Is Mindy Kaling’s ‘Not Suitable for Work’ a Gen Z version of 'Friends'?

Highlights:

• Mindy Kaling launches new Hulu comedy Not Suitable for Work.
• Series follows five ambitious young professionals in Manhattan.
• Hulu released three episodes at launch, with weekly drops continuing.
• Critics have compared the show to a Gen Z version of Friends.
• Kaling describes the series as the final chapter of a personal trilogy.

Mindy Kaling has quietly built one of the most recognizable and consistent brands in modern streaming television, and her latest project suggests that influence is only growing. Her new Hulu comedy, Not Suitable for Work, has arrived with significant attention, adding another entry to a lineup that already includes Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and The Mindy Project.

Created and executive produced by Kaling, Not Suitable for Work follows five ambitious twenty-somethings navigating careers, friendships, romance, and personal challenges in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood. The series centers on a generation balancing professional aspirations with the realities of modern relationships, a theme that has become a hallmark of Kaling’s storytelling.

Hulu launched the series with a three-episode premiere on June 2 and will continue releasing two episodes each week until the season finale on June 23.

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The complete release schedule includes:

• Episode 1, “Welcome to Murray Hill” — June 2
• Episode 2, “Evil Nepo Son of the King” — June 2
• Episode 3, “The Philadelphia Thirst Monster” — June 2
• Episode 4, “The Jawline of Your Dreams” — June 9
• Episode 5, “Fisher Trashen” — June 9
• Episode 6, “Handsome Mug Guy” — June 16
• Episode 7, “Does Jon Hamm Cry?” — June 16
• Episode 8, “Denver is For Lovers” — June 23

New episodes become available on Hulu at 3 a.m. ET and midnight PT.

The show has already drawn comparisons to the iconic sitcom Friends, with critics and audiences viewing it as a contemporary workplace-and-friendship comedy for a younger generation. At the series premiere, Kaling acknowledged those comparisons and said they represented the highest compliment.

Whether Not Suitable for Work ultimately reaches that level of cultural impact remains uncertain, but the comparison underscores Kaling’s growing stature as a creator capable of producing shows that resonate with broad audiences.

Kaling recently explained that the series represents the third installment in what she views as a television trilogy inspired by different phases of her own life.

She said Never Have I Ever was about her time in high school, The Sex Lives of College Girls was about her years at Dartmouth, and Not Suitable for Work follows the last pivotal time in her youth, which was moving to New York City and being super ambitious.

That autobiographical approach has become a defining feature of Kaling’s work. By drawing from personal experiences, she has created stories that blend humor, ambition, romance, and emotional authenticity.

The series was originally developed under the working title Murray Hill before Hulu secured the project following a competitive bidding process and committed to a script-to-series deal.

Produced by Kaling International in association with Warner Bros. Television, the show is led by showrunner and executive producer Charlie Grandy, who previously collaborated with Kaling on The Mindy Project and The Sex Lives of College Girls”

The ensemble cast features Ella Hunt, Avantika, Will Angus, Jack Martin, Nicholas Duvernay, and Jay Ellis. Recurring cast members include Victor Garber, Greg Germann, Judy Gold, Ego Nwodim, Harry Richardson, Constance Wu, Laura Bell Bundy, May Hong, Bhavesh Patel, Emilia Suárez, and Michael Benjamin Washington.

Kaling has highlighted Jay Ellis as a standout performer in the series and praised working with him during production.

She told PEOPLE in an interview published in December 2025 that it is great to work with one of the best-looking people in the world and discover they are also cool and nice, adding that she adores working with him.

Among the central characters is AJ Pascarelli, played by Ella Hunt, a highly competitive first-year investment banking analyst whose career ambitions often drive the story’s tension. The show’s focus on workplace obsession gives it a different flavor from traditional relationship-driven sitcoms.

“Not Suitable for Work” is available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundled subscribers in the United States, while international viewers can stream the series on Disney+.

As Kaling adds another major streaming title to her résumé, her influence across American television continues to expand. Through a growing collection of interconnected coming-of-age, workplace, and relationship comedies, she has established herself as one of the industry’s most prolific creators. With “Not Suitable for Work,” she is once again shaping conversations about what modern comedy looks like and who gets to tell those stories.