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

Brian Damage · 03-11-2011, 01:36 AM

Was it a big mistake casting Jonathan Winters in that role? Should it have been a child actor?

Marvo301 · 03-11-2011, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Was it a big mistake casting Jonathan Winters in that role? Should it have been a child actor?

No I blame the producers who thought casting Jonathon Winters as Mearth was a good idea. It was just another in a long list of bad choices by the producers. it started with dumping Conrad Janis and Elizabeth Kerr (Mindy's father and grandmother) after the first season and replacing them with younger supporting characters played by Jay Thomas and Gina Hecht. And they just kept making more bad decisions through the rest of the run. It was definitely the producers fault that this show that started out so well went so downhill.

Schmoopie · 03-11-2011, 04:58 AM

I agree. I like Jonathan Winters, but when they cast an adult as their baby, the show really went downhill fast. I know that he was supposed to be an adult and get younger, but it really wasn't that funny of a concept. They couldn't honestly think that the show was going to last long enough to see him all the way through to "infancy", did they?: lol:

TV Knowledge Fan · 03-11-2011, 12:01 PM

...blame the producers for another round of changes.

Ever since they worked together in an April 1981 episode [when Johnnie guest-starred as Conrad Janis' brother], Robin was thrilled to be working opposite his comedy idol and inspiration on a regular basis (and, unfortunately, he suffered the same kind of personal problems Winters did, just short of being committed {Johnnie often referred to it as "The Zoo"}). By the time the series began its fourth season that fall, virtually all of the supporting cast- save for Janis- had been eliminated {and losing Tom Poston was a big mistake as well}, and the series began filming without a live audience, which was a blow to Robin's creativity, as he works best with a bunch of people watching him improvise. The new director, Bob Claver, had previously been involved with several "laughtracked" Screen Gems/Columbia shows (including "THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY"), and just didn't understand how to get the best reactions from Robin and Johnnie; what should have been screamingly funny moments between them (as it had been in their first episode together) just- "laid there".

And the ratings fell. And ABC gave no encouragement as to how to "fix" the program, other than, "Do something to make people watch it again, or you're cancelled!".

Perhaps the show ended as it should have.

catlover79 · 03-11-2011, 12:24 PM

I too blame the producers (and the network) who thought that plot was a good idea. Mearth gave me nightmares - a huge grown man in diapers babbling creeped this little girl out!!!

robyrob · 03-11-2011, 01:00 PM

Jonathan Winters could have been great with Robin Williams on the show, but whoever's idea it was to have him play a giant baby should take the blame for the final season's problems.

catlover79 · 03-11-2011, 02:30 PM

^ Exactly.

70s show watcher · 03-13-2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

Jonathan Winters could have been great with Robin Williams on the show, but whoever's idea it was to have him play a giant baby should take the blame for the final season's problems.

i agree

Mr. Television · 03-13-2011, 09:52 PM

Jonathan Winters was the only good thing about the last couple years of M&M. He made me start watching again.

Nelson_Flavor · 03-20-2011, 02:18 AM

I don't blame the casting of Jonathon Winters as Mearth, if I had to blame anything it would be the everchaning concepts in the show. If the cast would have stayed the same for the entire series the show may have lasted longer. It's okay to add new characters, but don't chance the entire concept.

Also, I blame the constant changing of time slots.

If the show would have stayed in the direction it first started out in, the series may have had some more seasons. They tried to fix what wasn't broke, and in doing so they caused the eventual demise of a great show.

Mr. Television · 03-21-2011, 12:08 AM

When Jay Thomas joined the cast, it JTS.

catlover79 · 03-21-2011, 12:29 AM

Did anyone like poor Remo?

I have yet to meet anyone who did. I DID greatly enjoy Jay Thomas' performance as Coach Meister in Mr. Holland's Opus - he did a terrific job there.

Marvo301 · 03-21-2011, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Did anyone like poor Remo?

I have yet to meet anyone who did. I DID greatly enjoy Jay Thomas' performance as Coach Meister in Mr. Holland's Opus - he did a terrific job there.

