Robin

by Dave Itzkoff

Robin believed that Mork & Mindy was a hit because of its simplicity. “It was about this cheerful little man doing very simple things—‘Mork buys bread’ or ‘Mork deals with racism,’” he explained. “Mork and Mindy were both very straitlaced and the charm of the show, I think, was in having Pam Dawber deal with me in normal, everyday situations—to which I would react in bizarre ways.” Comparing it to the classic 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners, Robin said, “You know who Ralph Kramden was and you know who [Ed] Norton was; they were at their best in everyday situations and the simpler the better.” If the stories ever became too complicated, he went on, “the show wouldn’t have been nearly as effective.”