Cool News
Herc’s Seen Kaling’s
THE MINDY PROJECT!!
A new sitcom written by and starring longtime “The Office” writer-performer Mindy Kaling, “The Mindy Project” is a sitcom chronicling the personal and professional life of a young obstetrician.
I like Kaling as airhead narcissist Kelly Kapoor on “The Office” and I love the “Office” episodes she’s written (“The Injury,” featuring a hilariously concussed Dwight Schrute, was one of hers), but “The Mindy Project” pilot did not get any laughs out of me.
I note that at least some critics are pointing out that “New Girl,” which airs its second season premiere tonight, had its own shaky start, but I still contend “New Girl” kicked off with one of the best sitcom pilots ever.
… doesn’t yet have a steady handle on its characters–particularly, oddly, Mindy’s. In the first half-hour she swings from empathetic to callous, smart to borderline-nuts, likeable-but-flawed to off-putting. … In all, it’s a polished pilot, but one that will have to work ground its characters better to work as a series.
... The job of "The Mindy Project" was to make me root for the fictional Mindy Lahiri or merely want to spend more time in her presence. It didn't get very far in either of those arenas, and I didn't find it very funny either. … the lead character is so tonally mixed up that it's hard not to get whiplash from watching the pilot. …
... There are a few rough patches — a blind date gone awry scene (with Kaling's old "Office" co-star Ed Helms) pushes Mindy's behavior to the point where she seems unstable rather than just neurotic — but overall, "The Mindy Project" is a comedy that arrives knowing what it wants to be and what kinds of stories and jokes it wants to tell. …
… The pilot of The Mindy Project isn't quite as funny as Ms. Kaling is at her best, but it has some amusing moments and a lot of promise. …
... I like this a lot. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
... Kaling is good enough to make the C-plus dialogue sound better than it is. …two things are clear from the "Mindy" pilot: First, that the writers need to do some work to make the secondary characters less of a cliche, and, second, that Kaling has the stuff to go the distance.
... Everything about “The Mindy Project” is so very Kaling and happily spot-on, starting with the strength of the jokes and dialogue. …
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
... There’s something so likeable about Mindy Kaling that even though the pilot for her new series “The Mindy Project” underwhelms there’s also reason for optimism. …
… plays like a blind date gone bad. …
... Despite a few flaws, “The Mindy Project” could evolve into an interesting hybrid, an anti-romantic-comedy romantic comedy. … Like its heroine, “The Mindy Project” is a work in progress.
... If you've resisted Kaling's charms up to now, nothing that happens tonight is likely to change your mind. But even those who like her may be turned off by her affection for an odd form of self-deprecating humor, one that seems to poke fun at her character until you notice that every scene vindicates her and every man wants to sleep to her. Then the word you may most want to append to her Project isn't "Mindy." It's "Vanity."
... shows enough comedic snap in the pilot to hint at significant potential. … Here’s to one of the few half-hours of merit this season, a beacon of hope among the bleak fall offerings. …
... it's an imperfect product, and given its familiar trappings needs to put even more effort into bolstering its support system. Still, there are enough winning moments here to come back for an encore. …
9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Fox.
Readers Talkback
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not a great deal, mind you. A good deal.
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realized that Deschanel was better as part of an ensemble, and not the lead.
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Didn't hate it, but made about the same impression as "Up All Night" last year - good potential, average execution, not going to watch.
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It has got a lot of potential. I wouldn't say it was perfect but I could see how this show could be hilarious in a season or two.
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also Angela. give Her a show too.
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Go figure.
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Well, I still contend that Community kicked off with one of the best, sticom pilots ever!
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I watched it on Hulu a couple of weeks ago and it waskind of funny. It has potential, definitely, but it could really go either way. Hate New Girl.
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Community was one of the best sitcom pilots. I was won over by New Girl over a few episodes, but I was pretty lukewarm to the pilot I was also lukewarm to Mindy too, but liked it enough that I'll give it a few more chances though.
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Sept. 25, 2012, 1:02 p.m. CST
The Mindy Project? Is this a home improvement show?
by Doctor_Strangepork
The Bronson Pinchot Project The Vanilla Ice Project The Adam Carolla Project
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Then she would look good enough that the show's mediocre writing wouldn't matter. I'm just sayin'...
