Mork & Mindy (TV Series) The Night They Raided Mind-ski's (1980) User Reviews

The subject of bigotry

[kevinolzak · 6/10 · 15 October 2016]

"The Night They Raided Mind-ski's" opens with Nelson Flavor (Jim Staahl) still hoping to win election to city council, Mork willing to seek out organizations that can help. A rally to 'Clean Up Boulder' has him believing them to be dedicated to clean air, 'Mork Blank' introducing himself to Jim Blake (Ed Peck). Unaware that they represent a KKK-type organization (complete with masks), Mork promotes Flavor's view of 'the race problem': "he believes that he should be ahead of everybody else!" A meeting in Mindy's apartment begins with a promise from Flavor: "I believe that the American people are crying out for leadership, and I want to give them something to cry about!" True intentions are revealed by such slurs as 'spics,' 'nips,' 'krauts,' and 'jungle bunnies.' Mindy proudly admits her Polish heritage, only to be laughed at by Mork: "hardy har har-ski!" Mork's idea of bigotry is an 'Italian forest' until Mindy sets the record straight about how they use humor as a weapon against those they put down, and after Mindy's apartment is wrecked he takes action. Fighting hate with hate isn't his style, rendering them black, brown, red, and other different colors as a more benign lesson. A rare second season episode more indicative of the first

Great introduction of the harm of prejudice

[willowgrove · 9/10 · 22 April 2013]

One of the reasons I love Mork and Mindy is how the show can meaningfully address even the most controversial of subjects. Mork is the innocent and as such can offer an outsider's commentary of human behavior (both the good and the bad). Through his mistakes and the other characters' response the audience learns anew about the good and bad in people around us.

Robin Williams' comic genius shines and Pam Dawber is an excellent "straight man" to anchor Williams' quick wit and outlandish antics. In going back and watching the show again as an adult I appreciate it so much more than I did as a kid, I love that my kids can enjoy the comedy while learning important values and ideas that the show displays. This episode in particular is a great one as it addresses racism,

Mork unwittingly gets involved in a white supremacist group. At first Mork doesn't understand the harm in his "new friends" jokes and activities until they threaten to harm others including Mindy. The ending is clever and clearly illustrates the illogical, hateful and harmful ideology of racism.

This show is an under-appreciated diamond with such a great venue to see G rated work of Williams comic genius perfectly balanced by Dawber. If you haven't see it for a while, take the time to watch it again!