Vengeance review – a New Yorker turns sleuth in Texas in mildly amusing comedy-mystery
BJ Novak directs and stars as a New York podcaster who travels south to investigate the death of an ex
November 2021
TV review
The Premise review – tasteless TV that will leave you feeling grubby
Taking on cancel culture, sex tapes, school shootings and more, BJ Novak’s state of the world series is certainly ambitious. What a shame it’s also bleak, bizarre and full of cheap jokes
May 2019
Mindy Kaling: ‘I was so embarrassed about being a diversity hire’
The star of The Office and The Mindy Project has defied typecasting by writing her own roles – and working very hard. She talks about Late Night, her new film with Emma Thompson, remaking Four Weddings, and her own real life rom-com
May 2016
BJ Novak: ‘Mindy Kaling used to bully me on set. She would lie to me’
After starring on the US Office, BJ Novak became equally known as a bestselling author – and Mindy Kaling’s soulmate. Now the actor has invented Hollywood’s favourite app. Elizabeth Day meets him
September 2015
Mindy Kaling: ‘Those moments when you feel an idiot – they’re good to write about’
The star of The Office and The Mindy Project talks about failure, why now is a great time for ‘chipper’ comedy – and being the only woman of colour in the room
June 2015
Children's books
Father's Day reading tips – BJ Novak reads the Book With No Pictures
This is just a joy for all fathers who want to read more to their children – and anyone else! The US comedian BJ Novak has written a book with no pictures at all, just words. That might seem boring… but just wait!
February 2015
The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak review – fun playing with form
This American bestseller, which forces the reader to say very silly things, certainly engages children – but it lacks charm as well as images, writes Philip Ardagh
August 2014
BJ Novak: out of the office
He’s spent the last decade slaving away in The Office (US branch). Now with a bit of free time, the writer and performer is taking his comic prose to Edinburgh
