I read Mindy Kaling’s “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?” recently. I enjoyed it so much I think I’ve read it three times. Mindy is a comedy writer. In the book, she made some funny and interesting observations. Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:
Mindy on Hollywood Character Cliches:
The Sassy Best Friend: You know that really horny and hilarious best friend who is always asking about your relationship and has nothing really going on in her own life? She always wants to meet you in coffee shops or wants to go to Bloomingdale’s to sample perfumes…
The Woman Who Works in an Art Gallery:
How many freakin’ art galleries are out there? Are people constantly buying visual art or something? This posh-smart-classy job is a favorite in movies. It’s in the same realm as kindergarten teacher in terms of accessibility: guys don’t really get it, but the trappings of it are likable and non-threatening. This is one of the rare cliches that actually has a male counterpart. Whenever you meet a handsome, charming, successful man in a romantic comedy, the heroine’s friend always says the same thing. “He’s really successful – he’s an…
(say it with me)
… architect!”
The 42-year old mother to the 30-year old male lead:
I am so accustomed to the young mom phenomenon, that when I saw the poster for the Proposal I wondered for a second if the proposal in the movie was Ryan Reynolds suggesting he send his mother, Sandra Bullock, to an old age home.
On the Difference Between Men and Boys:
Mindy: Men know what they want. Men make concrete plans. Men own alarm clocks. Men sleep on mattress that isn’t on the floor. Men tip generously. Men buy new shampoo instead of adding water to a nearly empty bottle of shampoo. Men go to the dentist. Men make reservations. (…) Men know what they want and they don’t let you in on their inner monologue, and that is scary.
Boys are adorable. Boys trail off their sentences in an appealing way. Boys bring a knapsack to work. Boys get haircuts from their roommate, who “totally knows how to cut hair.” Boys can pack up their whole life in a duffel bag and move to Brooklyn for a gig if they need to. Boys have “gigs.” Boys are broke. And when they do have money, they spend it on a trip to Colorado to see a music festival. Boys don’t know how to adjust their conversation when they’re talking to their friends or to your parents. Boys are wonderful in a lot of ways. They make amazing, memorable, homemade gifts. They’re impulsive. Boys can talk for hours with you in a diner at three in the morning because they don’t have regular work hours. But they suck to date when you turn thirty.
On Turning Thirty:
Mindy: I’m thirty-two and I fully feel like an adult. Sure, sometimes I miss wearing Hello Kitty jewelry or ironic T-shirts from Urban Outfitters on occasion. Who doesn’t? I don’t, because I think it would seem kind of pitiful. But a guy at thirty-two – he can act and dress like a grown man or a thirteen-year-old boy, and both are totally acceptable. Not to me, but to most people.
On Depressing Magazine Articles About Relationships:
Mindy: Every couple months or so, some boundary-breaking article comes out in a nationally published magazine. The article makes a big thesis statement about relationships, like, say, how women don’t need men anymore, or how if you’re a woman over thirty-five you should just settle with whatever guy is halfway nice to you, or how monogamy is not feasible or (…) a study is released that says you don’t have to love your kids anymore or something. They’re the kind of articles that are e-mailed everywhere, and I get them forwarded to me about eight times.
Why I’m quoting Mindy Kaling so much? What’s with the love fest, you wonder?
I think that comedy, when used effectively and brilliantly, can be used as a tool to point out some sharp observations in a light-hearted manner and challenge people’s notion of a particular topic or issue. I guess you’re more likely to persuade people to change their opinion on something if you can also make them laugh while you’re at it. However, there is such a fine line between being offensive and being funny. So many well-known comedians have proudly claimed that there is no line that they won’t cross in the name of comedy. They would joke about sensitive topics, be it race, religion or even rape. Why the need to stoop so low? It’s such a huge turn-off for me when I see comedians go overboard and think that they have the license to be offensive and just be plain mean. Mindy, on the other hand, is one of those rare comedy writers who seem to care about not going overboard. Perhaps it’s partly because of her indian up-bringing. She doesn’t seem to buy that perception that because I’m in the comedy business, it’s okay for me to be offensive and nasty. Let me end this with her quote on why she thinks comedy roasts are terrible:
“When I watch roasts, I actually feel physically uncomfortable, like when I see a crow feast on a squirrel that has been hit by a car but has not stopped moving yet. The self-proclaimed no-holds-barred atmosphere reminds me of signs for strip clubs on Hollywood Boulevard: “We Have Crazy Girls. They Do Anything!” We don’t have to do anything. Let’s bar some holds.”
– Mindy Kaling
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