Mindy Kaling Mindy Kaling: After demonstrating her chops on The Office, she's getting a deal for her own show. Michael Buckner/Getty Images
 

by Linda Holmes

Just last week, while writing the post about Bea Arthur and the changes in the landscape for women in comedy, I thought about Mindy Kaling, who plays Kelly Kapoor in NBC's The Office and is also one of the show's writers.

And I thought, "How does Mindy Kaling not have her own show? If Mindy Kaling were an equally talented fellow, I believe she would have her own show."

So: Big points to NBC for wisely signing her to a deal that will allow her to develop her own comedy show while (whew!) she remains on The Office, at least for the moment.

Between its deals with Tina Fey, Amy Poehler (whose Parks and Recreation was recently renewed), and now Kaling, it certainly seems like NBC could wind up as the smart-lady comedy network, and considering how close they have seemed in recent seasons to becoming the Howie Mandel network, that's a step in the right direction.

More generally, there's been a definite drop-off in the number of comedies available on the networks in recent seasons, but if the economy doesn't improve and people increasingly seek out pleasant distractions, that could change. If it did, where would you turn for new material? Who else should get his or her own show?

categories: Television

8:51 - May 6, 2009

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