Ike Barinholtz was worried about what would happen with his character on “The Mindy Project” after he broke his neck.
“It was a little touch and go,” he told reporters at TCA on Thursday.
Barinholtz, who plays Nurse Morgan Tookers, broke his neck a few weeks ago while performing a fall stunt on his upcoming film “The Pact.” According to People, Barinholtz had two fractured cervical vertebrae in his neck, is now prescribed to wear a brace by doctors.
“Luckily, I’ve had great doctors who have really helped me with my recovery,” he told People. “I do as they tell me.”
In his appearance at TCA, Barinholtz was rocking the white neck brace, seemingly unaffected by the injury. The show was also seemingly unaffected, as Mindy Kaling helped to write it into the show.
“I had an emotional phone call [with Kaling],” he said. “I said, ‘listen, I hurt myself. I don’t know what I can do,’ and she was instantly like ‘we’re going to write it into the show. We’re going to take care of you. If you can’t do stuff, tell us.'”
“I kind of started crying,” he added.
The solution was simple and in line with his character. Tooker fell out of a bunk bed.
“We both started laughing so hard,” Barinholtz said. “I thought that was a fun pitch for the character.”
“We were lucky that you got the funniest injury possible,” executive producer and showrunner Matt Warburton added.
Barinholtz was on the top of his comedy game at the panel, cracking jokes and jumping in to tout his (not real) connections to Oprah Winfrey and how he’s still the Elliot Gould of the series.
Said Barinholtz, when a reporter asked Kaling about working with Winfrey and Ava Duvernay on “A Wrinkle in Time”:
“She’s worked with them, but I’m closer friends with them and I don’t want to jeopardize my friendship with them,” he said. “I put in too much time with ‘Ope.'”
In another section of the panel, a reporter asked Kaling when she feels like Wonder Woman. Barinholtz compared himself to David Thewlis.
14 TV Shows That Got a Second Life on Another Network (Photos)
Some television shows aren't meant to last -- but others are lucky enough to get a second chance. Here are 14 TV shows that were given a new lease on life on another network.
"Nashville" (2012-16 on ABC; 2016- on CMT) Despite receiving critical acclaim and maintaining a devoted fanbase, "Nashville" was canceled in May by ABC. Fortunately, CMT rescued the series in time, renewing "Nashville" for a fifth season.
"Supergirl" (2015-16 on CBS; 2016- on the CW) The DC Comics-based action/comedy was already in trouble of being canceled due to low ratings during its first season. As luck would have it, "Supergirl" was renewed for a second season on The CW, where it will join other DC shows "Arrow," "The Flash" and "Legends of Tomorrow."
"The Mindy Project" (2012-15 on NBC; 2015- on Hulu) In May 2015, NBC canceled "The Mindy Project" after three acclaimed, but low-rated, seasons. Only a few days later, Hulu picked up the show, commissioning a fourth and fifth season.
NBC
"Community" (2009-14 on NBC; 2015 on Yahoo!) Since its debut in 2009, "Community" struggled to get high ratings, despite becoming a cult hit. Though NBC canceled it after five seasons, "Community" fulfilled half of its "six-seasons-and-a-movie" goal once Yahoo! Screen commissioned a sixth and final season.
NBC
"Arrested Development" (2003-06 on Fox; 2013- on Netflix) Considered to be one of the funniest and best television comedies of the 2000s, "Arrested Development's" dismal ratings couldn't keep it alive, with Fox pulling the plug in 2006 after three seasons. However, thanks to Netflix, the beloved show returned for a fourth season in 2013 and a fifth season is expected to premiere this year.
Fox
"Cougar Town" (2009-12 on ABC; 2013-2015 on TBS) "Cougar Town" started out on ABC with high ratings and positive reviews. Unfortunately, the Courtney Cox-led, Bill Lawrence-created comedy dwindled in viewership, leading TBS to purchase the show's rights after its third season. "Cougar Town" lasted for three more seasons until its conclusion in 2015.
ABC
"Scrubs" (2001-08 on NBC; 2009-2010 on ABC) Ironically, "Cougar Town" wasn't creator Bill Lawrence's first show to switch channels. His long-running medical comedy/drama "Scrubs" garnered popularity and strong ratings in its early seasons, but faltered gradually in its last few seasons. NBC didn't renew the show during its seventh season, prompting ABC to pick up "Scrubs" for two more seasons until it was eventually cancelled in 2010.
NBC
"Longmire" (2012-14 on A&E; 2015- on Netflix) Despite consistently strong viewership, the crime drama "Longmire" was not picked up by its home network A&E for a fourth season. Three months after its cancellation, Netflix confirmed "Longmire" would resume on its service. The show's fourth season was released in 2015 and Netflix recently renewed it for a fifth season.
A&E
"Twin Peaks" (1990-91 on ABC; 2016- on Showtime) The return of David Lynch's cult classic "Twin Peaks" was a long time coming. The surrealist serial drama lasted for only two seasons in the early '90s. However, "Twin Peaks" is expected to return as a miniseries on Showtime, where most of the original cast, including star Kyle MacLachlan, will return.
"Trailer Park Boys" (2001-07 on Showcase; 2014- on Netflix) Intended to end in 2007 after seven seasons on the Canadian channel Showcase, the mockumentary-styled comedy "Trailer Park Boys" was picked up by Netflix in 2014 for three additional seasons and a film special.
Netflix
"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008-13 on Cartoon Network; 2014 on Netflix) Based on the animated film of the same name, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" fared better as a TV show, lasting for five seasons on the Cartoon Network until its cancellation in 2013. However, the next year, Netflix distributed all five seasons of the show, including a previously unseen sixth season.
Cartoon Network
"Sesame Street" (1969-70 on NET; 1970-2016 on PBS; 2016- on HBO) After the dissolution of NET, PBS became the home network for iconic kids show "Sesame Street." As of 2015, "Sesame Street" was moved to premium cable channel HBO, which claimed the first-run rights to all new episodes of the show.
HBO
"Project Runway" (2004-08 on Bravo; 2009- on Lifetime) "Project Runway," the popular fashion competition show hosted by Heidi Klum, stayed on Bravo for its first five seasons until the show's producers, The Weinstein Company, made a five-year deal with Lifetime. After settling a lawsuit between NBCUniversal and Weinstein, "Project Runway" began airing on Lifetime during season 6 in 2009 and has continued since then.
Lifetime
"Gilmore Girls" (2000-06 on the WB; 2006-07 on the CW; 2016 on Netflix) Though not a ratings success, the widely-acclaimed "Gilmore Girls" had a lengthy series run on two networks. It remained a tentpole on the WB for six seasons until its move to the CW for a seventh and final season. However, the prayers of the show's devoted fans were answered when Netflix announced last January the return of "Gilmore Girls" as a four-episode limited series on the streaming service.
“Nashville,” “Supergirl” and “The Mindy Project” are among the slew of shows that were initially canceled, only to return on a different network
Some television shows aren't meant to last -- but others are lucky enough to get a second chance. Here are 14 TV shows that were given a new lease on life on another network.
ABC
