Full Breakdown
Netflix Orders 28-Episode Teen Workplace Comedy “Minimum Wage” from American High
5/1/2026, 4:40:42 PM
Series Order and Core Details
Netflix has ordered a 28-episode series, *Minimum Wage*, from American High. Episodes run about 12.5 minutes and the show is slated for a 2026 Netflix debut. It is billed as an ensemble workplace comedy set in a chaotic pizza shop, following teenage staff juggling school, a demanding boss, and low-pay jobs.
Background and Digital Roots
The show builds on the viral short-form series *Minimum Wage*, which premiered in May 2024 on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram and amassed over 30 million views. The success reinforced American High’s reputation for teen-focused digital content. Netflix has recently pursued digital-first adaptations, including *Tires* and collaborations with creators such as Ms. Rachel and Mark Rober, framing this order.
Production Team and Cast
American High founder Jeremy Garelick and partner Will Phelps are showrunners, writers and executive producers, joined by executive producer Axelle Azoulay. The cast features Aidan Micho, Grace Reiter, Hyde Healy, Julia Dicesare, Luke Burke, Ryan Micho and Tommy Armstrong. Based in a converted high school in Syracuse, New York, American High has produced 18 feature films, such as *Big Time Adolescence* and *The Pizza Movie*.
Data and Viewership Metrics
- 28 episodes, ~12.5 minutes each.
- Original *Minimum Wage* shorts: 30 million+ views across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram.
- American High’s digital network: 10 million followers, 8 billion total views.
Official Statements & Summaries
Garelick and Phelps noted the original sketches were filmed on phones in an abandoned high school, illustrating the “American High model” of giving young creators autonomy. Netflix’s synopsis describes the series as a rapid-fire, short-form comedy that captures the “low stakes, immense pressure” of teenage service-industry work.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on the launch date. Variety and Deadline cite a debut “later this year,” whereas Showbiz Junkies mentions a “late 2026 premiere.” No official release date has been confirmed, and further production details remain sparse.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The cast of American High Shorts shot the original sketches on their phones, in an abandoned high school. Now they’re series regulars on Netflix,” — Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps
- “That’s the American High model. Find the funniest kids in the room, hand them the keys, and get out of the way. We’re making coming-of-age comedies in the spirit of John Hughes for the generation that grew up on a screen, and we’re honored Netflix is letting us do it at this scale.” — Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps
- “An ensemble workplace series set inside a chaotic local pizza shop, Minimum Wage follows a group of teenage employees battling power-tripping managers, an unhinged rush, and the slow grind of service-industry burnout,” — Netflix synopsis
- “The stakes are low. The pressure is immense. The series carries the rapid-fire, short-form rhythm of the original American High Shorts digital content.” — Netflix synopsis
What’s Next
Industry observers expect a late-2026 launch, adding the series to Netflix’s teen-focused comedy lineup. Its performance will be gauged by viewership across younger and older audiences, potentially shaping future digital-first adaptations.
