People are struggling financially. Even on TV.

"Broke TV" captures the shift in contemporary television narratives from stories about the super-wealthy to the struggles of the downwardly mobile middle class. This trend reflects a growing economic reality where traditional markers of success—such as home ownership and financial stability—are increasingly out of reach for many. Television critic Inkoo Kang highlights how shows like *Beef* and *The Comeback* articulate this "economic dysphoria," where characters grapple with status anxiety and the erosion of their perceived future. Unlike past depictions of entrenched poverty, these narratives focus on the emotional toll of slipping out of the middle class and the resentment toward a system that feels rigged. This shift is fueled by both the personal economic experiences of writers and a broader cultural fatigue with stories that center on extreme, unnuanced wealth.