EXCITING NEWS: SiriusXM holiday programming has started!
The one post I most excitedly await every year: Beck's review of Oprah's gift suggestion list!
Read Alyssa Rosenberg on why The Mindy Project is awful.
In case you, like me, missed the whole beginning of this Petraeus thing, Jezebel has a decent primer.
This is A MILLION TIMES MORE CONFUSING than just calling beverages by their proper names.
Ooh: Knopf to Publish Pulitzer Prize Winner’s Investigation of Scientology
Archaeologists find Europe's most prehistoric town
The Nate Silver backlash
Showing posts with label The Mindy Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Mindy Project. Show all posts
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
What I Watched: Ben & Kate, Mindy Project, & More
Ben and Kate, "The Fox Hunt (EP103)" - I loved the way this episode showed how siblings can hurt each other more than practically anyone else, since they know each other so well and care about each others' opinions so much. But they managed to keep things warm and fun despite this turn for the more serious. But. Not enough Maddie! (Also, I've seen a lot of people complain about BJ, so I must mention that I like her.)
The Mindy Project, "In the Club (EP103)" - This was . . . an improvement! It didn't really enrage me about anything new! It just made me be uncomfortable and cringe a lot! But there were actually a few funny moments. It is still ON NOTICE, but this was a definite step in the right direction. I think.
The Mob Doctor, "Change of Heart (EP104)" - This is still on the air! I still like it! Shocking. I thought this episode did a good job of showing Grace navigating her decisions, not just obeying Constantine (even if maybe he was manipulating her all along) OR following the rules.
Major Crimes, "Cheaters Never Prosper (EP109)" - I'm still way more interested in the characters, especially Rusty's story, than in the cases, but that's pretty standard for me with procedurals, so whatever. And the ending of this episode was completely heartbreaking. POOR KID. Also, Mary McDonnell is AMAZING, as usual.
The Mindy Project, "In the Club (EP103)" - This was . . . an improvement! It didn't really enrage me about anything new! It just made me be uncomfortable and cringe a lot! But there were actually a few funny moments. It is still ON NOTICE, but this was a definite step in the right direction. I think.
The Mob Doctor, "Change of Heart (EP104)" - This is still on the air! I still like it! Shocking. I thought this episode did a good job of showing Grace navigating her decisions, not just obeying Constantine (even if maybe he was manipulating her all along) OR following the rules.
Major Crimes, "Cheaters Never Prosper (EP109)" - I'm still way more interested in the characters, especially Rusty's story, than in the cases, but that's pretty standard for me with procedurals, so whatever. And the ending of this episode was completely heartbreaking. POOR KID. Also, Mary McDonnell is AMAZING, as usual.
Morning Coffee (10/10/12)
There are three new shows premiering tonight, and hey, I will tell you what to think about all of them before they even air. Don't say I never do anything for you. Here's Arrow, Chicago Fire, and Nashville.
Would you like to hear me speak about TV for a change? Here I am talking about Castle and White Collar and a little bit about various new shows.
Oh, hey, National Book Award finalists. I have read . . . none. Yet.
Don't know much about the new Georgian prime minister? Yeah, no one does, apparently.
Masterpiece continues being Masterpiecey and co-producing things I want to watch.
Hey look, Amazon came up with yet another way to drive authors to drink!
I won't bother trying to claim that this article about Taylor Swift-branded Walgreens store sections didn't make me immediately look up my nearest Walgreens locations.
Alyssa Rosenberg declares for team Mindy-skeptical.
Would you like to hear me speak about TV for a change? Here I am talking about Castle and White Collar and a little bit about various new shows.
Oh, hey, National Book Award finalists. I have read . . . none. Yet.
Don't know much about the new Georgian prime minister? Yeah, no one does, apparently.
Masterpiece continues being Masterpiecey and co-producing things I want to watch.
Hey look, Amazon came up with yet another way to drive authors to drink!
I won't bother trying to claim that this article about Taylor Swift-branded Walgreens store sections didn't make me immediately look up my nearest Walgreens locations.
Alyssa Rosenberg declares for team Mindy-skeptical.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Dear Mindy, Abuse is not funny.
