Christina: I agree that the supporting cast is really developed; this seems like a complete world already, and the characters already seem like real people. It is very surprising: usually, it takes a comedy five or six episodes to get to that point, so that bodes really well. I was surprised to see Richard Schiff, and while I never would have picked him for this show, his weariness at the craziness around him is a note the show needs.
My one reservation with the pilot is that even though it seems pretty fresh, we are getting what some critics have dubbed the “vocational irony narrative” in which the protagonist is great at her job, but her personal life is a mess. Since her personal life being a mess is part of the point, I don’t see that changing much soon. Were you okay with that aspect of things?
An: I totally was. It absolutely reminds me of my own life with the international flavor boyfriends and the 30 year old guys who declare they only date 20-year-olds for procreative reasons. Yes, seriously. Outside of the intro, her personal life seems pretty normal for me. Although she’s a mess, she isn’t a New Girl Jess mess. While I don’t know if I’m New Girl addicted; it is a show that I’ll probably watch because I feel Mindy is all women. Hell, Mindy is me.
Anything else that appealed to you?
Christina: There are really guys who say that? Eww. Anyway, I think you won’t be the only person who sees herself in Mindy. Unlike with Girls, which, though I like it, is mostly relatable to white girls in their early 20s inBrooklyn, I think this show will have a more universal appeal. I don’t think her personal life is a mess, but the issue seems to be that she thinks it is. But many of us women do if we aren’t married by a certain age and having kids — like you said, these are universal issues.
I think I liked pretty much everything, vocational irony aside (and that is a minor nitpick). Maybe it was a bit too wacky to have her in jail, especially since not much came of it, but it at least provided a framing device for her story. All in all, with all the misogyny from people like Adam Carolla and many of the people who dislike Girls, this seems like a good moment for this show to appear. Women can be funny, and relatable, dammit!
As you can tell, we loved it. We hope you do too.
3 Arts Entertainment in association with Universal Television produce The Mindy Project, created and written by Mindy Kaling. Together, Kaling and Howard Klein (The Office, Parks and Recreation) executive produce. The pilot featured Charles McDougall (The Office, Parks and Recreation) and B.J. Novak (The Office) as executive producers with McDougall directing.
The Mindy Project will air on Tuesday nights at 9:30/8:30c, starting in September. Check out the trailer here or below.
Clacked by An Nicholson 
on Jun 22, 2012 @ 08:10 EST5EDT
While I’m not a fan of Kaling in general (can’t stand Kelly Kapoor), I will give this show a try because, hey, it’s cool that there’s a US show headlined by an Indian American actress. But from your description, I don’t think I’ll identify with the character. Now if there were a female character who was interested in sports and sci-fi and world travel and music, and who didn’t give a damn about finding a man – I’d identify with that character!
Oh Ruby, you know a character like that doesn’t exist in the real world. A well-rounded woman not interested in finding a man? Pfffft.
*patiently waits for someone to not get the sarcasm and start yelling at her*
I really think she is supposed to be a something of satire of those characters because her interest in pop culture and rom-coms is SO blatant. If that helps. At the ver least, I don’t think the real Mindy views the character uncritically (kind of like Lena Dunham and Hannah on Girls).