December 16, 2024 • 29 mins
The outrageously funny Michelle Buteau is the co-creator of Netflix’s “Survival of the Thickest,” and she just became the first woman to record a comedy special at Radio City Music Hall. Michelle opens up about her journey to self-discovery, the importance of betting on yourself, and how motherhood has reshaped her perspective. She also shares the humor that runs through her multicultural upbringing and the power of embracing authenticity at every stage of life. Her new special, “Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall,” is out on Netflix on New Year’s Eve.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hey fam, Hello Sunshine.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Coming up today on the bright Side, comedian Michelle Buteau
is with us, and she's not just making us laugh,
she's making stand up her story. It's Monday, December sixteenth.
I'm Danielle Robe and.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
I'm Simone Boyce and this is the bright Side from
Hello Sunshine, a daily show where we come together to
share women's stories, laugh, learn and brighten your day. On
my Mind Monday is brought to you by Missus Meyers
Clean Day inspired by the goodness of the garden. All right,
it's Monday, Danielle. What's on your mind?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Okay, I'm thinking about something that came across my Instagram page.
Actually from organizational psychologist Adam grant So. In his recent post,
he wrote, the test of a relationship is not how
much you enjoy each other's highs, it's how well you
support each other's lows. It's really easy to get along
on a good day, right, But care is showing up
on a hard day. And the most reliable people in
(00:58):
your life are the ones who step up when you're down.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Ooh, yeah, that's truer than true. Is there a specific
moment or story that comes to mind when you think
about friendship during tribulation.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yes, you know this is interesting for me because I
have had really good friends disappoint me during hard times
and acquaintances really step up. And I don't necessarily blame
people because I think not everybody is skilled in tough moments,
and so I wasn't so upset at the friend, but
(01:34):
I have never forgotten the acquaintances who stepped up, and
that changed everything for me. When I went through a
really hard breakup years ago, I had a friend named
Lauren Gallo who's just kind of an acquaintance at the time,
and she would text me every single week saying, hey, Bunny,
I'm thinking about you, like just little love notes, and
(01:55):
for her to care that much went such a long way.
I don't know if she knew how much it meant
to me, and it changed the way I show up
for people during hard times.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Bear with me here. I think this is going to
sound weird, but let me explain. I think there is
some truth to the idea that misery loves company, And
when I think about when I have felt most supported
by my friends, it's when we're both experiencing something really
tough together and we can like find camaraderie and support
(02:24):
in that, oh for sure. You know so I think
you can. You can find it in unexpected ways. And
when I think about supporting each other through lows, I
think about the camaraderie that I have with the women
who became mothers around the same time as me, Like
that is a bond that is truly unbreakable.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, you know, I'm thinking about this sentiment, especially as
we're in the throes of the holidays, because undoubtedly we're
all going to experience some highs and lows, and instead
of living in those, I'm wondering if we can carry
this idea in our back pocket and think, hmm, maybe
some of these challenge jing moments are going to bring
us closer together.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Well, I've got a friend who definitely knows how to
bring us all together. I'm talking about comedian Michelle Buteau. Yes,
the Michelle Buteau who created the show Survival of the
Thickest on Netflix, which is renewed for season two. She
also starred in the movie Babes alongside bright Side bestie
Alana Glazer. And you may know Michelle as the narrator
(03:22):
of the Circle. Well with her new stand up special
she is making history as the first woman to ever
record a comedy special at Radio City Music Hall in
New York. Danielle, of course, you know that we missed
you for this interview, but I think you're going to
enjoy this conversation too. We got to talk about embracing
your thirties and beyond, some of the unexpected challenges of parenting,
(03:44):
plus what's in store for Michelle in twenty twenty five.
I can't wait to listen Simon after the break my
conversation with Michelle Buteaux. Stay with us.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Thanks to our partners at missus Myers. When it comes
to cleaning, it's more fun if it smells like the garden.
Missus Meyers collection of household products Smell, grate and pack
a punch against dirt and grime. Visit missus Meyers dot com.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Michelle Viuteaux, Welcome to the bright Side.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Oh my god, thank you like in more than one way,
I hope.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Oh yes, oh yes, We're gonna keep it bright. Maybe
a little spicy, but we gonna keep it bright today. Yeah, yes, yes, Michelle.
