Minimum Wage is a mockumentary show about a group of teenagers working in a pizza shop called The Slice Club. From the TikTok and YouTube sensation, American High, the show is a modern coming of age story that unlike the popular CW shows of the 2010s, focuses on the less glamorous parts of teen life.
Starring Grace Reiter who recently started on SNL and Aiden Micho, what makes Minimum Wage work is that the cast doesn’t look like trust fund kids. They look like someone you might find sitting next to your kids in their homeroom class.
The Slice Club isn’t a 1950’s diner with an underground speakeasy or a family-owned restaurant ala Riverdale or Dawsons Creek, it’s part of a chain that’s been around forever and looks like it.
While most teen shows have at least one person who is “the poor kid”, Minimum Wage reflects reality for most teens today. Which is having a job after school, whether to save for college or help with their own expenses, or even helping out their family.
One episode focuses on a group of Drama Club kids being annoying at the restaurant, another is them making a commercial for their boss, and another one is the kids having a sleepover.
There are no glamorous getaways, or ridiculous over the top steamy love triangles.
What makes Minimum Wage work is it’s just teenagers being teenagers. Chaotic and directionless, while finding themselves and trying to have fun in the process.
Minimum Wage is currently streaming on Netflix. And I’m eagerly looking forward to season 2.
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