Workplace sitcoms have dominated comedy for the past 15 years. The Office began a new craze of mockumentary-style shows centered around a specific workplace. From hospitals to schools to government agencies, the workplace sitcom has found a home time and time again. The versatile format can be applied to almost any location, but more often than not, they center around millennials and Gen X. Rarely has Gen Z found a place within the format, especially one that feels true to their humor. But Netflix’s new show might have changed that.
Minimum Wage was made by Gen Z for Gen Z. Created by the independent comedy production company, American High, the show utilizes the familiar workplace sitcom format while centering the story on the young cast. With the cast writing and directing the majority of the show, the show’s humor feels authentic to Gen Z audiences. With the usual tailoring of a mockumentary sitcom, Minimum Wage introduces a workplace younger audiences can relate to and humor anyone can laugh at.
‘Minimum Wage’ is Gen Z Humor Done Right
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The show centers around a group of teenagers working at a pizzeria in central New York. When the pizzeria’s CEO arrives to tighten the shop’s efficiency, the teens find themselves working a little harder than usual. As they serve pizza, they also deal with odd customers, budding romances, and strange business ideas from their boss. With each new obstacle or adventure the crew finds themselves thrown into, their diverse personalities and natural chemistry keeps the show lively and unexpected at each turn.
In typical workplace sitcom fashion, every day brings on a new conflict the characters must deal with. Each episode revolves around a new crisis or plot line that pushes the characters’ limits. Shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation are iconic workplace sitcoms, but their humor doesn’t center around younger audiences. Minimum Wage focuses on a young cast who feel like actual teenagers. There isn’t an awkward usage of Gen Z slang or forced stereotypes. The show isn’t written by older writers pretending to be teens. The show feels like an authentic representation of teenagers working a minimum wage food service job. It’s funny and a little awkward, but so refreshing to see from a comedy show.
The Netflix Show Enhanced the Web Series’s Original Story
Image via Netflix- Image via Netflix
- Image via Netflix
- Image via Netflix
- Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix- Image via Netflix
- Image via Netflix
- Image via Netflix
- Image via Netflix
- Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via Netflix
Image via NetflixWhen Netflix bought Minimum Wage and adapted it into its own series, the show remained largely the same. The original cast stayed on and were able to have creative control over the writing and directing. The basic premise just took some minor tweaking and a new set, but overall, there isn’t much difference between the show and its original YouTube web series — on the surface. Small changes made to the characters and relationship dynamics deeply enhanced the story.
The Netflix show smoothed some of the rougher parts of the web series. The characters became more fleshed out and suited to their roles within the story. Some became more exaggerated than before, like with Julia’s (Julia Dicesare) whimsical energy, while others were toned down, like Grace’s (Grace Reiter) dedication to her role as manager. The introduction of characters like Mr. Sylvester (Randall Park) and Luke (Luke Burke) gave the motley pizza crew new personalities that helped balance the dynamics. The core aspects of the characters stretched to fit Netflix’s story, rounding out what the web series first introduced. Audiences can find themselves pulled into the love triangle drama or Mr. Sylvester’s troubling midlife crisis, all elements that were improved or added from the original story.
Comedy is subjective, but audiences can tell when the humor isn’t tailored for its intended audience. Too many shows try to replicate Gen Z humor while missing the mark. Relying on clunky dialogue or outdated terms keeps younger audiences from connecting with a story about characters like them. Minimum Wage doesn’t fall prey to this trap. By having the cast be intrinsic to the writing and directing, the show is rooted in their experiences and humor as Gen Z. It’s clear that they’re not trying too hard at something they don’t understand — they are using their age to create content that anyone can enjoy with Gen Z characters that feel realistic. Finally, Gen Z has a workplace sitcom that they can relate to.
Minimum Wage
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