Mindy Kaling gives Harvard Law grads more laughs than advice in speech

Today ^ | 5/29/14 | Ashley Lee

[SoFloFreeper]

Mindy Kaling took the podium at Harvard Law School's commencement ceremony on Wednesday to receive her honorary legal degree — or so she thought....

Throughout the speech, Kaling touted many lines that might as well been scripted into an episode of 'The Mindy Project,' as said by her character, Mindy Lahiri. "I know what you're probably thinking: Mindy Kaling? Why did they ask her? She's just a pretty Hollywood starlet? What does that quadruple threat know about the law? Sure, she seems really down-to-earth, and pretty but in a totally accessible way, and yeah, she was on People magazine's Most Beautiful list this year and also in 2008, but what intelligent remarks could she possibly make about the law? She's probably too busy doing shampoo commercials!" she joked. "But I'm not too busy.

[SoFloFreeper]

I find it sad that someone like this...a B grade celebrity at best, is cheered and welcomed by so-called institutions of higher education....but accomplished conservatives are shut down.

Mindy is not necessarily a bad person. I just don't like the double standard.

[Ted Grant]

Pretty much validates my opinion of Harvard Law School.

[MDspinboyredux]

I never understood her appeal.

[GeronL]

I think I turned that show on once - she was having sex with some guy while her bf played poker and he was totally okay with it. Probably lost a lot of brain cells in those few minutes.

[Rummyfan]

I think Kaling is a pretty sharp comedian. But speaker at the commencement of Harvard Law? Other than she was born in Cambridge, MA, what’s the connection?

[BenLurkin]

Talks more about herself than does Obama.

[BenLurkin]

Never heard of her. Had to search to find out who she is....

Ugh.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Whoa!

[MplsSteve]

“I never understood her appeal.”

I’ve always felt the same way about Stephen Colbert.

I’ve tried. I really have. But he’s just not at all that funny or interesting.

[lovesdogs]

If you read the article, she takes a tiny little swipe at obama and a big swipe at stupid celebs who give advice...and the people who take it.

[fullchroma]

I liked it. Listened to the whole thing. Never heard of her before but she gave a solid, pro-American speech right there.

[Lazamataz]

I’d hit it, even if she looks like you need to adjust your monitor screen aspect ratio.

[Nevadan]

I like Mindy Kaling. She is a talented comedian, writer, and actress who doesn't appear to take herself too seriously. She is not your typical narcissistic celebrity. Reading her remarks I am impressed that she didn't presume to fill her speech with pompous and boring advice. She is a comedian and she stuck to that genre. While she is a graduate from an Ivy League school, Dartmouth, I am guessing that she finds it quite humorous that Harvard awarded her with an honorary law degree.

[PenguinM]

I’d take her over that “girl” from Girls. I didn’t care for her character on the Office - but I like how she’s succeeded. I agree that she doesn’t take herself too seriously. Funny girl.

[CatherineofAragon]

I know who this person is only because I saw her on an episode of “Talking Dead”, and she came across as below average in the wit & humor department.

Also, whenever I hear a female compliment her own looks, I wonder just who she’s trying to convince.

[Freeping Since 2001]

I read the transcript, and there wasn’t any material clever enough to make me break a smile before I got so bored I left.

[Nevadan]

re: I’d take her over that “girl” from Girls. I didn’t care for her character on the Office

Absolutely! I did enjoy Mindy’s shallow, ditsy character on The Office.