MORK Toys From Mattel

As I've mentioned before, I did watch Mork & Mindy regularly when it originally aired, although I've found it nearly impossible to sit through an episode as an adult. Still, it was a huge part of Star Kid culture, and was - or at least, Robin Williams was - quite a pop culture phenomenon in its time. Today's YouTube find is a vintage commercial for Mattel's line of Mork toys - action figures, plush dolls, and even a "Ork Egg" variation on their popular Slime product.

Cosmic Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day!

February's Space Babe: Pam Dawber

February's Space Babe is pretty Pam Dawber, of Mork & Mindy, the 70's most successful sci-fi sitcom. As Denver, Colorado native and "girl next door," Mindy McConnell, Dawber somehow managed to hold her own against the nearly-unrestrained comic energy of co-star Robin Williams as the irrepressible alien Mork (from Ork) for four seasons on ABC, beginning in the Fall of 1978.

Like every other kid at the time, I watched M&M pretty regularly - back then, Williams' hyper-paced comic style seemed fresh, original and constantly surprising. But when I caught reruns years later, I found his schtick more tiresome than amusing, and found myself much more impressed by Dawber's steady, grounded, more subtle comedy and her upbeat attitude and genuine warmth. And, damn, she was cute.

Dawber was born in 1951 near Detroit. As a young woman, she was a model and singer. Aside from her star-making role on Mork & Mindy, the talented actress has guest-starred in many other television series and starred in various theatrical productions.