Hulu has cancelled "Not Suitable for Work," the workplace comedy created by Mindy Kaling, after a single nine-episode season. The decision marks another setback for Kaling's production slate on the streamer, which already saw her anthology series "Four Weddings" shelved last year without completing its run.
"Not Suitable for Work" premiered in June 2024 and centered on a character navigating professional life with comedic missteps and interpersonal drama. Kaling served as executive producer alongside showrunner Charlie Grandy and Howard Klein of 3 Arts Entertainment. Warner Bros. TV produced the series for the Disney-owned platform.
The cancellation reflects a broader pattern of streamers pulling the plug on comedies that fail to gain traction quickly. Hulu, which once positioned itself as a destination for prestige comedy through deals with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"), now operates under stricter metrics. Disney's broader strategy emphasizes subscriber growth and engagement benchmarks over critical prestige or creative loyalty.
For Kaling, the cancellation compounds recent production challenges. Beyond "Four Weddings," her overall deal with Warner Bros. TV and 3 Arts Entertainment continues, but the string of short-lived projects raises questions about audience appetite for her comedic properties on streaming platforms. Kaling has maintained a consistent presence in television since "The Mindy Project" (2012-2017), which she starred in and showran for six seasons on Fox and then Hulu. That series developed a devoted fanbase despite middling ratings, proving that streaming comedy survival often depends on vocal audience support rather than metrics alone.
"Not Suitable for Work" faced headwinds typical of Hulu's recent comedy slate. The streamer has struggled to replicate the cultural footprint of its breakthrough hits like "Fleabag" (Amazon Studios) or "Schitt's Creek" (CBC/Pop TV). Competition from Netflix's aggressive comedy slate and the genre's general decline on linear television have fractured comedy audiences across multiple platforms.
Kaling's production company, Kaling International, remains active. She continues to develop projects, including her involvement as a writer and producer on the "Four Weddings and a Funeral" revival that aired on Hulu, though that series also faced cancellation challenges. Her film work, including roles in Marvel projects and voice acting, provides revenue streams beyond television production.
The cancellation also affects Warner Bros. TV's standing with Hulu. The studio has multiple series in various stages of development across streaming platforms, but batting averages matter. Streamers increasingly favor creators and studios that demonstrate consistent viewership performance.
Kaling and Grandy now face the task of finding new homes for future projects. Grandy previously worked as a writer and producer on "30 Rock" and "The Good Wife," bringing established pedigree to projects. Their collaborative efforts on comedy development continue, but the market for network-style sitcoms on streaming services remains volatile. The cancellation of "Not Suitable for Work" underscores how quickly streaming platforms abandon comedy in search of proven hits.