In episode 2 "Clientele" of the Writers Guild Award nominated web series Downsized Season 2, Astrid (Shannon Conley) manages to squeeze a few extra bucks out of Nate (Kaipo Schwab) by convincing him to compete in a Daddy and Me competition with Poppy, but finds his wife Brenda (Anna Stone, Boardwalk Empire) isn't so easy to swindle.

"Best Straight Drama on the Web" Los Angeles Times | Best Of Lists: LA Times, Fast Company, Boston Globe, Bostinnovation, Clicker | ... Thirtysomething for the Unemployed and Bankrupt

Downsized is a critically acclaimed dramedy about the extremes people go to when faced with an economic crash. The critically acclaimed series follows the lives of New Yorkers as they try to balance work, love and their checkbooks.

When Beth (Daryn Strauss), a mid-level saleswoman, is let go from her corporate job by a downsizing effort masterminded by HR Manager Maura (Michele Mavissakalian) and her efficiency expert Lowell (Duncan Murdoch), she must reevaluate what is important in her life. Overworked attorney Connor (Chris Henry Coffey) finds himself entranced by his Turkish immigrant cleaning lady Leyla (Esra Gaffin) while he goes through a divorce from Maura. Former finance executive now office temp Andy (Conan McCarty) attempts to fund his recession-based self-help program while obsessing over his money-hungry ex-wife Priscilla (Meredith Zinner). Beauty pageant coach Astrid (Shannon Conley) finds that conning unsuspecting parents like smitten daddy Nate (Kaipo Schwab) into spray tans and hair extensions for their pre-teen children in order to pay off her credit card debt aint that easy when everybody is broke.

Written and directed by Daryn Strauss, Downsized is a made-for-the-web ensemble dramedy about the extremes people go to when faced with an economic crash. The critically acclaimed series, told in the mosaic style of Magnolia with the dark humor of Nurse Jackie, follows the lives of several New Yorkers as they try to balance work, love and their checkbooks post-economic crisis.

Nominated as Best Web Comedy by Clicker.com in 2010 and an Official Selection at the Cologne Conference 2010 in Germany along with HBO's Treme and AMC's Mad Men, Downsized is also one of the few scripted web series granted a partnership with YouTube.