Hey Look, A New Book! (And Other Concerns)

Just finished this book. Let me start by saying that I love Mindy Kaling and all that she is. Not just because she's Indian - okay that's a big part of it. But she's Indian and she's a writer/producer/director on The Office, one of my favorite shows on TV right now, and probably one of the few shows I can quote confidently slash remember entire episode plots of off the top of my head from watching just a few seconds of it.

You don't get a lot of Indian comedy writers in Hollywood. I mean, I suppose any sort of successful Indian person in Hollywood makes me happy, because it proves that we can do other things besides be doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Don't get me wrong - those professions are top-notch, and one of the reasons I watch shows like House MD or Royal Pains is because I'm sure subconsciously I want to be a doctor. But I know my destiny lies in TV, in the arts, and possibly in writing (since I am a journalism major). I just gravitate towards those professions naturally, I can't help it.

I think it would be cool to work in comedy. I've always been a huge fan of comedy, and reading this book made me realize how attracted I am to it. I'm obsessed with making people laugh, and I'm obsessed with people who can make other people laugh.  I have a huge amount of respect for comedians and comedic actors, because I think there's a real art in understanding and parodying the absurdities of life, and I long to perfect it myself. Here is my list of favorite comedic moments in TV/movies, inspired by Mindy (in no particular order):

1) The fire cold open in season 5, episode 14 of The Office, where Dwight scares the entire office with a simulated fire and everyone goes ballistic. There are so many genius moments in this sequence, starting with Kevin breaking open the vending machine, to Angela throwing her cat through the ceiling, and Michael smashing his window with a chair screaming for help. Tears of laughter and gasping breaths every time.

2) Inspector Clouseau (Steve Martin) failing at parallel parking in The Pink Panther. This gets me every time. First of all, I love that movie to bits, and I think Steve Martin is genius. Yes, I know he's not the original, and believe me, I respect the original Inspector just as much. My dad has made sure of that.

3) Drunk Rob Petrie in a scene from The Dick Van Dyke Show: "My Husband Is Not a Drunk". I love Dick Van Dyke. He is just so handsome. And exceptionally talented at comedy, both verbal and physical. This scene is my favorite in particular because of the "switch" between sober Rob and drunk Rob that occurs because he has been accidentally hypnotized to act drunk every time the phone rings (which it does in this scene, a lot). The way he works the switch is so fascinatingly funny.

4) Ross' absurd story in season 9, episode 5 of Friends. I love sarcasm, it is my idol. I thrive on it. David Schwimmer is a great actor, and this scene is just one of many favorite from that show. God, I miss that show.

5) The cocaine scene in Horrible Bosses. This movie was funnier than I was expecting, and this scene is just the tip of the icing on the...cake, or whatever the saying is. It's the best of the movie. It's basically Charlie Day and Jason Bateman (two of my favorites) trying to sift out the crap load of cocaine they spilled on the carpet of one of their bosses' homes, and consequently getting high in the process. I'm laughing just thinking about how absurd that scene was.

Oh, there are more, and I'm sure someday I'll create an official list once I get my head together. Does this list say something about me? Does it say what kind of comedy I like? I did that with famous actors once to figure out what "my type" was with guys. In a list containing Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, NPH, and Matthew Fox, I figured it's Ralph Lauren model-preppy-but-goofy-type, but that's besides the point. In any case, I'd have to figure out some more favorite comedic moments before I can decide that I think. Yeah, I definitely would like to work in comedy someday.