Credit: Netflix

Have you heard about Minimum Wage yet? Of course you have. This short-form comedy series created by American High became a social media and YouTube sensation in just two years. It followed teenagers working in a pizza shop and quickly gained traction, pulling in over 30 million views for its relatable, quick-fire humour. And now it is coming to Netflix!

Sounds amazing, right? But what’s more interesting is where it comes from. This didn’t start as a big TV project. It began as short comedy sketches from American High. Exactly the sort of thing you’d come across on TikTok or YouTube when you are just passing the time. Since May 2024, those clips have picked up over 30 million views, which tells you people are clearly enjoying it.

So what’s it about? It starts with a group of teenagers working in a small pizza shop. They are trying to keep the place running while also dealing with friendships and a boss who’s a bit much. If you have ever had a part-time job or even if you just imagined one, you’ll probably recognise the situations straight away. It’s all the awkward and frustrating moments that come with earning very little and still being expected to care a lot.

Now Netflix has decided to take over and make a 28-episode series, each about 12 and a half minutes long. If you know the show and its reach, that’s actually quite a smart move. The episodes aren’t too long, so it keeps that quick, easy-to-watch style the original videos had. You can put one on without feeling you’ve committed your whole evening.

Another thing worth mentioning is the cast. The same group from the original sketches, with Aidan Micho, Grace Reiter, Hyde Healy, Julia Dicesare, Luke Burke, Ryan Micho, and Tommy Armstrong, are all part of the Netflix version. That’s important because they are a big part of the show and the reason behind why the humour works. They already know how the characters work and are familiar with the timing, so viewers will get exactly what they came for.

Behind the scenes, Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps, who are the showrunners, have said that they are aiming for that classic coming-of-age comedy vibe but updated for people who have grown up watching content on their phones rather than traditional TV.

It’s also part of a bigger trend you might’ve noticed. Netflix has started picking up shows that have already proved themselves online. A good example is Tires, which began independently before Netflix got involved and expanded it. Well, Minimum Wage is following the same path: build an audience first and then go bigger.

And American High, the studio behind it, knows this space well. They have made films such as Big Time Adolescence and I Love My Dad, both focusing on teenage life and all the awkward bits that come with it. On top of that, their online content has reached millions of followers and billions of views, so they clearly understand the assignment.

And though we have given you plenty of reasons to be excited, it is because, with Netflix’s production support, Minimum Wage, already a well-curated show, will only excel.

About the release date, it hasn’t been announced yet, but Minimum Wage is most likely to arrive on Netflix later this year. Keep your calendars open!