Show of hands: who thought that The Mindy Project would be way funnier? When I had heard earlier this year that Mindy Kaling was writing and starring in her own television series, I was so very excited. After reading her book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, and seeing her in comedies and shows like The Office, my expectations were high. I thought “Mindy Kaling is very, very funny. … Her show is going to be very, very funny. … This is going to be awesome!”
I’ve waited a few weeks to write about The Mindy Project hoping it would maybe get better, and besides a few scenes in a few episodes here and there, for the most part, it hasn’t. If you haven’t seen the show, Kaling plays an OB/GYN (for those of you going “huh?” that’s a vagina and baby doctor) who struggles to balance her career and semi-non-existent love life in New York. The show also stars comedic actor Chris Messina (Celeste and Jesse Forever).
I think that the reason why The Mindy Project just doesn’t really work is because Mindy tries to be both the sarcastic joke maker and the butt of the jokes. Her character also comes across as really self-centred and narcissistic, and not all that likeable. This extends to the rest of the show’s characters as well. They seem quite flat and one-note, and again, not likeable or relatable. It’s too bad, because I think that Kaling still has the potential to create a really good TV series. This just isn’t it.
