Mork + Mindy Equal Romance

Well, Valentine's Day is coming, which means its time for me to haul out my go-to TV couple, Mork & Mindy! They are the best, they really are.
I bet you're wondering why Mork is in an apron though (I hope you could tell that's an apron). It's because I wanted to show that Mork & Mindy are a rare example of a fully equal relationship (hence the pun in the title) . I sometimes joke to myself that "He wears the suspenders, but she wears the pants", but they're really more complex and interesting than that. No "macho man, wimpy woman" bullcrap with them. (Or "nagging woman, henpecked man" bullcrap for that matter). In fact, Mork & Mindy was revolutionary in that both characters had qualities that society deems "masculine" and "feminine"... but none of the feminine qualities were seen as negative or weak (although many a laugh was had whenever Mork was in drag. But let's face it, Robin Williams in a dress = comedy gold ). Mindy was a smart, determined journalism major who eventually became a reporter, and none of the scenes that showed her prettying herself up negated that. Mork meanwhile was never the Earth definition of "manly", but while he first was a bit defensive about becoming the one to cook and clean while Mindy was at work (stupid human cultural influences, no doubt), he soon was more than happy about it. Hell, due to his alien nature, the man/woman dynamic got turned on its head once they got married: He took her last name, and then he was the one who gave birth to their baby (well, laid the egg anyway). He was the stay-at-home dad, Mindy the breadwinner, but they both put equal time into raising Mearth (and when your kid is physically in his 50s, you know that ain't easy). All this back in 1978 through 1982.

And yet here in the 21st century, I turn on the TV and still find the same stupid fat husbands with sensible yet boring (and ridiculously attractive) wives, who keep arguing about seeing their daughter's ballet recital when the big game is on. The wife is always at home and the husband somehow can hold a job despite being dumber than a brick. He is an insensitive clod who only cares about his kids when it involves roughhousing with his son or keeping his daughter from leaving the house once she hits puberty. And yet we're supposed to like these people?
It may sound like a contradiction, but I'm nostalgic for progress. I dare say Mork & Mindy was one of the most feminist* shows on television. Sadly that aspect is ignored, although I can't say I fault the general public for paying more attention to Robin Williams' crazy-go-wacky humor than anything else.

Sorry that was such a long analysis. I when I see little intricacies that no one else picks up on, I gotta just say it somewhere! (Just be glad I said it here and didn't dump it in the middle of my next fanfic ).
Anyway, for those of you who have someone, I hope you have a happy Valentine's day. And for those who don't (like me ), well, just cope any way you can. Art and writing is how I cope. Well, that and beer, but that's not a very good message to send.

*= And by feminist I of course mean the original goal of full equality. A goal that seems further and further away as the internet becomes home to extremist serperatist feminists and loutish unapologetic misogynists. So much for the future.

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Mork & Mindy © Paramount Television