Sunday, October 14, 2012

Ain't that America, something to see baby

I spent several hours today trapped under a baby who just wanted to nurse.  For hours.  I can't remember if there's some kind of growth spurt at 2 weeks, but it sure did throw a wrench in my plans to get a bunch of stuff done around the house.

What it did allow me to do was watch a lot of TV on Hulu.com.  I finally got to check out The Mindy Project, a new show on Fox created (and starring) Mindy Kaling, who plays Kelly Kapoor on The Office.  (Which I don't watch because I find it more annoying than funny.)

I read Mindy's book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? earlier this year. I didn't expect to love it, but I did.  I've watched a lot of TV and movies in my life, and there is almost NEVER anyone who is "like me" on screen.  Sure, there was the Indian female doctor on ER and the one on Royal Pains, but both of them are British.  And they're relatively recent.  All I had before that was Apu on The Simpsons (don't get me started!).

I'm used to TV and movies having those caricature Indian roles, with the thick accents and cow-and-curry jokes.  Not that funny once you've heard them on the school bus as well.

So when I read Kaling's book, about growing up the awkward child of Indian immigrants in the US, it was like reading about my own experience.  Though she's a lot funnier and has a much more interesting career.

I cheered for her (silently, in my head, of course) when I heard she got her own show and is also the executive producer.  I held my breath as I watched the first episode today.  I wanted it not to suck, because I want her to be successful.

And it totally delivered.  It was cute and funny.  The characters are likeable.  No cow-and-curry jokes.  In the first episode, Mindy's character gets drunk and gives a horribly embarrassing toast at her ex's wedding.  Let's just say that I can relate, having dated someone who got engaged *to someone else* while we were dating.  Just to be clear, I did not go to their wedding or get arrested afterwards.  :)

What I really, really, really liked is that Mindy's character doesn't follow the typical Hollywood acceptable dating rules.  She doesn't get matched up with Indian guys, and there's no story line about some mythical arranged marriage looming in her future (because don't you know, that's the only way Indian girls find a dude.  If they exist at all.)  She speaks her mind, she has a booty call arrangement with her work colleague, and she goes on dates.  She has an American accent and not some fakey Indian accent that Hollywood makes her put on (don't talk to me about Outsourced, either!).

I watched all three episodes in a row, and was sad there weren't more.  I'm totally a fan.  Can't wait for the rest of the season!


22 comments:

  1. That is awesome. I love finding new shows to watch

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  2. Love it too! Btw, blogging instead of getting sleep is totally acceptable in my book. Me time is not to be underrated!.

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    1. I can't decide what I want more, Me Time or sleep ;)

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  3. Ooh that sounds like a great show to look out for. I don't know about two weeks - my daughter it was three weeks and about three days of almost constant feeding. Hang in there!

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    1. Ugh, I remember the one at 3mo for my older daughter, but don't remember any before that. Then again, when she was this age, one nursing session was 1 hour long, and she nursed every 2 hours. This baby is spoiling me with her 25 minute sessions :)

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  4. Sounds like a great show, and I so remember those days of nonstop nursing.

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  5. It's funny, I was just talking about this to my husband yesterday. As a brown chick myself, what I've loved about Mindy Kaling is that she had completely gone against type in her role as Kelly Kapur and her profession of a comedy writer. So the thing that I found most disturbing when I saw one episode of the Mindy Project last week is that she's playing a doctor. A doctor, ferchrissakes!

    Yes, there are many worse stereotypes, but it is a stereotype, nonetheless. I would've liked to see her break out of the box and do something completely crazy, like be a lawyer (like moi), or hell, even work at a paper company.

    But you're right, at least she doesn't have an accent. And even in that white coat, there's still something quirky and lovable about her. I'll give her another chance.

    (Happy nursing!)

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    1. I know, I groaned when I saw she was a doctor. Then again, I'm amazed that there are NO Indian docs on Grey's Anatomy. Which doesn't exactly represent the Indian-American population accurately either. So I can live with her being a doc. I suspect if they made her a lawyer the show would be too similar to Ally MacBeal?

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    2. I think we could use a new Ally McBeal...btw that's how I filled my nursing days with L---went through the first four seasons of A. McB on Netflix last winter.

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    3. True dat. It's been ages since I watched Ally McBeal! Hmm, I may have to resubscribe to Netflix...

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    4. also free on amazon prime videos.

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    5. ooh, thanks for the tip. We may have to purchase our own prime membership for the Kindle books and the videos...

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  6. I think it's funny that you find the Office annoying - that is *exactly* the response David and I had the first time or two we watched it. The boss just made us *cringe*. We didn't watch for a year or so, but then for some reason we saw it again, and it just clicked. I don't know why it was annoying and then funny, but it changed for us (and I'm guessing it wasn't the show that changed, but something about who we identified with or something like that). Now we really enjoy it. Strange world.

    Mindy is awesome on both shows.

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    1. I should probably give it another try, esp now that I am nursing for hours on end and need to watch *something* :)

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  7. Reminds me that I have to get that book. I think Mindy is hilarious and I definitely will check that show out. I went back and forth on The Office...sometimes it was hilarious, others, cringeworthy. But I appreciated the against-type "dumb brown chick" role of Kelly Kapoor.

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    1. The book is a very easy read. And yes, to "against-type" for her characters. That's also why I liked Harold and Kumar :)

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  8. Mindy is pretty funny. She was a writer on the Office, too.

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  9. I love this show too. I love how sarcastic and funny it is. I hope it does really well

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  10. I was told (so it must be true) that, in general, expect growth spurts at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 2 months and 6 months. With the usual caveat that the kid will have her growth spurts when she damn well wants to have them! :)

    And +1 on the "wasn't crazy about 'The Office' at first but loved it after a few episodes". Both the UK and US versions, actually, but the US version is definitely past its prime so yay for the final season.

    I've enjoyed Mindy's show, too - haven't yet read her book but have it on my list. I read an interview with her that she based her character on her late mother who was a doctor, though a way more together one than Mindy's portrayal. :)

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    1. Yeah, I don't remember where I read the list of growth spurts, but I *definitely* remember a day when my older daughter was 3mo that brought me to tears with the constant crying/nursing.

      I need to check out the UK version of The Office - maybe less annoying with a British accent :)

      Also, KCLS rocks!!!

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  11. PS - I just checked the KCLS ebooks and they have Mindy's book! (There are other holds before me, of course, but i have plenty to read in the meantime.) Oh, library, i love you so.

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