far, but it would be a problem and Mork thinks he has to avoid trouble, Orson would get really T'O'ed at him. Sergei informs him of two guys he knew who got picked up for not having proper identification. Where do I get proper identification Mork asks. Immigration Bureau Sergei says. Mork figures he better go there, and will leave Mindy a note.
On arriving at the Bureau Sergei and Mork start to fill out the forms for registration, everything going relatively smoothly, until Sergei advises Mork to check with the clerk about a query he has. Mork immediately sending up red flags, until Mindy having found his note, arrives hurriedly to extricate him, managing to make the clerk believe he's crazy rather than an illegal 'alien'.
A little while afterwards, with Sergei safely registered and having begun his job and found a place to live, he comes to visit them to thank them both for all their help, loving his new life, and dropping off some Russian Caviar as a thank you gift, departing to head out onto the social scene, none the wiser that the pair don't like the stuff.