MTV’s new scripted comedic drama “Underemployed” follows a group a five friends–Sophia (Michelle Ang), Daphne (Sarah Habel), Lou (Jared Kusnitz), Raviva (Inbar Lavi) and Miles (Diego Boneta)–all filled with lofty goals, romantic dreams and hopefulness for complete world domination on their road to adulthood. But what happens when things don’t go exactly according to plan?
“Underemployed” picks up one year after their college graduation when reality has set in and the group struggles, often comically, to stay optimistic through the major life changes young twentysomethings know all too well, including dead-end jobs, terrible bosses and romantic mistakes. This group of old friends becomes a new family as they go through all the highs and lows in their newfound adult lives and prove together that if life is about living, none of them are underemployed.
Sophia struggles to hold on to her dreams of becoming a writer, as she serves maple bacon bars at Donut Girl, while Daphne continues to toil as an unpaid and unnoticed intern at an advertising agency. Lou and Raviva ended their relationship when she left for Los Angeles to become a famous singer, leaving Lou on his quest to save the environment, but all that changes when she shows up on his doorstep nine-months pregnant. Meanwhile, Miles aspires to be a world famous model, the face of a major ad campaign, but instead finds himself serving mojitos and mini-tacos in his skivvies.
With plans of becoming the next Great American Novelist, Sophia graduated from college with high expectations for herself and her friends. Finding herself with a serious case of writer’s block in a minimum wage job selling donuts proves to be much more difficult than she anticipated. One thing that she can rely on is the close-knit family of friends that she is such an integral part of, and their everyday endeavors provide fodder for thought and inspiration as she attempts to break free from her creative shackles. Adding an unexpected romance stirs new awakenings within her and the normally shy and reserved Sophia gets every opportunity to step out of her comfort zone.
The series, shot in Chicago, will feature 12 hour-long episodes and launch in October 2012 on MTV.
Underemployed with Michelle Ang
More about Michelle Ang
Michelle Ang, a New Zealand born actress, is well-known for her roles as a regular cast member on the Australian show “Neighbours,” “Outrageous Fortune” and the hit teen show “The Tribe.” She won “Best Actress in A Feature Film” at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards 2011 for “My Wedding and Other Secrets,” and was nominated for a Logie for her role in “Neighbours.” Her film work has screened in many festivals and won awards including those at Sundance, Cannes and Berlin. Her U.S. feature film credits include Big Momma’s House; Like Father Like Son and The Beaver directed by Jodie Foster. She recently completed work with Oscar-winning director Jane Campion on her mini-television series “Top of the Lake” produced with BBC.