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There was certainly enough potential for me to watch it, but it really started coming into its own. Really, Schmidt's evolution from stereotypical obnoxious douchebag to a guy who is pretty damaged emotionally and ACTS like an obnoxious douchebag to mask that was gutsy. I don't know if it was the writers or the actor who came up with that, but it worked. It makes him seem like a real person, despite the zaniness.
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You know, like the comic strip...
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Sept. 25, 2012, 1:24 p.m. CST
Nothing about any of the previews seemed funny to me.
by iamnicksaicnsn
Just shockingly droll. Totally unfunny. Laughably obtuse. Sadly rote.
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Sept. 25, 2012, 1:39 p.m. CST
Sorry, didn't laugh - and I'm not saying that to be one of those jerks who says women aren't funny
by Joey Stars
but needless to say all my female comedian friends are going nuts over this show - and I'm sure they'll go full blown feminazi and scream sexism once it's cancelled .
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Sept. 25, 2012, 1:47 p.m. CST
First came The Alan Parsons Project, then The John Henson Project (ahh the days of early Spike), now
by openthepodbaydoorshal
The Mindy Project.
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Sept. 25, 2012, 1:47 p.m. CST
Oh yea ...and The Manhattan Project, lets not forget that.
by openthepodbaydoorshal
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Network TV already has zero good dramas, and with all the good NBC Thursday night Comedy shows likely dying within a year or so, I was hoping this could fill that space. Maybe it will get better like Parks did. SNL is probably the only thing I'll have left to watch on any major network..THAT's IT.
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I will give it my three episode cut off but it is cheesy women humor. Plus, it is basically the same character from the office: shallow, celebrity obsessed, drama lover that describe most women I encounter.
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...since it has been available online and on demand for about six weeks?
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Seriously. Maybe he should sit one out or something. I swear he's in every TV show and movie I watch lately.
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Sept. 25, 2012, 6:39 p.m. CST
I love that just because its not as shit as most sitcoms on the networks
by edwardpenishands
its good. There are only two good sitcoms on the big networks and thats Parks and Rec + Community.
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But the single professional and her chronically "mis-adventures" is such as sad cliche, and has been for years. I wouldn't be any more interested if it were a single professional MAN and his annoyingly neurotic mis-adventures. Maybe because I already don't relate to the professional "city life". If you want women characters to be accepted, display some originality without any unnecessary contrivances, either. Otherwise, this is just another cutesy Sex and the City rehash with a dash of Grey's Anatomy.
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Sept. 26, 2012, 10:08 a.m. CST
And do people find Mindy Kaling attractive? I'm honestly asking, because I never have
by kidicarus
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Sept. 26, 2012, 10:35 a.m. CST
Wish I typed that up better, but I'm glad I made my point.
by Jarrete Barnett
The average person has way better things to do than EMBARRASS themselves on a regular basis looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right. And the fact that she isn't even that attractive adds even more insult to injury.
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Sept. 26, 2012, 10:36 a.m. CST
Well, Herc, since you don't like it, I'll check it out. I don't trust your opinion on anything at all....
by Coughlins Laws
Anyway, whether or not you find her attractive shouldn't have anything to do with it. That's sexist...
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I gave her my googy-googy.
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I dont find vain vapid overweight women attractive, no matter what their ethnicity is.
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There is one: "Raising Hope"
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No one really cares about Mindy. She acts like she's really hot, but she's not. She's not ugly, but she acts like she's hot. And how many pop culture references will she cram into each episode? I wasn't impressed with the show. I don't this it's going to last too long. And did she really have to make her character a doctor? Way to play into the Indian doctor stereotype. Her character is way too stupid and flighty to be a doctor.
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Wait, is that an actual stereotype? I must be falling behind in my racial profiling.
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Sept. 26, 2012, 7:50 p.m. CST
Our local news did a story on how this show is a role model for Indian women on TV
by Mace Tofu
and all I could think was " a fat slut, a role model?" and yes I did see last nights episode. I do enjoy NEW GIRL wacky humor and sluts.
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Sept. 26, 2012, 8:23 p.m. CST
She's not fat at all, her face is round. Don't get some of you...
by Coughlins Laws
That being said...
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Her next "project" needs to be getting that ass and thunder thighs under control.
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Cause I imagined it would suck
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Sept. 27, 2012, 9:49 a.m. CST
I don't think she's fat like you jerks are saying, just don't find her attractive in the least. But she is a talented writer
by kidicarus
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