Mindy Kaling's New Hulu Show Hits #1 Despite Mixed Reviews — What Is It?
Critics haven't been kind. But audiences clearly don't care.
Mindy Kaling's brand new Hulu comedy series "Not Suitable for Work" — which premiered its first three episodes on June 2, 2026 — has already rocketed to the #1 spot on Hulu's Top 10 TV Shows chart in the United States, outperforming popular titles including The Testaments, 20/20, General Hospital, and Mean Girl Murders. It also claimed the top position on Hulu's overall streaming chart.
Kaling appeared on the TODAY Show on June 7 to discuss the series — fuelling another spike in searches and putting the show firmly in the pop culture conversation this weekend.
This is a major moment in our Entertainment coverage — one of TV's most prolific creators is back with her most personal project yet.
What Is "Not Suitable for Work"?
"Not Suitable for Work" is a single-camera comedy about five twenty-somethings pursuing their career dreams in Manhattan. Kaling has described it as the final chapter of a trilogy of shows loosely inspired by the early days of her own career — following The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever.
The series stars:
- Ella Hunt as AJ Pascarelli — the central character navigating her ambitions in New York
- Avantika as Abhinaya "Abby" Chilukuri
- Will Angus as Davis Beau Bradley Barrett III
- Jay Ellis — known for Insecure and Top Gun: Maverick
- Jack Martin and Nicholas Duvernay round out the ensemble
The show is created and produced by Kaling through her production company Kaling International, with Charlie Grandy serving as showrunner. It is produced by Warner Bros. Television and distributed by Hulu.
Episodes drop on a weekly schedule — three premiered on June 2, followed by two new episodes per week until the season finale on June 23, 2026. It is also available on Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.
The Reviews — Mixed But Viewers Don't Mind
The critical reception has been decidedly mixed. The show currently sits at a poor Rotten Tomatoes score — with critics arguing the series feels familiar and formulaic compared to Kaling's earlier work.
But streaming audiences are telling a very different story. Hitting #1 on Hulu within days of its premiere — ahead of much more critically acclaimed shows — suggests Kaling's fanbase is both loyal and enormous. The show's blend of workplace comedy, career ambition, and New York City energy is resonating with exactly the audience it was made for.
Mindy Kaling's Remarkable Career Moment
"Not Suitable for Work" arrives at a moment when Kaling is arguably more prolific and powerful in Hollywood than at any point in her career. She currently has two simultaneous shows on major streamers:
- Running Point (Netflix) — a basketball comedy starring Kate Hudson that debuted as the #1 TV show in the US and surpassed a billion minutes viewed in its first week; currently in Emmy contention for Season 2
- Not Suitable for Work (Hulu) — now #1 on streaming
She was also recently awarded the Artist of Distinction Award at the Newport Beach TV Festival — recognizing her body of work including The Office, The Mindy Project, Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Running Point, and now Not Suitable for Work.
In May 2026, Kaling made headlines for addressing online criticism about her dramatic weight loss — saying in an interview with Bustle that while she found the constant social media scrutiny "not fun," she understood it from a pop culture perspective.
Key Takeaways
- Mindy Kaling's new Hulu comedy "Not Suitable for Work" premiered June 2, 2026 and immediately hit #1 on Hulu despite mixed critical reviews.
- The show is the final chapter of Kaling's trilogy of shows loosely inspired by her own career — following The Mindy Project and Never Have I Ever.
- It stars Ella Hunt, Avantika, Jay Ellis and others as five twenty-somethings pursuing dreams in Manhattan.
- New episodes drop two per week on Hulu until the season finale on June 23, 2026.
- Kaling appeared on the TODAY Show on June 7 to promote the series.
- She simultaneously has Running Point (Netflix) in Emmy contention — making her one of the most powerful TV creators working today.
- Stream Not Suitable for Work now on Hulu or Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.
