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Airing after the sophomore hit New Girl, The Mindy Project explores the life of OB/GYN Mindy Lahiri, as she deals with juggling a life and a busy career in a small office of highly entertaining characters. The show is quirky, offbeat and funny, and you should watch it (or DVR it) for the following reasons.
The Mindy Project, starring Mindy Kaling, airs Tuesdays on FOX at 9:30 ET
Mindy is every woman
Created by and starring Mindy Kaling from The Office, this show is not your average "single girl in her 30s" show. Mindy has a successful career, a best friend with kids, an office friend with benefits and a coworker who wants to be just like her. All of these elements work together to create interesting, yet complicated interactions between the characters.
Mindy is also funny, because she represents many of the traits typical to single women. She is a realistic romantic, loves romantic comedies, worries about her biological clock and opts for a night of "murder shows" because she doesn't have the right Halloween costume to impress her date.
Penelope from Gossip Girl is in it
Amanda Setton, who played my favorite of Blair's minions, plays Shauna Dicanio, the office's receptionist. At first, it was hard to separate Shauna from Penelope, but as the series has progressed, she's begun to develop as a character. Shauna's breakout episode was episode 3, in which she arranges a club outing which turns into a whole-office affair. It is in this episode that we learn that while Shauna may talk tough, she's really a softie. By the end of the episode, it is revealed that she has a crush on Danny - Mindy's partner in the practice and her primary antagonizer.
The token hot British guy
I don't know what it is about American women melting over British accents, but The Mindy Project has exploited said weakness with Ed Weeks in the role of office playboy Jeremy Reed. Mindy's sometime booty call, Jeremy is a self-absorbed, womanizing cad. However, his good looks and British charms help dull the natural impulse to want to slap him across the face. Be it as it may, Jeremy does not apologize for his behavior. In fact, he revels in his cocky confidence. It's what makes him who he is - which is adequate eye candy for 22 minutes a week.
And all the rest
Rounding out this band of misfits are Gwen, Betsy and Morgan, Mindy's BFF, another office assistant and the phlebotomist. Gwen is Mindy's bestie, who is married and has a little girl. She serves as Mindy's inspiration as to what her life lacks. Mindy always runs dilemmas past Gwen in order to get the mature perspective.
New to New York, Betsy works at the front desk and idolizes Mindy. She is a socially awkward wallflower who is an admitted lightweight. Betsy is a stark contrast to Shauna, as she is more gawky and less stylish. Serving as the weird, yet lovable 20-something, Betsy is a reminder of what all of us single girls were like when we were still doe eyed and innocent. You know, before all of those heartbreakers made us jaded and cynical.
Finally, there is Morgan. He is a phlebotomist who is a former inmate. Although Morgan doesn't appear to be playing with a full deck, his heart is in the right place. He is also an entertaining source of comic relief. In the club episode, Morgan follows the Boy Scout motto, "be prepared." Arriving at the club (which a Morgan would never get into in real life), Morgan is carrying a backpack filled with anything and everything that the group could possibly need. He ends up in the men's room being mistaken for the restroom attended. At first offended, Morgan comes to like the tips and plays the part all night.
The Mindy Project is a fun new twist on the life of a single woman. She doesn't always get along with anyone, and she is not afraid to be herself and speak her mind. It's a nice change in the world of female-centered comedies.
