Great pilot!  A shame it was never picked up!

Like so many Linklater projects, $5.15/Hr. thrives off of character development. The characters in this show just so happen to be minimum wage workers, just trying to get by with too few shifts and payday loans. That's the basic premise of the show--following around eight or so employees working the "third shift" at a restaurant chain called "Grammaw's Kitchen" that looks like a low-grade "Denny's." But more than the everyday occurrences for these characters, the show opens up the context, integrating the crazy logic of corporate mandates and consumer debt into the text.

I would have loved to have seen where this show would have gone had it been given the opportunity to go there. The actors (particularly America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty") portray three dimensional characters in complex situations; but is it a surprise that HBO (funded by the subscriptions of wealthy viewers) was unwilling to take this on? Not in the least. It's so sad how the perspectives of those doing the most menial of jobs get filed away in some studio back lot.

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

An ensemble comedy focused on the bizarre, underpaid employees of Grammaw's Home Cookin'.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books

Richard Linklater in It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books (1988)

Inning by Inning: A Portrait of a Coach (2008)

Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, and Robert Sean Leonard in Tape (2001)

Parker Posey, Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Zahn, Amie Carey, Dina Spybey-Waters, Jayce Bartok, and Nicky Katt in SubUrbia (1996)

Ethan Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich, and Vincent D'Onofrio in The Newton Boys (1998)

$5.15/Hr.

Photos

Top Cast34

User reviews1

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Did you know

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed