Mindy Project EP Handicaps the Ex-Returning, Speedo-Sporting Action in This Week's 'Triathlon'
Strap on some goggles, pump up your tires and grab some Gatorade: In this Tuesday’s episode (Fox, 9:30/8:30c), The Mindy Project is taking on a triathlon.
Here, executive producer Matt Warburton gives TVLine some inside intel on the charity event-turned-vicious rivalry (midwifing Deslauriers, you’re going down!), the office shake-up that precedes it (poor Morgan) and how both Danny and Mindy react to the not-so-coincidental return of the former Mrs. Castellano (hint: One of them thinks “it’s the most interesting thing in the world”).
RELATED | Season Finale Scoopapalooza: More Than 100 Spoilers on Your Fave Series’ Endgames
TVLINE | We get to know more about Danny’s ex-wife Christina, played by Big Love‘s Chloe Sevigny, in this episode. What can you tell us about how they relate to each other after all this time apart?
Given how big of a deal Christina has always been to Danny, I think what’s interesting is how unpredictable his reaction about her coming back is. Sometimes when you haven’t seen someone in a while, you build up this version of them that isn’t quite them anymore. And then when you actually see the person again, you’re surprised by how you react. That, I think, is the biggest shock to Danny when Christina comes back. And the biggest shock to Mindy, for example, who’s always wondered about this person – as fascinated as she is by Danny – she sees Christina as this key to unlocking this crazy weirdo that she’s obsessed with. Watching Danny’s reaction to Christina? To Mindy, it’s like watching the most interesting thing in the world.
TVLINE | We know Christina got the letter Morgan sent. Is that the main reason she’s back?
It’s certainly explored in the arc. They left each other on very bad terms… [Danny] never intended to send that letter. It’s a typical Morgan thing; like the puppy dog that he is, he just wants stuff to happen. So he made this happen and then immediately realizes he went too far. So a big thread moving forward isn’t just Danny’s relationship with Christina, but Danny’s relationship with Morgan after this.
TVLINE | The synopsis of the episode says that Danny fires him in anger, and Morgan winds up at the midwives’ practice.
That’s true.
TVLINE | Morgan sort of looks up to Danny. This must be a blow to him.
Yeah. It’s a blow to the entire practice. The assimilation of Morgan into the practice has been something really important to the whole season. At the beginning of the season, they didn’t even know this guy. Now he’s going to be removed — and everybody sort of sees why, he did this kind of bad thing — but everybody’s sort of resentful of Danny… The practice is different when Morgan is gone.
RELATED | Exclusive Mindy Project Debut Webisode: Dr. Lahiri & Co. Coach Morgan in Wining and Dining
TVLINE | Let’s talk about the race. Given the way she’s discussed exercise in the past, I can’t really picture Mindy doing a triathlon.
Mindy is particularly interested in getting some cool running shoes. [Laughs] Danny’s very competitive. He wants to beat the Deslauriers. So he’s sort of figured out the absolute minimum Mindy’s going to have to hit so the other two guys can work extra hard and make up for her weaknesses. All she has to do is hit this really low bar – without passing out or barfing or running into a store that she passes by instead of finishing the race.
TVLINE | How are the other legs of the race split up among Mindy’s team?
Jeremy’s on bike, Danny’s swimming. In his Speedo. It’s really gonna help the ratings. [Laughs] Brandon Deslaurier is also doing the swimming. He wears one of those high-tech, full-body swimsuits… which Danny thinks is cheating.
TVLINE | And I assume you want to keep the tri results to yourself.
Absolutely. [Laughs]
Related stories
New Girl Exclusive First Look: The Morning After
Glee Recap: A Trip to 'Wonder-ful' [Updated]
American Idol Top 4 Results Recap (Redux): Don't Know Why…There's No Sun Up in the Sky
Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
