Mindy Kaling received the Artist of Distinction Award at the Newport Beach TV Fest on June 4, 2026, at the Lido Theater in Newport Beach, recognizing her career as a writer, producer, and creator across multiple acclaimed television series.
Quick Facts
- Award presented on June 4, 2026, at the Lido Theater in Newport Beach, California
- Her new Hulu series “Not Suitable for Work” debuted at number one on the platform
- The ceremony included a live recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast
- The Newport Beach TV Fest runs June 4-7, 2026, celebrating excellence in television and streaming
Kaling was celebrated for her body of work, which includes creating and writing Netflix’s “Running Point,” whose second season premiered April 23, and Hulu’s “Not Suitable for Work,” which launched June 2. The Hollywood Reporter reported that she recorded an hourlong career-retrospective conversation with the outlet’s Awards Chatter podcast immediately before receiving the honor.
“Mindy Kaling is one of the most talented people working in television today,” Gregg Schwenk, CEO and executive director of the Newport Beach TV Fest, said in a statement. “With this newest season of Running Point, she has again delivered one of Netflix’s sharpest and funniest shows, a comedy that belongs squarely in the awards race.”
Mindy Kaling receives Artist of Distinction Award at Newport Beach TV Fest
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Kaling’s television career spans more than a decade. At 24, she joined NBC’s “The Office” as the only woman on the writing staff and ultimately wrote more episodes than any other writer across eight seasons. She created and starred in “The Mindy Project,” which ran for six seasons on Fox and Hulu, and created Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever,” which reached 40 million households in its first four weeks. She also co-created “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” the most-watched comedy premiere on Max in 2021.
In her remarks at the festival, Kaling expressed enthusiasm about the award and her new series. “We found out yesterday that ‘Not Suitable for Work’ hit number one on Hulu,” she told On The Red Carpet. “Over 150 people worked on the show, so that made me so happy. I’m just excited to be here, getting this award and coming to Newport Beach for the first time.”
The four-day Newport Beach TV Fest also honored other creative talent, including Andy Cohen with the Creative Impact Award and Seth MacFarlane with the Maverick Award on the festival’s closing night, June 7.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporter — announcement of the award, details on the June 4 event, Kaling’s career achievements, and quote from festival CEO
- ABC7 San Francisco — on-site coverage from June 4-7 event, Kaling’s direct quote about the number-one debut of “Not Suitable for Work”
- Newport Beach Indy — confirmation of award date and Kaling’s recognition for work as creator, producer, and writer
