How Mork and Mindy was born and landed on Thurdays at 8pm - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 07-30-2012, 01:40 AM

Garry Marshall was told by ABC president Fred Silverman that the network is dying on Thursdays nights and wanted to move Happy Days or Laverne and Shirley to Thursdays. Marshall didn't want the network to bust up his hit shows so he wanted a chance to create another show that could maybe be put in the 8pm slot on Thursdays. Marshall then found Robin Williams who was a last minute replacement on the pilot episode for Mork and Mindy which was a Happy Days episode and the network executives wasn't that impressed.

Then he created the one hour special which was the first episode of Mork and Mindy that aired on a Monday and then when the network exes saw the ep they felt it was good enough for Thursdays at 8pm where it stayed for the entire first season.

Garry Marshall Interview, from "One season in American Television", Marc Elliot, 1983

old grouch · 07-30-2012, 11:15 AM

Ironically, what Garry Marshall feared ended up happening after all the next season when HD and L&S were busted up and L&S was moved to Thursdays at 8pm.

TVFactFan · 07-30-2012, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

Ironically, what Garry Marshall feared ended up happening after all the next season when HD and L&S were busted up and L&S was moved to Thursdays at 8pm.

Yeah he said he always fought hard for his shows but they moved them anyway the next year when M&M was moved to Sundays and L&S was moved to Thursdays.

Maybe Sundays nights needed a BOOST and they figured since L&S and M&M were both hits they could help Thursdays and Sundays

treky · 08-03-2012, 01:47 AM

I think I remember reading somewhere when M & M started; that Gary Marshall created it because his son liked STAR WARS and asked him to create a show about an alien.

TVFactFan · 08-03-2012, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I think I remember reading somewhere when M & M started; that Gary Marshall created it because his son liked STAR WARS and asked him to create a show about an alien.

He mentioned something in the book about looking for a unqiue performer to play Mork and wanted the actor to blow everyone out so it sounds like that is true

He also said the network executives didn't like the Mork on Happy days but when the One Hour Pilot special was created they were impressed.

07-30-2012, 01:40 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	How Mork and Mindy was born and landed on Thurdays at 8pm Garry Marshall was told by ABC president Fred Silverman that the network is dying on Thursdays nights and wanted to move Happy Days or Laverne and Shirley to Thursdays. Marshall didn't want the network to bust up his hit shows so he wanted a chance to create another show that could maybe be put in the 8pm slot on Thursdays. Marshall then found Robin Williams who was a last minute replacement on the pilot episode for Mork and Mindy which was a Happy Days episode and the network executives wasn't that impressed. Then he created the one hour special which was the first episode of Mork and Mindy that aired on a Monday and then when the network exes saw the ep they felt it was good enough for Thursdays at 8pm where it stayed for the entire first season. Garry Marshall Interview, from "One season in American Television", Marc Elliot, 1983

08-03-2012, 01:47 AM	#4
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I think I remember reading somewhere when M & M started; that Gary Marshall created it because his son liked STAR WARS and asked him to create a show about an alien.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

07-30-2012, 11:15 AM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Ironically, what Garry Marshall feared ended up happening after all the next season when HD and L&S were busted up and L&S was moved to Thursdays at 8pm.