I knew I was gonna laugh whenever I watched your
special abuteauful mind. Yes, However, I wasn't expecting to cry,
and that's exactly what happened. When you walk out on
stage to this standing ovation. I saw tears in your eyes.
(04:45):
And the reason was you were performing at Radio City
Music Hall, which is herstory. You made herstory. You're the
first woman to shoot a comedy special at Radio City.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah. So crazy.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
In comedians, when we like do our special, it it's
sort of like a wedding because you have an idea
as a baby comedian what it would look like, you
know what I mean, and you kind of do what
everybody else is doing.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You're like, I need a maroon.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Curtain and like a four tiered you know, audience like theater,
so I can look up and they're laughing.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
But the more you do comedy, you're like.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Oh, okay, I can do my own thing and that's okay.
And so the one thing I always love with the
special is a really good material, duh. But b like,
just I wanted to feel like a New York City
night out. And so because Netflix has such a crazy platform,
you know, the reach is far and mind I'm like,
(05:40):
what about those people in one of those like one
hundred and ninety countries that Netflix is in that's going
to watch this special and be like I can't go
to New York for whatever reason, but I feel like
I'm there, and that's what I wanted. I had no
idea it would be Radio City Music Hall, And I
always ask whenever I rent an apartment, I'm like, has
anyone died here? And anytime and anytime I do like
(06:01):
I look at like a venue for a comedy special,
I'm like, what other female comedians have performed here?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Because you just want to know, you know, And when
the booker told me no one, I was like, oh man,
I gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Well, I'm glad you brought that up. Just the significance
of performing at Radio City, the fact that you were
the first female comedian to shoot a special there, because
a lot of probably a lot of our listeners don't
realize that you actually have to bet on yourself to
even perform at Radio City as a comedian. What gave
you the courage to do that?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I feel like, for anyone doing something that they love
doing and definitely taking a chance for themselves doing it, like,
don't ever lose that. So even though I've been doing
comedy for over twenty years, I still treat this day
like I did day one. What made me think I
could go on stage and make people laugh? I don't know,
(06:54):
just a feeling instinct, whatever it is. And so I'm
just like, why stop taking answers because honestly, we really
aren't promised tomorrow. I don't care how many Instagram quotes
you have to read to feel better about yourself for
cutting those like toxic family members off, that's great. But also,
like bet On, you believe in you and do something
fun and scary because you will be stronger for it
(07:15):
and you'll be smarter for it. Like if it didn't
work out, it would have been a huge learning curve.
But I was just like, ooh, we gotta try a
bet On Black lol.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yes, yes, okay. So coming from Jersey as a Jersey girl,
was baby Michelle dying to perform at Radio City? Was
this always the goal or performing at a venue like that?
Speaker 4 (07:37):
No, the goal was go to Radio City to see
the Nutcracker with my mom. Don't lose her hand, don't
get lost, you know, wait patiently in line for the bathroom,
Like no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
No, When did you first know you were funny?
Speaker 4 (07:56):
I don't know, you know you make your friends laugh
high school. But you know, I am the only child
and I went to like a lot of different schools,
and I have a lot of different types of family. Yeah,
my family is Jamaican and Haitian and they've married all over.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
It's always that thing where it's like a quick and.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Hot, fast greeting where you kind of have to make
yourself at home no matter where you go because you
can't wait on people to do that for you.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
So I feel like that's really helped me and served
me in comedy. But in terms of being funny, like
I was just you know, working in production and trying
to make people like what they did and you know,
trying to make them look good. And I'm like, God,
you guys are just like basic bitches. Why do I
have to teach you, you know, to be passionate about something.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
So I was just like, let me just go and do.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
This because I was kind of just cracking everybody up,
and I'm like, it's not that hard.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
But I'm realizing it's not that hard. I feel like
actually funny, right right?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
No, Yeah, you have to be born with some natural talent,
you know what I mean. I can remember, so I
was an only child too. Michelle and I remember growing
up always being surrounded by adults and also having to
We moved around a lot, so I found myself having
to assimilate into different sort of cultural situations. And I
found that humor became this lifeline for me. If I
(09:13):
could crack a joke, then that maybe that was a
way to get in with a group of friends.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Yeah, and also to get in with people, but also
make people just relax, you.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Know, yeah, yeah, totally, Okay. I want to sneak peek
into what the holidays at your house look like, because,
like you said, you are the daughter of Jamaican and
Haitian immigrants. What do we got Do we got some
sorrel cake? What are some of the what are some
of the delectable items on the menu this year?
