TV DVD Review: "Mork & Mindy": Season One

Rated: TV-G (US) / G (Canada)
Starring: Robin Williams, Pam Dawber, Conrad Janis, and Elizabeth Kerr
Released: 1978 - 1979 (original TV premieres) / September 7, 2004 (DVD)

Synopsis: Sent from the planet Ork to learn about the customs and culture of our planet, Mork (the late Robin Williams, in his star-making role) crash-landed into Boulder, CO, just in time to inadvertently save college-aged Mindy McConnell (Pam Dawber) from a date gone horribly wrong.  With nowhere else for him to go, Mindy invites him to stay at her place, much to the chagrin of her father, Fred (Conrad Janis).  Mork quickly makes friends with young kid Eugene (Jeffrey Jacquet) and insane nut Exidor (the late Robert Donner), but completely fumbles when it comes to the ways of our planet.  Whether he is falling in love with a lady who is a real doll, learning the truth about lying, or using his alien powers to defend Mindy from a womanizing jerk, hilarity is sure to ensue!
Features guest appearances from Henry Winkler (Happy Days), Penny Marshall (Laverne & Shirley), and screen legends Morgan Fairchild and David Letterman.

The Good: Mork & Mindy is one of my longtime favorite shows, so, of course I would enjoy this first season.  I hadn't watched much of it in a while, but, when I heard that the final season was being released on DVD, I knew I had to catch up.  Since most of the cast has passed away, being able to see them in action is a real treat, especially since this set features the episodes as they were originally broadcast.  Robin Williams is definitely the star here, and his antics are hilarious; however, the rest of the cast does well, too, especially Robert Donner as Exidor, who is even loonier than Mork himself.  By now, I would think most everyone would be familiar with this show; if you're not, but you're a fan of old-school television, you should definitely check this out from your local library.  Give it a chance and see if you don't laugh.

The Bad: As good as this is, I do have some minor complaints.  Though the packaging is nice, the discs themselves are void of any special features, save for the cute menu screens.  Non-English speakers may be disappointed to find that there aren't any foreign subtitles; I've heard this show was popular in non-anglophone countries, so, you'd think they'd at least include at least a Spanish language option.  Also, the last episode ends the set with a whimper; it's rather boring, especially for a season finale.

Content Concerns:

• Sex: Mork naively refers to sex in a childlike way here and there.  People believe Mork and Mindy are "shacking up,"; though they never do anything immoral, the stigma of a man and woman living together without marriage is still there. 3/5
• Nudity: Cleavage, and Mork often wears an outfit that shows a bit of his chest. 4/5
• Language: Profanity is quite rare, but many characters call each other names, including Mork teasing Orson--who is never seen--about being overweight. 4/5
• Violence: Comedic pratfalls are the rule here.  Mork does get into a fight with someone, but it isn't the least bit bloody or graphic. 4/5
• Drugs: People are seen drinking alcohol fairly often; smoking is referenced once or twice. 3/5
• Frightening/Intense Scenes: One episode features Mork nearly dying.  In other episodes, he suffers from some emotional intensity. 3/5
• Other: Mork makes occasional disparaging remarks about conservatives and religion. 4/5

Conclusion: This review is probably biased, but I really enjoyed revisiting one of my old favorites.  Now, I can't wait to watch the remaining seasons! Look for reviews to come in the future! Seriously, if you've never seen this show...you're missing out!

Score: 4.5/5