Why Did Mindy's Dad Leave 'Mork & Mindy?' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 01-30-2011, 12:38 AM

....And why did he come back? Mindy's dad was played by Conrad Janis. I read he left the show. It stated the character left to become a conductor of a traveling orchestra, but I was curious why he really left and came back???

biffbronson · 01-30-2011, 10:25 AM

If I remember correctly, there was a decision to try for a young demographic by introducing the characters Remo (Jay Thomas) and Jeanie (Gina Hecht) in the second season, squeezing Conrad Janis out for a while -- a good example of network tampering with the series.

old grouch · 01-30-2011, 03:00 PM

I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Season one with Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr, as Mindy's grandmother, was the best.

Chocolate Moose · 01-30-2011, 04:15 PM

I guess the network thought it was "broke".

Brian Damage · 01-30-2011, 04:37 PM

thanks for the info guys

Mr. Television · 01-30-2011, 08:05 PM

If anything says JTS it was adding Jay Thomas to the cast. Stupid executives.

catlover79 · 01-30-2011, 09:48 PM

They did eventually bring back Mindy's dad and grandma, but the damage was done. Good going, ABC!!

70s show watcher · 01-31-2011, 04:33 AM

i read an interview with conrad janis in wich he said that not only was he fired from the show but that the exec who did the firing actully used the words get lost while doing so what a bunch of morons and for the record dispite what gary marshall says i still think he is not entirely blameless in the matter of the firings and changes to the show he knew way more than he let on about the whole thing

catlover79 · 01-31-2011, 04:50 PM

^ Just sickening.

Dr. Thong · 02-01-2011, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocolate Moose

I guess the network thought it was "broke".

It may not have been "broke" before, but it was most certainly broke after the network tinkered with it. Changing cast members and putting it against Archie Bunker on Sunday nights nearly killed it.

And it was never the same, even though Conrad Janis returned and the show went back to Thursday nights.

catlover79 · 02-01-2011, 01:30 PM

No wonder Jay Leno once called the suits "TV nitwit executives", instead of network. I think Jay's description fits quite well.

Marvo301 · 02-01-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

No wonder Jay Leno once called the suits "TV nitwit executives", instead of network. I think Jay's description fits quite well.

Jay's description is very accurate!

TMC · 06-01-2013, 02:28 AM

http://zvbxrpl.blogspot.com/2007/09/retoolers.html

Quote:

If I remember right, the "Mork and Mindy" retooling was part of a crackpot idea by ABC that by making the show more young and hip (basically by eliminating any regular cast member over the age of 35), they could move the show to Sunday nights and dominate that evening with a new comedy block that also featured "The Associates", from the same MTM group led by James L. Brooks that had gone over to Paramount to do "Taxi". What they ended up doing was casting off the main counterbalances to Robin Williams' manic energy, and just going overboard with his schtick.

Add to that ABC's hyping of Raquel Welch as the guest star for the second season and the overblown script they came up with, and you had a true Jump the Shark moment for the show.

9:36 AM
Phil said...
Aside from ABC's wanting a younger supporting cast for the series, the other thing that happened to Mork and Mindy is that Robin Williams was unhappy with the scripts he was doing. Williams wanted "meaningful" stories rather than the relatively simple slapstick and visual stuff the first season had concentrated on. Unfortunately, "meaningful" tended to bring out the worst in Garry Marshall's sitcoms, as the results were almost invariably heavy-handed and unsubtle.

TVFactFan · 06-01-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

http://zvbxrpl.blogspot.com/2007/09/retoolers.html

Wow this is news, I thought he enjoyed being ******** on the show

Mr. Television · 06-01-2013, 07:02 PM

Sometimes it's best if the stars just act and let the writers write.

01-30-2011, 12:38 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Why Did Mindy's Dad Leave 'Mork & Mindy?' ....And why did he come back? Mindy's dad was played by Conrad Janis. I read he left the show. It stated the character left to become a conductor of a traveling orchestra, but I was curious why he really left and came back???
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01-30-2011, 10:25 AM	#2
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,493	If I remember correctly, there was a decision to try for a young demographic by introducing the characters Remo (Jay Thomas) and Jeanie (Gina Hecht) in the second season, squeezing Conrad Janis out for a while -- a good example of network tampering with the series.
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01-30-2011, 04:15 PM	#4
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,898	I guess the network thought it was "broke".
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01-30-2011, 08:05 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	If anything says JTS it was adding Jay Thomas to the cast. Stupid executives.
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01-30-2011, 09:48 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	They did eventually bring back Mindy's dad and grandma, but the damage was done. Good going, ABC!!
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01-30-2011, 03:00 PM	#3
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Season one with Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr, as Mindy's grandmother, was the best.

01-30-2011, 04:37 PM	#5
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	thanks for the info guys

01-31-2011, 04:33 AM	#8
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	i read an interview with conrad janis in wich he said that not only was he fired from the show but that the exec who did the firing actully used the words get lost while doing so what a bunch of morons and for the record dispite what gary marshall says i still think he is not entirely blameless in the matter of the firings and changes to the show he knew way more than he let on about the whole thing

01-31-2011, 04:50 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^ Just sickening.

02-01-2011, 01:30 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	No wonder Jay Leno once called the suits "TV nitwit executives", instead of network. I think Jay's description fits quite well.

06-01-2013, 07:02 PM	#15
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	Sometimes it's best if the stars just act and let the writers write.