Speaker 4 (09:43):
My mom always sends a fruitcake for sure, like just
a very dark, heavy rum. Is there a green fruit
in there? Or is it someone's booger? I don't know,
but I think the main main is stewing. We're just
gonna stew some stuff. You know, before it was oxtail,
but we're trying to be healthy, so we'll like brown
(10:03):
and is dow some chicken but for the most part.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Yeah, uh, it's wine. It's just wine.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
It's a lot of secret ingredient. It's for me, yes, wine. Yeah,
it's fun though. There's nothing better than like having a
house full of like Christmas likes and like food roasting
and cooking.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
It's like great.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
And my husband's Dutch, so we'll get a little like
fond or whatever country Holland has colonized.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
We'll have a little appetizer from there, Indonesia or something.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
You know, it goes what's up surnum woo whooa.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Oh my gosh. I want to go back to your
special Michelle. You said something that I thought was so interesting.
You said you didn't find your voice until you were thirty. Yeah,
in my thirties. Yeah, your in your thirties. Yeah, what
changed then? What changed with that decade?
Speaker 4 (10:57):
I think it's like one of those things where people like,
when you're forty, you.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Don't give a shit.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, And I feel like that's kind of what happened
in my thirties, definitely for work and for relationship, to
just advocating for myself, just being okay with telling people
that's not okay, you know, not being so hot headed.
It sounds kind of, you know, corny, but really looking
(11:26):
at things from a holistic standpoint, like I feel really
shitty when I'm around you, And that could be for
a date, that could be with family members, that could
be with a comedy show that everyone thinks I should
be doing, or you know, a festival. And so I
just kind of really saved myself by saying no. And
(11:47):
then when people had some shit to say, it's like, oh,
if you want to go, we can go.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Like I do stand up.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Like I have a sharp tongue, I can hurt your
feelings but also make you laugh about it. That's the
fucking gift of stand up. So if you want to go,
we can go. But I'm not trying to start from
that place. I don't want to feel like I have
road rage all the time because then I'm like giving
people my energy and they don't deserve it.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
That process of getting honest with yourself is so powerful.
It's something that just started doing. It's revolutionary being like
I want this thing I want the way did you
decide to do it? I think I think reading. I've
been reading some books from like a female perspective about
desire and rage and want and how these are emotions
that we tend to just tamp down as women. Yeah,
(12:31):
so I'm trying to navigate, like, Okay, how do I
unleash all of these and embody these in a healthy
and positive way, you know, but also honest with myself.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Yeah, that's the most important. That's the most important.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
It's powerful if you can like figure out when and
where and how to use it, It's powerful.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
How has motherhood helped you become more honest? I find
that for a lot of mothers, we've gained so much
perspective and we care so much less about the things
that we used to care about. Do you feel that way?
Speaker 4 (13:08):
I feel like I care more about other things now,
which is so weird and wild.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
To like really pinpoint.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
It's really hard to pinpoint where I am and who
I am and what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
When I've never done it before.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
So I'm just like, you know, it's like when I'm
in those meetings and people are like, do you have
any questions?
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Like, I don't know what to ask.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
I've never been here before, but like, yeah, like I
my friend Jodan Carlos once told me, like, when you
become a parent, you have to pare it yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Oh, yes, it's so true.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Yeah, I didn't know what he meant.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
I thought he meant like, figure out your hangovers. But
it's like, how are you going to react in these situations?
How are you going to advocate for them? And it
could be with anything. It could be with that kid
at the slide that's not sharing the slide. It could
be with the pediatrician. It could be with the teacher
where you don't like their tone, it could be truly
with it could be with yourself, right, and so like,
(14:06):
it's changed me in a way where I'm definitely more
responsible about my health for sure, because I want to
be here as long as possible. You know, these cute
little souls, they're so good and fun and pure and
they have curly hair, and so I need to be
around to do that.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yes, you do. As mom of a curly headed child.
I agree. I felt so seen by the way that
you talk about parenting and your special fun.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
How old are you guys?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
They are three and four.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I have two little boys, my yeah. Do they share
a room?
Speaker 1 (14:39):
They do share a room? Yeah? And you have two
five year old twins yeah? Yeah, okay, so I have
to ask you about this one dynamic that you pointed out.
