Latest news with #Buteau
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michelle Buteau Reveals The 1 Reason She Doesn't Want To Go Back To Australia — And It's Hilarious
Michelle Buteau isn't too eager to return to Australia, where the wildlife doesn't just look dangerous, it auditions for the role. The 'Survival of the Thickest' star recently wrapped up seven weeks of filming in Australia for her upcoming comedy film, 'Spa Weekend,' and she realized her trip was less about rest and relaxation, but more about running for her life. 'I'm good on it. It was nice for what it was,' Buteau jokingly said of her time Down Under, during a March 28 appearance on 'The Late Show.' 'I didn't know, when you go there you're just like in a Safari.' Host Stephen Colbert comedically added, 'Everything there wants you dead.' But the real shock came when Buteau had a 'little visitor' make an unexpected cameo in her trailer. Colbert then held up a photo of the spider Buteau encountered — though it was far from the likes of which Americans were used to encountering. 'I was getting dressed, and I said, 'Wardrobe lady, is that a bat?'' she recalled. Her assistant, ever the calm voice of reason, reassured the comedian that it is in fact a 'little spider.' But, given the spider's sheer magnitude, roughly the size of a tax-paying citizen, Buteau responded, 'What's a big spider, sis?' She admitted avoiding her trailer for the remainder of the day and joked that they 'had to walk it out on a leash' due to its stature. 'That spider was so big, it was like everything you own in the box to the left,' she said, paying homage to Beyoncé's hit song 'Irreplacable.' Still haunted by the encounter, Buteau likened the arachnid to something with its own political agenda. 'I'm a Democrat, but that spider was independent,' she confidently stated. 'I named it Jill Stein. I'm like, 'Where did you come from out of nowhere?'' Michelle Buteau Calls Out Dave Chappelle's Anti-Trans Jokes Michelle Buteau's New Show Redefines The Rom-Com Heroine's Journey Stephen Colbert Gleefully Burns Elon Musk With 'Terrible News' About His Influence
CBC
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Michelle Buteau's plus-size comedy is sexy, joyful and real
In a Q interview, the actor and comedian discusses her Netflix comedy-drama Survival of the Thickest Image | Michelle Buteau Caption: Survival of the Thickest is a Netflix series co-created by Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez Witzel, based on Buteau's book of the same name. (Netflix) Open Image in New Tab Media Audio | Michelle Buteau's plus-size comedy is sexy, joyful and real Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. Women are often made to think that once their 20s are over, they're past their prime — stuck in the same unfulfilling career or mediocre relationship for the rest of their lives. But comedian Michelle Buteau thinks it's never too late to start over. In an interview with Q 's Tom Power, Buteau says her Netflix series Survival of the Thickest, which is now in Season 2, is a testament to anyone who feels like a bit of a "hot mess." Based on her book of the same name, the show follows Mavis (Buteau), a stylist navigating single life in New York City after finding out her boyfriend is cheating on her. According to Buteau, every woman in her family, including herself, has been cheated on. She's become all too familiar with what it looks like to rebuild your life, and the show is her way of helping other women make peace with change, no matter what stage of life they're in. "You figure out your voice, figure out who you are and keep it moving," she says. Survival of the Thickest also centres body positivity in a way that Buteau never got to see when she was growing up. Mavis is unapologetically sexy and proud of her body, curves and all. "When I was growing up, plus-size women were shunned, they were made fun of, they were the butt of the joke," Buteau tells Power. "Just because you gain some weight or you're a bigger person doesn't mean you're unhealthy, doesn't mean you're useless, doesn't mean that you're not sexy. And if we're not showing that, how do we know?" While representation matters to the people seeing themselves on-screen, it's also important for people who don't necessarily relate to the characters. "That's what diversity is," Buteau says. "That's what comedy should do. It should reel you in and teach you and make you want to hang out with us." Survival of the Thickest is all about highlighting the joys of being a plus-size woman, but Buteau points out that she often finds herself having to work through some painful memories before being able to write jokes about them. Before going into stand-up comedy, she worked in a New York newsroom — she had wanted to go into entertainment reporting, but a professor told her she was too fat to be on camera. "I believed him because I was raised not to question authority and I didn't see anyone like me [on-screen]," she says. Instead, she decided to work behind the scenes, editing video footage. Buteau managed to bring a lighter energy to the workplace, and people were telling her to seriously consider pursuing stand-up comedy as a career. It wasn't until she was working in the newsroom during the Sept. 11 attacks, combing through horrific footage and thinking about what the coming weeks at this job could mean for her, that she decided to take a leap of faith. Three days later, she did her first stand-up set. "It was like group therapy," she says. "I just remember thinking, 'Oh man, I feel good, I feel happy, I feel alive … I'm sharing a warm connection with people. We don't know what the hell we're doing, but we're just trying to get through it." The world of comedy came with its own set of standards, as female comedians are often treated like an anomaly. Over time, Buteau taught herself that it was OK to take up space, learning to be sure of her own worth and letting go of people who weren't able to see it too. "I do think comedy has saved me in more ways than one," she says. "It forces you to work through your pain…. I started advocating for myself, asking for things [and] calling people out by their name. I've got the microphone. I'm doing my thing."
