Do You Blame Jonathan Winters For The Implosion Of 'Mork & Mindy?' - Page 3 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

robyrob · 08-31-2014, 10:54 AM

i've been rewatching all the episodes on the Cloo marathon and i don't know why people are so hard on the final season.

sure, the show seems stupid in today's world, but in its original frame of reference it was just supposed to be a goofy show in the late 70's; it was mainly a vehicle for Robin Williams - and later Jonathan Winters - to goof around and riff away. Sure the scripts and plots were ridiculously silly, but they were supposed to be, I still blame the producers for cast changes that caused all the problems - they were the ones that wanted M&M to get married and start a family.

spunkygirl · 08-31-2014, 11:36 AM

No I blame the network for their interference that's what killed the show. The network interference always does

spunkygirl · 08-31-2014, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

i've been rewatching all the episodes on the Cloo marathon and i don't know why people are so hard on the final season.

sure, the show seems stupid in today's world, but in its original frame of reference it was just supposed to be a goofy show in the late 70's; it was mainly a vehicle for Robin Williams - and later Jonathan Winters - to goof around and riff away. Sure the scripts and plots were ridiculously silly, but they were supposed to be, I still blame the producers for cast changes that caused all the problems - they were the ones that wanted M&M to get married and start a family.

Well said Roby, I agree! I thought JW did a great job. I truly believe Mearth was a baby in a man's body lol

Campbell Girl · 08-31-2014, 10:26 PM

I don't I blame the People that Fired Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr after the first season

TVFactFan · 09-01-2014, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campbell Girl

I don't I blame the People that Fired Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr after the first season

welcome to the boards

TVFactFan · 09-01-2014, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Johnny Winters is one of my all time favorites, but I had stopped watching this long before he turned up. Jay Thomas has always been a complete mystery to me, and the show just stopped dead when they went into that deli.

welcome to the boards

Campbell Girl · 09-01-2014, 05:12 PM

Thank you for the warm welcome.

TVFactFan · 09-01-2014, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campbell Girl

Thank you for the warm welcome.

Facebook caused this site to lose activity so I am always glad to see new members

especially on the 70's board

TVFactFan · 09-01-2014, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Thank you! Is there a thread somewhere new people check in and say hello? I couldn't find one.

Chit Chat section

Janice · 09-14-2014, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Thank you! Is there a thread somewhere new people check in and say hello? I couldn't find one.

Yes, like TVFactFan said, the best place to post a greeting is Chit Chat.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...play.php?f=154

Skywalker · 12-13-2014, 04:58 PM

I don't blame Jonathan Winters, I blame the producers and the writers. Mearth wasn't a bad character, it's just that some of the storylines which revolved around him were awful ideas. The episode where he's captured by a cult is probably the best example of that.

Since the show was no longer filmed in front of a live studio audience, Robin Williams doesn't seem too interested anymore although that could be due to drug use. Not as much wacky improv as in previous seasons, except when he's doing something with Jonathan.

Mork is toned down and sometimes is just playing a straight man to Mearth which kinda makes sense since he's a father now, but it doesn't help make the show funnier.

Still, Season 4 isn't as bad as I thought it would be. The episode where Mork loses his memory and goes back to being the old Mork from Season 1 is as good as any of the best episodes and when Robin and Jonathan do something funny together it's always a highlight.

Dr. Thong · 12-14-2014, 05:09 PM

It was the final nail in the coffin of a show that had been dying creatively and ratings-wise since season 2.

You can blame the ABC network for this: They had this demographic study done that convinced them that viewers wanted to see youthful, more energetic characters because they wanted to cater to a more...well, youthful demographic.

I was 12 years old during the first season and I liked Cora and Fred just fine.

Mork And Mindy was far from broken, but ABC forced Garry Marshall to add youthful characters to the show to appeal to a younger demographic, but all it did ultimately was kill the show.

rusty spike · 11-10-2015, 01:04 AM

I remember watching the first season when it first debuted (I was very young, but my oldest brother loved the show) and I was very confused after they dumped the older characters in season 2. And when Mearth came along, I couldn't make sense of the character. It became too crazy and downright bizarre, but I don't blame Winters. The show was already going downhill.

waichingliu81 · 12-16-2015, 07:09 PM

no, i blame the writers and whoever made the decision to have a grown up baby. it made the show even more daft.

Dr. Thong · 12-18-2015, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

no, i blame the writers and whoever made the decision to have a grown up baby. it made the show even more daft.

I agree.

Mork & Mindy began its downward spiral with season two.

The whole Mearth thing was the final nail in the coffin.

08-31-2014, 10:54 AM	#31
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,156	i've been rewatching all the episodes on the Cloo marathon and i don't know why people are so hard on the final season. sure, the show seems stupid in today's world, but in its original frame of reference it was just supposed to be a goofy show in the late 70's; it was mainly a vehicle for Robin Williams - and later Jonathan Winters - to goof around and riff away. Sure the scripts and plots were ridiculously silly, but they were supposed to be, I still blame the producers for cast changes that caused all the problems - they were the ones that wanted M&M to get married and start a family.
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09-01-2014, 05:12 PM	#37
Campbell Girl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2014 Location: Renton Posts: 10	Do You Blame Johnathan Winters For The Implosiion of Mork & Mindy Thank you for the warm welcome.

12-14-2014, 05:09 PM	#42
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	It was the final nail in the coffin of a show that had been dying creatively and ratings-wise since season 2. You can blame the ABC network for this: They had this demographic study done that convinced them that viewers wanted to see youthful, more energetic characters because they wanted to cater to a more...well, youthful demographic. I was 12 years old during the first season and I liked Cora and Fred just fine. Mork And Mindy was far from broken, but ABC forced Garry Marshall to add youthful characters to the show to appeal to a younger demographic, but all it did ultimately was kill the show.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

08-31-2014, 11:36 AM	#32
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,557	No I blame the network for their interference that's what killed the show. The network interference always does

08-31-2014, 10:26 PM	#34
Campbell Girl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2014 Location: Renton Posts: 10	I don't I blame the People that Fired Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr after the first season

12-13-2014, 04:58 PM	#41
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,205	I don't blame Jonathan Winters, I blame the producers and the writers. Mearth wasn't a bad character, it's just that some of the storylines which revolved around him were awful ideas. The episode where he's captured by a cult is probably the best example of that. Since the show was no longer filmed in front of a live studio audience, Robin Williams doesn't seem too interested anymore although that could be due to drug use. Not as much wacky improv as in previous seasons, except when he's doing something with Jonathan. Mork is toned down and sometimes is just playing a straight man to Mearth which kinda makes sense since he's a father now, but it doesn't help make the show funnier. Still, Season 4 isn't as bad as I thought it would be. The episode where Mork loses his memory and goes back to being the old Mork from Season 1 is as good as any of the best episodes and when Robin and Jonathan do something funny together it's always a highlight.

11-10-2015, 01:04 AM	#43
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I remember watching the first season when it first debuted (I was very young, but my oldest brother loved the show) and I was very confused after they dumped the older characters in season 2. And when Mearth came along, I couldn't make sense of the character. It became too crazy and downright bizarre, but I don't blame Winters. The show was already going downhill.

12-16-2015, 07:09 PM	#44
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	no, i blame the writers and whoever made the decision to have a grown up baby. it made the show even more daft.