Remo was okay but I had a crush on his sister Jean played by Gina Hecht!

catlover79 · 03-21-2011, 01:32 AM

Gina Hecht was also great in the recurring role of Patti LuPone's cousin on Life Goes On. You may want to look up Pam Dawber's Lifetime Intimate Portrait, which is up on YouTube. Gina is one of the interviewees.

Marvo301 · 03-21-2011, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Gina Hecht was also great in the recurring role of Patti LuPone's cousin on Life Goes On. You may want to look up Pam Dawber's Lifetime Intimate Portrait, which is up on YouTube. Gina is one of the interviewees.

Cool! I'll have to check that out!

03-11-2011, 01:36 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: 63,108	Do You Blame Jonathan Winters For The Implosion Of 'Mork & Mindy?' Was it a big mistake casting Jonathan Winters in that role? Should it have been a child actor?
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03-11-2011, 04:58 AM	#3
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I agree. I like Jonathan Winters, but when they cast an adult as their baby, the show really went downhill fast. I know that he was supposed to be an adult and get younger, but it really wasn't that funny of a concept. They couldn't honestly think that the show was going to last long enough to see him all the way through to "infancy", did they?: lol:
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03-11-2011, 12:01 PM	#4
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Don't blame Jonathan... ...blame the producers for another round of changes. Ever since they worked together in an April 1981 episode [when Johnnie guest-starred as Conrad Janis' brother], Robin was thrilled to be working opposite his comedy idol and inspiration on a regular basis (and, unfortunately, he suffered the same kind of personal problems Winters did, just short of being committed {Johnnie often referred to it as "The Zoo"}). By the time the series began its fourth season that fall, virtually all of the supporting cast- save for Janis- had been eliminated {and losing Tom Poston was a big mistake as well}, and the series began filming without a live audience, which was a blow to Robin's creativity, as he works best with a bunch of people watching him improvise. The new director, Bob Claver, had previously been involved with several "laughtracked" Screen Gems/Columbia shows (including "THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY"), and just didn't understand how to get the best reactions from Robin and Johnnie; what should have been screamingly funny moments between them (as it had been in their first episode together) just- "laid there". And the ratings fell. And ABC gave no encouragement as to how to "fix" the program, other than, "Do something to make people watch it again, or you're cancelled!". Perhaps the show ended as it should have.

03-11-2011, 12:24 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I too blame the producers (and the network) who thought that plot was a good idea. Mearth gave me nightmares - a huge grown man in diapers babbling creeped this little girl out!!!
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03-11-2011, 01:00 PM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,172	Jonathan Winters could have been great with Robin Williams on the show, but whoever's idea it was to have him play a giant baby should take the blame for the final season's problems.
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03-11-2011, 02:30 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^ Exactly.

03-13-2011, 09:52 PM	#9
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	Jonathan Winters was the only good thing about the last couple years of M&M. He made me start watching again.
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03-20-2011, 02:18 AM	#10
Nelson_Flavor Pardon, where's the restroom? Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2003 Location: IL Posts: 69	I don't blame the casting of Jonathon Winters as Mearth, if I had to blame anything it would be the everchaning concepts in the show. If the cast would have stayed the same for the entire series the show may have lasted longer. It's okay to add new characters, but don't chance the entire concept. Also, I blame the constant changing of time slots. If the show would have stayed in the direction it first started out in, the series may have had some more seasons. They tried to fix what wasn't broke, and in doing so they caused the eventual demise of a great show.
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03-21-2011, 12:08 AM	#11
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	When Jay Thomas joined the cast, it JTS.

03-21-2011, 12:29 AM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Did anyone like poor Remo? I have yet to meet anyone who did. I DID greatly enjoy Jay Thomas' performance as Coach Meister in Mr. Holland's Opus - he did a terrific job there.

03-21-2011, 01:32 AM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Gina Hecht was also great in the recurring role of Patti LuPone's cousin on Life Goes On. You may want to look up Pam Dawber's Lifetime Intimate Portrait, which is up on YouTube. Gina is one of the interviewees.