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In 'Survival of the Thickest,' queer joy and activism are one and the same
This week, Survival of the Thickest returns for its sophomore season on Netflix, and the show, which already felt like a much-needed and joyful escape, is even more poignant now. For the unfamiliar, the series follows the exploits and experiences of Mavis Beaumont (as played by Michelle Buteau and based loosely on her book of essays), and her friends as they navigate both career challenges and (queer) romantic ones. Mavis has dreams of becoming both a famed stylist to the stars and of making the world — by way of the fashion industry — a more welcoming and accessible place for people with larger bodies (or, as she puts it, folks with oddy bodies and fatty baddies. Season two picks up with Mavis quickly finding herself single again but ready to pour herself into growing her brand, and creating more space and acceptance for everybody beginning with her own brick-and-mortar store. Netflix It's aspirational to be sure, but much has changed in the real world since season one made its way to Netflix in July 2023. So while the show is as funny and charming as ever, Mavis' quest to take on the system just hits a little different this time. And that's a very good thing. It's not lost on Buteau who is excited to use her platform to elevate the voices and stories of marginalized people and is unapologetically an ally to the queer community. 'Everybody is our brother and sister — we're all family. So can we just do that?' she asks PRIDE. She has high hopes that LGBTQ+ people will feel uplifted by this season which sees multiple queer love stories unfold. Buteau says her desire is one that the queer audience knows. 'That' they are worthy and important and that they matter and that they should have happy endings and a community to go through stuff with.' For the actor, creator, and producer of the show, Buteau sees the show as, 'such a love letter to my friends and I always say the oddy bodies and fatty baddies in the queer community to be like we got this let's keep going. While I have this moment on this platform to do this show I'm gonna do what I can to make us shine, bitch.' Netflix While she is serious about her allyship, Buteau can't help but joke about the pleasures and pitfalls of bringing her love stories to the screen this season. Fresh off of a heartbreak, Mavis is ready to embrace her 'hoe' side in season two, which sees her set out on a spree of dates: some that go well and some that go hilariously wrong. But there's a method to all the madness, says Buteau. 'I had a lot more intimate scenes than I had in season one. I think trying to figure out how to tell that story in the most beautiful way, but also honest way, so it's like maybe less makeup because I think it's very important to tell women that they don't need a beat face in order to be loved or dicked down, or however you enjoy your sex,' she explains. Adding, 'But I'm not gonna lie… being on set having cooked meals for you all the time and then trying on a bunch of lingerie in between lunch, it's just like, 'What is this gonna be? That was a little challenging, but it was also really fun. It's also an honor, but it's also really hard not to fart on them sometimes.' Netflix That quote perfectly encapsulates the ethos and balancing act that Survival embodies. It's activism and humor, sexiness, and humanity all rolled into one utterly watchable series. Fart jokes? You bet, but it also presents a world that suggests what our real one could be if we just led with love and acceptance. It's also why the inclusion of drag legend Peppermint, playing a version of herself, adds so much depth — and hope — to the proceedings. The drag superstar, broadway actress, and trans activist doesn't mince words when it comes to seeing how this show can serve as a powerful tool of empathy building in a time when we truly need it most. Netflix 'In the day and age where we're hearing people who weren't elected to be very close to certain high offices in the country, talking about how empathy is the enemy and the death of this country, which is not true, but that is what has been said because they know that empathy is the one thing that will defend people against this type of dehumanization,' Peppermint tells PRIDE. 'You cannot dehumanize who you empathize with, and that is key.' She continues. 'We need each other, and I can impact you, and you can impact me. It's inevitable, if we're sharing space, we will impact each other and improve on each other's lives,' she tells PRIDE. 'That's one of the things that Michelle and the writers do so well [in season two.]' Netflix Like the best of entertainment, Survival of the Thickest manages to do both things, entertain first and foremost, but it also invites us to open up our hearts to characters, some of whom are like us, some of us whose lived experiences are totally unlike ours and to love them both. That's not just a recipe for queer joy, it's one for survival. Survival of the Thickest season two is streaming now on Netflix. Watch the trailer below. Tell a friend to tell a friend Mavis Beaumont and crew are back! Survival of the Thickest Season 2 premieres March 27. Only on ... - YouTube \
Boston Globe
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Michelle Buteau's ‘Survival of the Thickest' returns, with trademark heart
One of the show's more charming elements is Buteau's idyllic vision of New York. In the world of 'Survival of the Thickest,' it's somehow always summertime, there's a fun, hip drag bar with a hot bartender where you can always get a table with your friends, and an artist like Khalil can afford a stylish loft by himself. Spending time there makes it seem like there's a fundamental optimism in the world that feels in short supply right now. She's also crafted a universe full of queer, gender-non-conforming people of color, whose bodies don't conform to societal standards of thinness. Mavis's entire business model is built around the idea that these communities are not served by much existing fashion, so she's filling both a practical and spiritual need for them. If the show has an underlying ethos, it might be that looking and feeling beautiful and welcomed in the world where you live is as fundamental as any other right. Advertisement Hence the show's deep warm-heartedness. If there's a downside, it's that in season 2 Mavis is doing so well that the story stalls out at times, and it's overall not quite as funny as season 1. Watching Mavis get into humiliating situations sounds like a cruel thing to hope for, but Buteau is an especially skilled physical comedian, and Mavis is someone who is both prone to embarrassment but infinitely capable of getting past it. She can get into cringey situations without the skin-crawling horror that underlies awkward moments for shows like 'The Office.' As someone who watched a lot of ' Lisa Weidenfeld can be reached at
