2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Autumn De Wilde/FOXWho's that girl? It's Mindy!
Former Office writer/scene-stealer Mindy Kaling is finally getting her time in the spotlight with her new Fox comedyThe Mindy Project, which premiered tonight. If you're anything like us, you love a good romantic comedy—one that's hilarious, cute, bittersweet and honest all at once, which is why we love Mindy's new show so much: It's like watching a new rom-com on a weekly basis!
Clearly, we loved the new comedy, but did you feel the same?
"You're supposed to be the leading lady in your own life!"
We're pretty sure this Kate Winslet quote from The Holiday is the life motto for Kaling's character: Dr. Mindy Lahari, a female OB/GN. While her professional career is on track, her personal and romantic lives are bit of mess. Her problem? She doesn't just want love, she wants Nora Ephron's (rest in peace, you brilliant woman) version of love, and her pursuit of it often gets her in trouble. In the pilot, she's arrested for drunkenly riding her bike into a stranger's pool after giving a less-than-becoming toast at her ex's wedding. (Props for the Downton Abbey reference, Mindy!)
While a character like Mindy could grow tiresome pretty quickly, the key here is the writing. It's sharp, funny and biting. You want to grab a drink with her and talk TV, but you also want to hit her over the head with a copy of He's Just Not That Into You. (The book, not the movie, obvs.) Mindy knows she's kind of a wreck and so do the people around her and they don't let her off the hook.
Two (kind of) viable love interests, who both happen to be Mindy's co-workers, are introduced to us in the pilot: Jeremy (Ed Weeks) is a charming British doctor who knows exactly how to use that accent to get his way with women. But it's clear that their co-workers with benefits situation isn't going to lead anywhere serious, which is exactly why it probably will. The other is is Everyguy Danny (Chris Messina), who has no idea how cute he is and goes from insensitive (the weight comment, ouch!) to sincere in the blink of an eye. He's the Harry to Mindy's Sally, or for you younger folks out there, the Nick to her Jess. So can they ever be just friends? Stay tuned...