The Mindy Project Revisited

Confession: I am a TV junkie. Don't get me wrong, I live a pretty social life and am never lacking for fresh air, but at the end of the day, I love nothing more than to curl up on the couch and watch my stories. I definitely value particular series over others. Only certain shows result in me crawling on my belly towards the television when one character confesses their love for another ("Miranda you're the one!"). I save my tears for the season finale of The Biggest Loser and the occasional shocking death on Boardwalk Empire.

To say I am devoted to the shows I love, is probably a vast understatement. For every drama or sitcom that I obsess over, there are also the shows that I put on in the background while I do other things because I feel like I should be watching them but simply lack the attention span to devote solid 30-60 minutes of concentration to them.Up until a few weeks ago, I would have considered The Mindy Project to be one of the latter.

Strategically airing after one of my favorite half-hour comedies, The New Girl,  I originally felt obligated to "not touch that dial." To be fair, from the very beginning the show boasted a well rounded comedic cast. I just had a hard time looking at TMP as a separate entity.  I think I initially saw the sitcom as trying too hard to keep up with its lead in. In my mind The Mindy Project was like your friend's annoying younger sibling: hyped up on sugar, practically screaming, "Look at me look at me!"I never did end up changing that channel although from 9:30-10pm on Tuesdays I did get a lot of work done on my computer and brought my Bejeweled score to  new heights.

Unlike so many other shows on TV who seem more than happy to ride the coattails of other series' success, The Mindy Project was not content to be just another quirky comedy. Over the course of the eleven episodes that have aired thus far, the writing has improved. New characters have been added to the show while the original cast's stories have all been fleshed out. Best of all, TMP has found its voice, its individuality. For sure it was a slow transformation but the important thing is, Mindy Kaling and Co. have found their groove.

The first time I realized that this shift had occurred was earlier this week when I found myself sitting through the most recent episode for a third time. I'm not sure how it happened exactly, but at some point I developed a real soft spot for Mindy Lahiri and the staff of Shulman & Associates. As I went about my weekly activities, I just couldn't get a particular scene out of my head:

Dr. Castellano, played by the popping-up-everywhere Chris Messina ( Ruby Sparks, Argo, my dreams), agrees to build a bunk bed to help Mindy win the favor of her best friend's daughter. Rolling up his sleeves he requests that Dr. Lahiri put on some manly music, perhaps a little Zepplin. After listing a bunch female artists, Mindy confidently turns to her stereo and plays "Another Day," from RENT, claiming that it's the manliest song she owns before breaking out into a full on unapologetic dance party.

The joke was quick and little over the top, but it stuck with me. To be honest, at times I find it hard to relate to The Mindy Project. Being close in age to the protagonist, I will never be a doctor and I've been on less dates in the past year than the main character has been on in a single episode. Yet this was a scenario I could get behind. I may never hit it big on the dating scene and I certainly will never earn a medical degree, but I understand that feeling of loving something so blindly that you are willing to lie to yourself and others about its adequacy.

In a show that has worked hard to reflect the strength of its female lead and her ability to make it in a man's world, it was refreshing to see Mindy give into a purely girly moment. Instead of focusing on trying to be a specific kind of funny, TMP does its best work in its silly moments. In fact scenes like this are where the show really shines. They remind the viewer that sometimes those wacky sitcom kids are really just like us.

I may judge television harshly, but I am willing to admit when I've made a mistake. The Mindy Project, is funny, smart, and full of surprises. Taking a cue from my new favorite protagonist, I will now unapologetically throw my support behind something I love. I am officially moving The Mindy Project, onto my must-watch list. If you are a fan of broad humor or enjoy a well-chosen guest star (Hello Duplass brothers!), I suggest you tune in too.

*The Mindy Project airs at 9:30PM Eastern Standard Time on FOX.