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Good food, good sex, good clothes': How Michelle Buteau lives her best life at 47
'Wassup?!' Michelle Buteau says as we're connected on Zoom. She then throws up two peace signs, immediately setting the tone for our interview ahead of the Season 2 premiere of Netflix's Survival of the Thickest. Within seconds of meeting, it's clear that Buteau has a natural ability to make a person laugh because I'm already cracking up, despite my best efforts to be professional. Yahoo Life's Unapologetically series has brought us together, but our conversation feels more like a masterclass in confidence and a private comedy show. At 47 years old, she's more sure of herself than ever — and that's thanks to her younger years, which she gets to reflect on as the writer and actress of her show's protagonist, Mavis Beaumont, a woman who starts her life over after catching her boyfriend cheating on her. 'I could not write about this single girl in her late 30s in New York City without being a grown-ass woman in my 40s. I know who that chick is,' says Buteau, who assures me that her character's age is very intentional. 'She's not gonna be 25, she's not gonna be 30, she's gonna be in her late 30s, which is such a different pivotal time for women. All my friends had this thing at 38 where we're just like, we don't have much time.' And she doesn't mean that in a bad way. With more experience and less time comes less care about what others think, which, according to Buteau, is the key to chasing and achieving dreams. Here, she shares more about how embracing authenticity and comedy has led her to her happiest decade yet. What's the best part of this decade for you? It's this realization that you have less time to live and you've lived more time than you have [left]. That's why it's just like no f***ing around. I'm going to do what I want to do, I'm going to ask for what I need and I'm not going to apologize. People see you as really confident and self-assured. Is that something that has come with age? To me, confidence is just another word for happiness. I am at peace. I've been through it. I did the tap dancing for the patriarchy, my knees f***ing hurt, my feet are tired. I'm not doing it anymore. I found a guy that loves me. We make each other better people and I don't need [anyone else's] opinion to shape my life. I'm going to be the example for my kids that I never had, mainly because now I understand my mom and the women in my family who grew up in a generation where they weren't allowed to express themselves and be in their power. How has comedy allowed you to be your most authentic self? Once I got into comedy, I really found my space and my tribe and my voice. I think you have to be pushing yourself to evolve, to be vulnerable, to figure out what you need to get over to get to that side of comedy. Having a very crazy five-year IVF journey with four miscarriages to finally welcome my twins to the world through surrogacy, I feel like when I talked about them in my special Welcome to Buteaupia, I earned those tired mom jokes. I was proud of them. I feel like every tired parent joke I do, I've earned that shit, you know? So it isn't me just playing into a trope. It feels like a privilege to be tired from [parenthood] on the other side of that [struggle]. Fashion is a big part of your show. How do you feel about the concept of 'dressing your age'? It's like whatever fits you, just do. Stop subscribing to the same email. Self-expression is everything. I really wish more people would lean into it. You're just like, I don't know how no one's ever taught me that I should be creative and that might matter. It does. It's mental health, it makes you feel good. Good food, good sex, good clothes. Get into it. Sex is another! Why should women over 40 be talking about sex? I mean, I think it always comes down to this unrealistic patriarchal standard. Like, women are having sex for the male gaze. It's all about, what do men think? Do I look good for men? Now it's about you liking your body for sex, but it's also more than that. It's you're feeling comfortable enough to ask for more money. It's you feeling comfortable to speak up in spaces where you were taught you're not supposed to be. It's all of that because when one thing happens, everything else should happen. How has your relationship with your body changed as you've gotten older? My body matured just so quickly. I was like 11 or 12 when I had this body. And that's very crazy. So I had to take a lot on and unpack for a good while what it means to be sexual. I looked older. A lot of people thought I was like the teacher in class. I'm like, are you kidding me? But it was the clothes I was getting, too, because like there were no cute plus-size situations. And so I was kind of like an old soul. And I feel like an old soul definitely becomes a young spirit because now I'm having fun, I feel fly, it's functional. You definitely have a young spirit. How old do you feel? Twenty-four was such a big year for me because I moved to New York City from Miami out of college. And I also started stand-up that year. With comedy, if you do it right, you're always giddy and you're always like a kid, you know. So I feel like I'm forever 24. But don't tell my doctor because she's like, 'You're pre-diabetic.' And that's not 24-year-old s***. I don't even know how to spell "sciatica" but I know she's coming!
