Why You Should Watch 'The Mindy Project'

Sometimes I feel like I'm more excited for Mindy Kaling to finally have her own show more than Kaling herself. It was hard letting go of Kelly Kapoor during the last season of "The Office," but knowing there were bigger and brighter things for Kaling on another network made it easier.

"The Mindy Project" premieres its third season tomorrow night, and for some reason most people still haven't tuned in. Well, you definitely should. That's why I've compiled a quick list of reasons why anyone who likes to feel joy should start watching.

1. It's basically a romantic comedy for TV.

We all know the tropes: an inappropaite best friend, the running after the girl in the airport, ecetera. Kaling takes a more self-aware approach to the premise. Mindy Lahiri calls out the ridiculousness of those cliches (like that time she realized she was the filler girlfriend and not the soulmate in the episode "Harry & Sally"), but she also embraces them (uh, that amazing season two finale).

2. The eccentric parade of guest stars.

In what other television show can you find appearances by James Franco, Seth Rogen, Seth Meyers, Anders Holm, Anna Gunn, Allison Williams, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Max Greenfield... the list goes on. Kaling & Co. managed to find perfect (and sometimes perfectly crazy) characters for these notable celebs. Fun fact: My favorite will always be Timothy Olyphant's Graham.

3. The references.

Only Mindy Lahiri would wear an obnoxious hat to church, justifying it with: "Have you ever seen a Tyler Perry movie?" That, and other references sharply made by the rest of the cast, keep you on your feet and create a laugh-out-loud kind of relatability like only the best comedies can do. The show also gets points for making the first ever "Scandal" reference I ever heard on TV.

4. Mindy's enviable wardrobe.

Remember that time Mindy wore a baseball tee with a sequin skirt and it looked AMAZING? Or how about when she wore a dress and looked better in it than Kate Middleton? True story. The genius stylists at "The Mindy Project" always dress Mindy in chic patterns and bold color palettes, but never fail to surprise us with an edgy twist (re: baseball tees). There's a million reasons to adore Mindy, and her style is definitely one of them.

5. Chris Messina is all kinds of adorable.

Have you heard of Chris Messina? If you've ever watched an indie film, the answer is probably yes. If not, then you're missing out. He plays the romantic lead in the show, and he's come a long way since his rough beginnings. Kaling & Co. have subtly sanded down his character's edges from the first season and instead morphed him into a grumpy traditionalist with a soft side. We know he can be uptight, but just watch him dance to Aaliyah's "Try Again" for Mindy as the ultimate secret santa gift. Oh, and he wears RED READING GLASSES.

Moral of the story: Tune in for the third season premiere of "The Mindy Project" tomorrow night on Fox.

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