‘Mindy Project’ EP Knows Why You Aren’t Rooting for Jody to Get the Girl
Matt Warburton promises he’s not going to drag out the love triangle on Hulu’s sitcom
Tony Maglio | July 5, 2016 @ 4:51 PM
Last Updated: July 5, 2016 @ 5:16 PM
(Spoiler alert: Do not read this if you’ve yet to watch the Season 4 finale of Hulu’s “The Mindy Project.”)
Season 5 of Hulu’s “The Mindy Project” will resolve the love triangle between Mindy Lahiri and the two men in her life, ex-husband Danny and new love interest Jody Kimball-Kinney. Or provide at least some resolution, according to showrunner Matt Warburton.
The writers are “not gonna draw this out,” Warburton said in an interview with TheWrap. “We’re gonna see exactly what she’s gonna do and move on from there.”
Don’t feel bad for Jody (Garret Dillahunt) — he was always (probably) going to be in this position. We asked Warburton if the character was created to be the new “Will They/Won’t They?” with Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling), something he responded was “definitely a strong possibility from the beginning.”
The writers usually introduce male characters as an adversary to Mindy, Warburton explained, because that’s the funniest way to onboard the new guy. Then they just “see how it feels.”
Apparently, this one felt good enough for some flirting, love letters, smooching, and even one character buying the other an apartment. So Jody/Mindy looked like a certainty, until her ex-husband Danny Castellano (Chris Messina) came back in the picture via a frozen elevator, that is.
Love in an elevator aside, Warburton seems to think that Jody’s still got a shot, but it’ll be quite an uphill battle as far as viewers are concerned.
Though emphasizing baby-daddy Castellano’s jerky side and having Kimball-Kinney dump presumable millions on Mindy’s expanded dwelling is a pretty good start, one for the side of Jody’s southern chivalry. That said, his chlamydia didn’t have such a positive impact on the titular character.
“After what the audience has been through with Danny … there’s no one on Earth we could bring in that wouldn’t [struggle with fans],” he admitted of the likely leanings. “We know that.”
We’ll have more from our interview with Warburton tomorrow.
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
