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Never Have I Ever - Season 1
Never Have I Ever - Season 1
2020 | Comedy, Romance
Coming of age teen comedy
Brilliant program with a but of something for everyone! Easily relatable.

From the mind of Mindy Kaling, the show takes us into the crazy yet completely relatable world of Asian-American teenager Devi Vishwakumar.

She’s had some major downs in the past year and is determined to turn it all around as she focuses on becoming cool, getting a boyfriend and just living her best life.

That’s all easier said than done, of course. And watching her attempts in the hilarious 10- episode series is an absolute hoot.

But if you need a bit more convincing then we’re more than happy to explain all the reasons why this is the best Netflix show you’re not watching right now
  
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Eamon T.Hennedy (4 KP) rated The Mindy Project - Season 1 in TV

Jun 21, 2019 (Updated Jun 21, 2019)  
The Mindy Project  - Season 1
The Mindy Project - Season 1
2012 | Comedy
The first season of Mindy Kaling's comedy drama, along with its second, is probably one of the best romantic comedies to come from American network television in a while. In fact, the one that is equal to it is New Girl and they were both on Fox at the same time and shared the same night in the UK where they aired on E4.

In a time when adult flavoured romantic comedies are dying at the box office and are finding a home on streaming services such as Netflix, it's good to see that there is a conventional home for themand right from its opening episode, The Mindy Project is all about someone who has watched too many romantic comedies and wants their life to be one.

There are many references throughout to the works of Nora Ephron and Garry Marshall, and with Kaling on writing and lead acting duties, the series work wonders. Even better, it's filled with an ensemble cast that works brilliantly. The series will have a rotating cast throughout its six season on the air, but it says something that at this stage that Ike Barinholtz is a scene stealer from the point he shows up.

The cast does rotate around the place until it settles down in season two, the most notable high profile member of the first season being Anna Camp who disappears halfway through, while Amanda Setton's character Shauna also disappears without a mention.

It would be nothing without Kaling who holds it together brilliantly. The first two seasons are a lighter concoction compared to where the series will go post-season two, not to mention its move to Hulu, but with rom-com successes like Crazy Rich Asians being all too rare nowadays, it's good to know a series with charm, sophistication, and not afraid of the odd fart joke every now and then could find a home on a mainstream network, even if it was for three seasons.
  
Why Not Me?
Why Not Me?
Mindy Kaling | 2015 | Biography, Humor & Comedy
8
7.4 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Full disclosure - I'm not really familiar with Mindy Kaling. I know she's got a show and she's funny. And Ive seen her on random talk shows here and there, but I've never actually watched one thing she has acted in. But she's funny, and her books get lots of stars, so I thought - why not get to know her?

It's written more like journal entries than a biography, and tell the most random stories with the most random thoughts interspersed. She goes off topic A LOT. But I kinda feel like that's how my brain works too, so I could totally follow. I like this girl's style! She's does talk a lot about her struggles to fit it - and I think that's something we can all relate too.

I think I'll be checking out some more of Mindy's books - and probably a few TV shows? Movies perhaps? Its interesting to get to know a celebrity through a book - I might just try it again sometime.
  
Late Night (2019)
Late Night (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Drama
Late Night is a well-written comedy about a non-white female hired to add diversity to the writing staff of a late night talk show. Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson showing the comic skills developed during her university days as Hugh Laurie's girlfriend) is a older sophisticated woman who hosts a show whose audience is dying off, literally in some cases and figuratively. If things do not improve, she will no longer be host of her eponymous talk show. So, in an unexpected but obvious hiring decision, Molly Patel is hired to join the writing staff. At first, seen as an interloper with little comedy or writing experience, Molly uses her Mindy Kaling charm to win over her co-workers and her boss. As Katherine starts to see a way to take advantage of her uniqueness and the youth of Molly, she challenges the status quo of late night.
The movie is charming. The characters are developed and not cardboard cutouts of caricatures thanks to the writing, Max Casella, Reid Scott, Denis O'Hare, Hugh Dancy, Amy Ryan, and John Lithgow have backstories and motivations. However, the movie never really goes after the boys' club landscape that late night television inhabits nor does it go after the concept of diversity hires. It simply turns Molly into some sprite who sprinkles enthusiasm into the mundane lives of the people she encounters. Late Night also begins the campaign for John Lithgow as this year's Best Supporting Actor, Not for this role as the mentor for Molly's transformation to strong woman and devoted husband of Katherine who learns the meaning of karma, but for his role later this year as Roger Ailes.
  
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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Late Night (2019) in Movies

Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)  
Late Night (2019)
Late Night (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Drama
Show me Emma Thompson in a trailer and I'll show you a film that's going to the top of my must-see list. Comedy, drama, she can do it all, and as Katherine Newbury she got to do a bit of both.

Katherine is losing her TV show after years of being a late night icon. Where she wants serious and respectable guests, viewers tastes are edging ever closer to internet and pop culture celebs. She needs some fresh and relevant content, but the team is lacking fresh blood and the ideas just aren't coming.

Molly longs for a change of pace from working at the plants and she takes a chance and gets herself an opportunity to interview for the writing team. Pressured by Katherine to get results, Brad hires Molly to start on the entirely male team despite her less than popular when she takes the place of their recently fired colleague.

Mindy Kaling has done a great job on the script for Late Night, it's funny but still manages to transition to more serious moments. The characters all make great connections and Katherine and Molly are particularly fun together once Molly is able to break the tough shell of Katherine. The only slight quibble about it is that a couple of times I felt things didn't need to be there, but those scenes still worked well.

The story may be a new take, but it's a tale as old as time in this sort of comedy. It's predictable but in a way that you love because the chemistry on screen is so good and the outcome is genuinely what you want.

Emma Thompson on screen is a delight, there's even one point where we see her contemplating and she looks like a Jack Vettriano. The woman is a masterpiece. She can play anything (well, apart from a yeti, but that was more to do with the terrible scripting) and the role of Katherine really does come to life in her hands.

Kaling as Molly is a delight to see. Her always upbeat nature and genuine love for what she's doing shines through bringing a beautiful partnership out between her and Katherine.

The supporting cast is full of faces you'll recognise and all of them help this light-hearted comedy becomes something that genuinely made me smile.

Late Night was an unsurprising hit with me, when you have so many great things it's very difficult to create something bad.

What you should do

Have you looked at the news or Twitter today and sighed at just how depressing the world can be? If yes, go and see Late Night for a great mood lifter. If no, go and see Late Night for a great mood lifter.

Movie thing you wish you could take home

That suit Katherine wears right at the end of the movie... amazing.