Ed Weeks, Adam Pally, Mindy Kaling and Chris Messina star in “The Mindy Project”

Comedy has always been a man's game.

There have been a few women in past decades who have stood out as exceptional comedians -- Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Burnett immediately come to mind -- but overall, the comedy world has been dominated by men since its inception.

This last decade, however, has seen a shift in comedic powers. The shift has been slight and slow but steady, and shows such as "30 Rock" and "Parks and Recreation," with formidable, intelligent and hilarious women at the helm (Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, respectively), have paved the way for a new wave of female comedians.

Enter Mindy Kaling.

Thanks to its talented and fearless leader, Kaling's comedy series "The Mindy Project" has become a huge success. Poised to return from a two-month winter hiatus, fans are eagerly awaiting the show's reappearance. This much-anticipated new episode of "The Mindy Project," airs Tuesday, April 1, on Fox.

Kaling stars as the eponymous Mindy Lahiri, a skilled OB/GYN and romantically frustrated 31-year-old woman in New York City. But actor isn't the only hat Kaling wears for this show -- in fact, Kaling wears all the hats.

For many, being the star of a network television show would be enough of a challenge, but it seems Kaling can literally do it all: she's also the creator, head writer and executive producer. Kaling previously worked on NBC's ratings juggernaut "The Office" as a writer, producer and a co-star of the show, so she's no stranger to dual responsibilities and heavy workloads.

Now that she's moved into the limelight in earnest, Kaling says she quite enjoys being the boss: "It’s ... a mix of incredibly rewarding with its frustrations, but I wouldn’t have it any other way," she said last year in an interview with "The Daily Beast." She'll get at least one more year of the rewards and the frustrations -- as of the first week of March, "The Mindy Project" has officially been renewed for Season 3.

There are so many reasons for Kaling's success, but perhaps the most obvious is her talent for finding the comedy in everyday life. Her characters are quirky and weird, but in a way viewers can relate to, and the show excels at putting these loveable weirdos into seemingly normal situations (like a blind date or a night out) with hilarious results.

Another reason for Kaling's success is her ability to recognize -- and use -- great talent when she sees it. Whether it's in the writing room or in the casting chair, Kaling surrounds herself with incredibly capable women and men who share her vision of what the show can be. The results are obvious — not only in the quality of the show itself but in the constant stream of high-profile guest stars "The Mindy Project" has enjoyed since it began. This season alone, James Franco ("127 Hours," 2010), Kevin Smith ("Clerks," 1994), Kendra Wilkinson (TV's "Kendra"), Maria Menounos ("Extra"), Jenna Elfman ("Dharma and Greg"), Ellie Kemper ("The Office"), Bill Hader ("Saturday Night Live"), Chloë Sevigny ("American Psycho," 2000) and Timothy Olyphant ("Justified") have enjoyed guest spots on the show, and that's just a fraction of the list.

Chris Messina and Mindy Kaling in a scene from “The Mindy Project”

And there are more guest stars to come before the end of Season 2. Jenna Dewan-Tatum ("Step Up," 2006) has signed on to appear in one episode, and Emmy winner Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad") will appear as Mindy's idol, a New York OB/GYN who tries to steal her away from Schulman and Associates. Let's hope she doesn't succeed because, let's face it, the incredible chemistry between the Schulman and Associates crew is a huge part of what makes the show so special.

Kaling's co-stars have definitely been a major factor in the show's popularity. Most of the cast was relatively unknown before appearing on the show, but their skill and enthusiasm has made them household names after just one season. Ed Weeks ("Olivia Lee: Dirty, Sexy, Funny") had only been in a handful of television episodes before he landed the part of somewhat sleazy but loveable British OB/GYN, Jeremy Reed, who works alongside Mindy at Schulman and Associates. Ike Barinholtz ("The Awesomes") may have been recognized for his time on the sketch comedy show "MADtv," but has become somewhat of a comedy phenomenon since taking the role of office nurse Morgan Tookers, a loving and innocent ex-con whose past and personality is constantly a surprise. Barinholtz is also a writer on the show. Similarly, Zoe Jarman ("He's Just Not That Into You," 2009), who plays timid office administrator Betsy Punch, had small parts in a few films and some television roles under her belt before getting involved in "The Mindy Project."

Beth Grant, on the other hand, has a resume that stretches back to 1979 and has appeared in such films as "Crazy Heart" (2009), "No Country For Old Men" (2007) and "Rain Man" (1988). Grant plays a cranky, pot-smoking, office supply-stealing nurse named Beverly, whose character has evolved hilariously over the past two seasons. Adam Pally is this season's new addition to the cast, and many TV comedy fans will recognize him from ABC's "Happy Endings." Pally, who has also had a few major film roles, such as "Iron Man 3" (2013) and "The To Do List" (2013), co-stars as the new OB/GYN in town, Dr. Peter Prentice. Prentice has been somewhat of a foil for Mindy this season.

Last, but definitely not least, is the show's male lead, Chris Messina. Messina is everywhere lately, often playing very serious roles in films such as "Argo" (2012) and "Devil" (2010) and popping up in other TV shows such as "Damages" and HBO's "The Newsroom." Messina plays Dr. Danny Castellano, another OB/GYN at Schulman and Associates, and the opposite of Mindy in every way imaginable -- so, naturally, they're the couple we're all rooting for.

The conventional, conservative Danny and the abrasive, free-spirited Mindy have had plenty of "moments" throughout the show, but no one quite expected the twist at the end of the Season 2 winter finale. After helping Mindy pen a letter of reconciliation and a profession of love to her ex-boyfriend, Danny impulsively kisses her. Fade to black. Episode over.

Needless to say, fans of the show have been waiting with bated breath for the show's return. How will they handle the kiss? How will Danny and Mindy's relationship change? Tune in to find out when the spring premiere of "The Mindy Project" airs Tuesday, April 1, on Fox.