After two episodes of The Mindy Project, I've started wondering if this show is specifically designed to push all my buttons because Mindy Kaling has some personal vendetta against me that I don't know about. Halfway through last night's episode, "Hiring and Firing," I was planning to write a semi-joking post along those lines. (The bookstore stuff was what got me at the beginning.) But then, at the end of the episode, something so objectionable happened that I can't turn this post into a joke anymore.
Mindy is punched in the face by a nurse she has to fire, but as she rides the subway home with a coworker, she apparently thinks it would be funny to tell this group of strangers that her coworker is in fact her husband and that he caused her visible injuries. THIS IS NOT FUNNY ON ANY LEVEL. It wouldn't be funny or acceptable coming from anyone, but SHE IS AN OB/GYN. She should be especially sensitive to these issues. She should be watching for warning signs so that she can help her patients, not turning something very serious into a cheap punchline that a) isn't even found to be funny by anyone around her and b) risks serious consequences for an innocent man WHO IS ALSO AN OB/GYN. I can't think of any way in which her behavior could be seen as funny or acceptable or even endearingly flawed. She should absolutely know better, so I can only assume that she is in fact a horrible person, so self-centered and clueless as to have no idea how to behave as an adult in public, never mind how to help and treat her patients in any competent manner.
Now, I will be the first to argue that we don't have to like everything the characters do in order to like a show. And I'm a strong proponent of keeping in mind that the views expressed by characters (or the things characters think are funny) do not necessarily track to their writers, even if the character has the same name as and is played by the writer. But in this case, the show seems designed around the idea that we will empathize with Mindy, or at least root for her. At this point, I don't think she should be allowed near patients and can't imagine why anyone would be friends with her, which is not the best way to keep me invested in the show.
Mindy is punched in the face by a nurse she has to fire, but as she rides the subway home with a coworker, she apparently thinks it would be funny to tell this group of strangers that her coworker is in fact her husband and that he caused her visible injuries. THIS IS NOT FUNNY ON ANY LEVEL. It wouldn't be funny or acceptable coming from anyone, but SHE IS AN OB/GYN. She should be especially sensitive to these issues. She should be watching for warning signs so that she can help her patients, not turning something very serious into a cheap punchline that a) isn't even found to be funny by anyone around her and b) risks serious consequences for an innocent man WHO IS ALSO AN OB/GYN. I can't think of any way in which her behavior could be seen as funny or acceptable or even endearingly flawed. She should absolutely know better, so I can only assume that she is in fact a horrible person, so self-centered and clueless as to have no idea how to behave as an adult in public, never mind how to help and treat her patients in any competent manner.
Now, I will be the first to argue that we don't have to like everything the characters do in order to like a show. And I'm a strong proponent of keeping in mind that the views expressed by characters (or the things characters think are funny) do not necessarily track to their writers, even if the character has the same name as and is played by the writer. But in this case, the show seems designed around the idea that we will empathize with Mindy, or at least root for her. At this point, I don't think she should be allowed near patients and can't imagine why anyone would be friends with her, which is not the best way to keep me invested in the show.
What I Watched: Homeland Premiere, Tuesday Night Comedies, & More
Homeland, "The Smile (EP201)" - THIS SHOW. Oh, this show. It's just as amazing as everyone says, and I'm so glad I'm finally caught up. I thought the time-jump from the finale to the premiere was well-executed, and all of the threads are still holding together nicely. Even though Brody's less of a cipher now, we still aren't sure exactly what he'll be willing to do, and his relationship with his daughter remains one of my favorites in the show. The other is probably Carrie's with Saul, and there was some great stuff there in this episode too.
Ben and Kate, "Bad Cop/Bad Cop (EP102)" - I feel compelled to say THIS SHOW again, though in a completely different way from above. This was just so adorable, and honestly, I had a rough day yesterday and saved this episode for right before bed and it was perfect. Aside from the ridiculously cute and non-annoying kid, I think my favorite thing is the character dynamics: Stories about messed up people genuinely trying to help each other are my Kryptonite.
The Mindy Project, "Hiring and Firing (EP102)" - I'm going to write a separate post about this, because she show managed to enrage me again, but in completely different ways! But basically, there were a few moments I liked, and I thought it was a little more coherent than the pilot, but I'm still stuck on the fact that Mindy is an awful person but the show doesn't necessarily know that.
