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Fox brass have said they would be patient with the network’s new Tuesday comedy block, and they are proving it today with back orders to modestly-rated freshman series The Mindy Project and Ben And Kate. Mindy Kaling’s The Mindy Project, which has higher ratings as it follows anchor 
New Girl, has been given a full-season order with a back-nine-episode pickup. In its second outing, the workplace comedy, which gets a sizable DVR bump, logged a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating in Live+same day.
Dana Fox’s Ben And Kate has received a six-episode back order. It most recently posted a 1.6 demo rating at 8:30 PM. Fox has new comedy The Goodwin Games on tap for midseason, which was part of the reason for Ben And Kate‘s six-episode order. The comedy recently underwent a showrunner change, with executive producers Garrett Donovan and Neil Goldman leaving. Gail Lerner has since come on board to land senior-level support several days a week. “Ben And Kate and The Mindy Project have everything we want to stand for in comedy: smart writing, hugely appealing casts and comedy that feels contemporary and real – which is why we’re confident they will continue to build on what is already an appointment comedy night for young, influential audiences on Tuesdays,” Fox chairman Kevin Reilly said.
Ben And Kate is produced by 20th Century Fox TV and Chernin Entertainment. The series is created and written by Dana Fox and executive produced by Fox, Peter Chernin, Katherine Pope and Jake Kasdan. Created and written by Kaling, The Mindy Project is produced by 3 Arts Entertainment in association with Universal Television. Kaling, Howard Klein, Matt Warburton and Michael Spiller are executive producers.
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They’re going to regret giving back orders to both shows.
Gave em both a shot. Bored senseless.
I tried the first two episodes of The Mindy Project and have deleted the show from DVR. I really found Mindy’s character unlikable and it really put me off the show.
“Ben And Kate and The Mindy Project have everything we want to stand for in comedy: smart writing, hugely appealing casts and comedy that feels contemporary and real…”
Apparently we are watching two completely different shows.
FBC is not re-upping these miserable shows for creative reasons; they have zero bench this season and need placeholders until the Idol auditions start. Ben & Kate is one of the least funny sitcoms of the last ten years.
I agree with ‘Interested Observer.’ Ben & Kate is genuinely godawful: grating, tired, tedious, despite a game cast. It tries too hard, and desperation is the enemy of comedy. I would put money on Ben & Kate being cancelled sooner rather than later. As for ‘Mindy,’ though I am sure she would hate to hear this, Kaling is an extremely limited actress. At best, she is a supporting player (think ‘The Office’ and ‘Friends With Benefits’), not a lead. More realistically, she is probably better suited to writing than performing.
Mindy Project might get itself together, but Ben & Kate is such a formulaic, tired show. Watched the pilot and couldn’t ever see going back to it.
Congats to Ben and Kate! Potential to be Great!
I am super excited about Ben and Kate getting the back order. Have mixed feelings about The Mindy Project. Mindy Kaling is certainly funny, Stephen Tobolowsky seems to finally be getting his big break (after 4 tries), adding Ike Barinholtz was a smart move (although I wish he was credited with the main cast, hopefully he’ll be promoted like Neil Flynn on Scrubs), and it shows some promise. But Ed Weeks is really annoying, and Kaling’s character is really immature and shallow. The immature thing isn’t so bad, Miss Guided is one of the most underrated shows ever, and Judy Greer’s character basically behaved like a child. But the difference between her character and Kaling’s, is Greer’s behaved like a fun child, not a shallow little twerp. And I conclude by saying that Judy Greer deserves so much more, I hope she gets a show this year. I was really mad when American Judy didn’t get picked up.
I enjoy Ben and Kate but I find Mindy Kaling unwatchable.
Mindy is the only new comedy i find funny — yeah her character is kinda annoying, but that’s kinda the point right?
It’s pointless to watch network TV – too many crappy shows. I rent episodes of pay cable shows. They are the only ones I can stomach.
I think it’s pretty early to judge these comedies. Many of our favorite shows were still finding their footing around episodes two and three. These could still turn out to be great, especially Ben and Kate which shows a lot of promise.
Love Ben and Kate. Very talented and appealing cast with surprising chemistry this early on. Don’t get the hate.
I’ve really enjoyed Ben & Kate. I found it to be laugh out loud humor, very entertaining, glad it got picked up!!
Seriously, why did FOX just make this move by giving a full season order to these two struggling shows? Mindy Project is a bust just based on the first few episodes alone and the other show really isn’t gaining any traction, but yet FOX renewed them? I mean, really? NBC jumped the gun when they renewed their new shows and now FOX is doing the same thing and only reason has to be they have nothing to air in those timeslots in its places.
Annoying in a character role on the Office, why not give her a full season of her own show so she can be REALLY annoying? Ben and Kate is kind of appealing.
Ben and Kate is a string of tired clichés. Absolutely dreadful. The cast tries, but the material is a complete failure. The Mindy Project is, as expected, cute but a little grating. I’ve continued to watch Mindy, but will not be trying Ben and Kate again.
frankly, i think mindy’s show is hilarious — it’s humor for intellectual feminists. granted, that’s not everyone…but I have to say that if the show doesn’t succeed, its because not everyone ‘gets it.’ its this type of brilliant writing by ladies like mindy kaling and kristen wig and jessica westfeldt that gives me some hope for women in this world: seriously. I hope midy’s POV continues to get air time.
I love Mindy. I agree with caitlin, and i find it quite comical how the majority of people about that have commented against her show happen to be male…hmmmm…
Completely agree with Caitlin and Caylie. The Mindy Project is probably the best network comedy I’ve seen in years. Kaling has such a refreshing voice and point of view. Her humor is very observational and quick-witted, which is unlike any I’ve seen before.
Never saw Ben & Kate, but Mindy Project hits the nail on the head. Some of the characters may be a little outlandish, but the main 3 – especially Mindy – are gold! It’s so nice to watch something FUNNY, not sitcom-y, and SMART, not the same tired plots. Mindy Kaling is incredible in every way and she nails little things that people notice with perfect timing. Obsessed with her and her show. Can’t speak to any of the others.