It was announced this week that The Mindy Project is going on hiatus as of January 28, to return in
April. Due to its recent low ratings, we can assume that the show will be
retooling again (revamps over its mere season-and-a-half have involved getting
rid of Amanda Setton as office staff member Shauna and Anna Camp as Mindy’s
BFF, and recently adding Adam Pally, a huge plus in my book). It’s too bad,
because right now the main cast seems to be gelling quite nicely,
chemistrywise, which is no small feat (although Betsy and Beverly seem
permanently in the backseat, and Jeremy could hang out there most of the time).
In fact, if there’s a sore spot, it’s that the show is centered in a medical
practice, and most of the fun of The
Mindy Project usually takes place away from the office. Like this week’s
episode, for example.
The Mindy Project shines
when it bolts out of traditional sitcom fodder. In most sitcoms, Danny’s brother
Richie’s big announcement would be that he’s gay, crushing his traditional,
Catholic big brother. In this case, Danny already knows that his boy-band-cute sibling
(Max Minghella) is into non-girls, and the big announcement, which Richie
reveals at the party Danny throws for him, is that he’s been in touch with
their deadbeat dad. (Gotta love Danny’s devotion to Richie: his posture, his
manners, his limbo abilities, even teaching him how to shave his legs for Cabaret.) How do we know the dad is
deadbeat? Danny cautions, “Don’t let him near your marrow.” Or Richie’s
childhood turtle “Shelley Long” was actually seven turtles. Clearly, the man is
not to be trusted. And then the pizza oven insults start flying. At long last,
Jeremy gets a nice moment when he pulls Richie back to the party. Finally, a B
story we can get behind.
We could also expect that Mindy’s appearance in a dress that
makes her look “more proportional” than she actually is would lead to a hookup
with her ex Josh at his wedding. Instead her “date” Peter, who has been cleaned
up into Mr. Wedding in a three-piece suit, is caught with Josh’s sex-addict bride
in the bathroom, after a spirited turn to “All Night Long” on the dance floor.
Sure, Mindy being Mindy, the resolution will probably involve her
giving a speech in an attempt to save/ruin the wedding, which all seems a bit
farfetched, but the irate, cake-throwing wedding crowd was pretty funny and
again, surprising. I know “You’ve Got Sext” revved up everybody in the
Mindy-Danny camp, but am I wrong for loving the Mindy-Peter moments in this
episode, especially on the dance floor?
Throughout, The Mindy Project
adds its usual rapid-fire dialogue and some genuinely sweet moments, like the
affection between the Castellano brothers, or Peter letting down his frat-boy
persona in the car. In fact, a lot of the episode involves people moving past
their social facades: Josh wanting to have the perfect wedding when the reality
is anything but; Mindy posing with Peter as her boyfriend, then revealing that
he isn’t; Peter admitting that he hasn’t had sex in a year and a half; Danny
eventually having to face his past with his dad (who I predict will show up
sooner rather than later). There seem to be a lot of heart-to-hearts, with some
random props and dialogue (snorting powdered sugar and lighting a flame under a
spoon for comfort, and a turtle named Shelley Long). Still The Mindy Project points out that it’s best to just face facts and
when all else fails, limbo.
Fortunately, we’ll get some more episodes before the show
takes off on hiatus, which is giving the staff time to “regroup.” If I were
them, not sure what I’d work on. The jokes are fast and furious, maybe some cast
members are a bit superfluous, but recent episodes this season have been pretty
solid. Part of the speculation of The
Mindy Project’s current troubles involve the budget the show’s incurred for
its frequent big-name guest stars: this week’s episode proves it doesn’t need
them. Don’t know what the spring will bring (except an hour-long premiere for
the show’s return in April), but am still rooting for The Mindy Project’s chances.
Stray observations:
- The episode kicks off with a spot-on Sex And The City voiceover about having to go to your ex’s wedding
in New York City. - “I’m Mindy
Lahiri. Doctor. Woman.” - Fantastic casting
of The Social Network’s Max Minghella
as Richie Castellano. - Did not need to see Mindy shaving her arms. Or Peter
buckling his pants in front of the crowd. - Danny’s so Catholic he says a prayer before chewing gum.
- I am always in favor of a Columbo reference. Also, Hall And Oates on a soundtrack.
- Everyone is helpless when faced with the lasso dance move.
- “I feel you! Table Nine holds you down, Shawne!”
- “I am way too young to understand your Graduate reference.”
- The Miami Vice soundtrack
seems like perfect limbo music.