Go On, "Do You Believe in Ghosts . . . Yes! (EP105)" - I was skeptical of the "ghost episode" going in, but I thought it was done pretty well, and this show is continuing to walk the line of being really funny and genuinely touching all at once. I was less into the storyline about Ryan trying to help Steven get girls, but I loved the stuff about Ryan having to learn to take care of himself.
The New Normal, "Nanagasm (EP105)" - I'm still wary, because Ryan Murphy, but I'm also still enjoying much of this show. It definitely has its problematic elements, but it also has the heart, coherence, and continuity that Glee lost after its first half-season. (Am I expecting this to go completely off the rails in January? Possibly.) And I just really like David, Bryan, Goldie, and Shania, and want to spend more time with them. (Also, turning to a waiter and saying "I'm going to be needing dessert for dinner. Thank you." is AMAZING.)
Bones, "The Gunk in the Garage (EP803)" - This was one of the "bonus" episodes they filmed last season and never aired. I have mixed feelings: The case itself was interesting, if a bit far-fetched, and I loved the interaction between Booth and Brennan and the way they actually faced some of their issues. But I didn't like the Sweets stuff. Is he serious about Daisy or not? Unless fidelity issues are SUPPOSED to be part of his character, why does he keep cheating? Make up your mind, writers!
The Mob Doctor, "Protect and Serve (EP103)" - Honestly, I'm watching this one at a bit of an emotional distance, since I'm expecting it to be cancelled at any moment so I don't want to get too attached. But I'm enjoying it! Most of the medical stuff is pretty forgettable, but the family stuff is deliciously psychologically complex. And Zach Gilford's scene with the child athlete was great (not least because of FNL associations, even though it was a different sport).
Ben and Kate, "Bad Cop/Bad Cop (EP102)" - I feel compelled to say THIS SHOW again, though in a completely different way from above. This was just so adorable, and honestly, I had a rough day yesterday and saved this episode for right before bed and it was perfect. Aside from the ridiculously cute and non-annoying kid, I think my favorite thing is the character dynamics: Stories about messed up people genuinely trying to help each other are my Kryptonite.
The Mindy Project, "Hiring and Firing (EP102)" - I'm going to write a separate post about this, because she show managed to enrage me again, but in completely different ways! But basically, there were a few moments I liked, and I thought it was a little more coherent than the pilot, but I'm still stuck on the fact that Mindy is an awful person but the show doesn't necessarily know that.
Go On, "Do You Believe in Ghosts . . . Yes! (EP105)" - I was skeptical of the "ghost episode" going in, but I thought it was done pretty well, and this show is continuing to walk the line of being really funny and genuinely touching all at once. I was less into the storyline about Ryan trying to help Steven get girls, but I loved the stuff about Ryan having to learn to take care of himself.
The New Normal, "Nanagasm (EP105)" - I'm still wary, because Ryan Murphy, but I'm also still enjoying much of this show. It definitely has its problematic elements, but it also has the heart, coherence, and continuity that Glee lost after its first half-season. (Am I expecting this to go completely off the rails in January? Possibly.) And I just really like David, Bryan, Goldie, and Shania, and want to spend more time with them. (Also, turning to a waiter and saying "I'm going to be needing dessert for dinner. Thank you." is AMAZING.)
Bones, "The Gunk in the Garage (EP803)" - This was one of the "bonus" episodes they filmed last season and never aired. I have mixed feelings: The case itself was interesting, if a bit far-fetched, and I loved the interaction between Booth and Brennan and the way they actually faced some of their issues. But I didn't like the Sweets stuff. Is he serious about Daisy or not? Unless fidelity issues are SUPPOSED to be part of his character, why does he keep cheating? Make up your mind, writers!
The Mob Doctor, "Protect and Serve (EP103)" - Honestly, I'm watching this one at a bit of an emotional distance, since I'm expecting it to be cancelled at any moment so I don't want to get too attached. But I'm enjoying it! Most of the medical stuff is pretty forgettable, but the family stuff is deliciously psychologically complex. And Zach Gilford's scene with the child athlete was great (not least because of FNL associations, even though it was a different sport).
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