Mindy Goes Full AU
Mindy Kaling loves a good romantic comedy; her namesake sitcom, after all, is arguably one of an increasing number of successful rom-coms on TV. This made The Mindy Project‘s Hulu premiere, a Sliding Doors homage called “While I Was Sleeping, ” a pleasant non-surprise, suggesting that the series’ new home doesn’t necessarily mean a new formula. Guest-starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the episode follows Mindy’s life if she’d never met Danny, deferring a resolution of last season’s cliffhanger another week.
Welcome to Moonbeam City
Scott Gairdner’s new Comedy Central series answers the question, “What would happen if Archer just stayed Archer Vice and doubled down on the ’80s references?” The answer: over-the-top gang violence, a Kate Bush knockoff backed up by the “anal flute,” and a no-nonsense boss whose personal dress code calls for shoulder pads, shoulder pads, and more shoulder pads. Suffused with pink, palm trees, and a hefty dose of Rob Lowe, fake Miami never looked this good.
The Bastard Executioner — Lee Jones as Wilkin Brattle.Cr: Ollie Upton/FX
Kurt Sutter Lets the Blood Flow (and Flow, and Flow)
The Bastard Executioner may not be to our tastes, but a new, high-budget series from the man who brought FX its biggest hit yet is still a major event. Bringing Game of Thrones style gore, grit, and sexposition to 14th-century Wales, The Bastard Executioner revels in over-the-top violence like only a cable TV show can. To wit: the series premiere climax includes a shot of a bad guy being stabbed in the back of his skull until the tip, dripping red, sticks out of his forehead. Quality viewing!
Stephen Colbert Embraces His Brand
The lion’s share of Late Show with Stephen Colbert press has focused on the new host’s interviews rather than his comedic bits. Which makes sense; the one-on-ones are a better showcase for his newly “sincere” persona (a framing that implies “Stephen Colbert” was never sincere and the “real” Colbert is never subversive, but captures the basic differences adequately enough). But the clip above, in which Colbert throws his handwoven, overpriced towel into the Gwyneth/Blake/Reese ring, shows that Colbert hasn’t lost his capacity for spot-on, biting parody.
Forrest Pulls a First
If Forrest MacNeil, fictional host of the fictional show Review, actually murdered someone on camera, that would be a significant milestone. But that’s purely a hypothetical, along with Forrest’s subsequent “daymares.” This week’s Review also saw Forrest finally, finally use all two of the vetoes he’s been putting off all season — the first for murder (it’s wrong), the second for procrastination (how do you procrastinate on procrastination?). Too bad the murder lady sent her review request twice.