American High is partnering with Netflix to bring their viral short-form series “Minimum Wage” to the streamer.
Variety has learned exclusively that Netflix has given “Minimum Wage” a 28 episode order, with the show set to launch on Netflix later this year. Each episode will run approximately 12.5 minutes. Since launching in May 2024, the original “Minimum Wage” shorts have drawn over 30 million views across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
The show is described as an ensemble workplace comedy set a local pizza shop. The official logline states, “An overwhelmed group of teenagers struggle to run a local pizzeria while juggling school, a manic boss, and their minimum wage salaries. The stakes are low and the pressure is immense.”
The cast for “Minimum Wage” will feature Aidan Micho, Grace Reiter, Hyde Healy, Julia Dicesare, Luke Burke, Ryan Micho, and Tommy Armstrong. American High founder Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps serve as showrunners and executive producers, with Axelle Azoulay also executive producing. American High will produce.
“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,” Garelick and Phelps said. “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.”
This is the latest example of Netflix picking up a series based on a digital format. Previously, Shane Gillis self-funded a six episode first season of the comedy “Tires,” which Netflix then agreed to distribute. Netflix has since brought the show in-house and recently renewed it for a third season, which is currently in production. Netflix has also recently partnered with digital creators like Ms. Rachel, Mark Rober and CrunchLabs, and Jordan and Salish Matter.
American High operates out a converted high school in Syracuse, New York. The studio has produced 18 feature films to date, including “Big Time Adolescence,” “I Love My Dad,” and most recently “The Pizza Movie.” Its digital network has over 10 million followers and 8 billion views across social media.
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