Meghan Markle's highly anticipated cooking show, With Love, Meghan, has failed to capture a significant audience, while Mindy Kaling's Netflix comedy, Running Point, has skyrocketed to the top of the streaming charts.
As Meghan's latest project falters, Kaling is celebrating the overwhelming success of her hit series, leaving the Duchess of Sussex trailing far behind. Kaling proudly announced on Instagram that Running Point was the most-streamed show of the week, accumulating an incredible 1.9 billion minutes watched. In contrast, despite an aggressive marketing campaign, With Love, Meghan barely made an impact on Netflix’s rankings. The top five streaming titles included major hits such as 1923, featuring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, the political thriller Zero Day, the reality sensation Love Is Blind, and Reacher, but Meghan’s show was nowhere to be found.
Critics have been less than impressed with With Love, Meghan. Time magazine dismissed it as bland, while The Guardian was even harsher, branding it "joyless." On Rotten Tomatoes, the show received a disappointing 35% audience rating. Even within Netflix, insiders admitted that the series has struggled to gain traction, with data suggesting that viewers prefer seeing Meghan alongside Prince Harry rather than in her solo ventures. Within its first five days, With Love, Meghan only managed to attract 526,000 households, according to Samba TV. By comparison, Harry & Meghan, the couple’s documentary series, pulled in 2.1 million households in the same time frame—four times the audience. Meanwhile, Running Point amassed 12.2 million views this week alone, building on last week's already impressive 9 million.
Adding an ironic twist to the situation, Mindy Kaling even appeared as a guest on Meghan's struggling show. Seated in Meghan’s rented kitchen, she played along with the Duchess’s attempt at a relatable lifestyle. However, the resounding success of Running Point has made it clear that Kaling never needed Meghan to remain relevant. Despite Meghan's persistent attempts to establish herself as a Hollywood powerhouse, the industry and audiences remain unconvinced. If Kaling initially saw her appearance on With Love, Meghan as a favor to an old friend, it is now apparent that any association with Meghan might be more of a liability than an advantage. In the end, Kaling never had to criticize Meghan Markle—she only needed to succeed, and that is exactly what she did. As Running Point thrives, With Love, Meghan struggles to stay afloat.