You say that your son is on the quieter side,
but you've got a sassy daughter. Yeah, and your daughter
brings out that black mom sassiness in you.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
She sure do.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I am trying to figure out, like how do I
how do I conscious parent while also like taming that
nineties black mom that raised me that just like comes out.
It's a lot.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It's a lot. Let her say, let her cook, let
her say, let her cook.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Like picking the moment is important too, because this morning
I was getting the kids breakfast and lunch together before school,
and I let them watch the tablet while like they
breakfast and I comb their hair and stuff, and it
just it sound as different and you have to really
watch what they're watching.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
I and they found a video.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
I don't know how they found YouTube number one, but
they found a video about like somebody like shooting Peppa Pig, and.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
It was like it was just like a weird I
was just like, what is this?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
And then I just like really lost my shit, but
like in the best way possible. Mama far came out
and I was just like, we don't do guns. Guns
is not part of this house. Guns are dangerous, they
are violent.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You don't know what violent is. Al r, let's get
into it. Aggressive.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
You know, aggressive is okay, and you like use examples
and like, my guns are an absolute no. And even
people who say they know how to use a gun
sometimes don't. And so like, you know, you pick and
choose those moments where I'm like, look me in the
eye and tell me that you understand what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
You say yes, mama. And if someone says that they
have a gun at home or like their dad's got
a gun and they want to you tell me first yes.
And so I really kind of fucked their morning up.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
They were like in such a bad mood getting in
the van, but I was like, shut it down.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
You know, there's there's so so many types of moments
in situations.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
It's hard, like you know, in public and oh well,
parenting in public is so rough.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
It's not okay.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
I'd rather I would rather get a perhaps your in
Times Square at five am.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
That'd be more productive for society than parenting. And I'm like,
oh my god, oh so true.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
How do you and your husband navigate parenting? Do you do?
You each have different parenting philosophies like is one of
you the disciplinary and one of you is a little
more lenient.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Yeah, we're so different, and it like about different things too,
Like my dad was very strict at the dinner table
with like manners, and you know, it's.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Like and so like I would like sometimes go to
bed with like no.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Dinner, and I'm like, I don't want to build anxiety
around food, you know. Yeah, but that's like that's like
such a thing, and everybody has a different relationship around
food and like, and so that's just like one of
the many examples. But you know, again, like you parent yourself,
and so we're like parenting to get there together.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah. I was always like how did Sunny even share
work together?
Speaker 4 (17:47):
But it was probably like easier doing something on stage
together than it was like parenting.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
That's that's for sure. That's what nobody ever tells you
that parenting is the hardest job. Maybe people do tell
us that we just don't listen. We just do it.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Yeah, because it's like you're dammed if you do, you
damn if you don't. It's always right, is always wrong.
It's just like oh he cares, Oh he cares too much.
Oh he doesn't care at all. It's like, oh my,
like the what is it?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
It's yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
I think it's very rare to be on the same
page about everything that's wild.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
It doesn't happen. I don't think. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
I don't think it does. And if you do, then
your edible is real good.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
The key is disassociation.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Don't ask me to spell it, but I love it.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
It's time for another quick break. We'll be right back
with Michelle Buteau. And we're back with Michelle bute Michelle,
I am. I'm just so happy for you. You seem
like you are really loving the work that you're doing,
(18:55):
loving your life. Like you just seem your passion and
your or enthusiasm for your work it just jumps off
the screen. You have started in dozens of films and
TV shows over the course of your career, but season
two of your show, Survival of the Thickest Oh my God,
is dropping next year. Season two's are not guaranteed in
(19:17):
this business anymore. What did it take to make season
two a reality?
Speaker 4 (19:21):
I mean again, it's just like just the unbridled like
joy and love and passion and making sure that you
kind of like leave it all on the field like
no matter what, like even getting season one done, and
then also out not promise, so like don't do things.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
For other people.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I mean, yes, you like work with producers and it
is like a wedding sometimes SCOOPEI has to say, right,
but definitely always put your voice to your stake in
there and just switch at the fuck up. You don't
have to do what everybody else is doing, and that's
how you stand out, honestly. So for me, it was
just inclusion because the hilarity is always like gonna be
there because the bitch is funny. But you know, I
w I wanted to reflect my New York and then
(20:03):
also diversity behind the camera, and so we had all
female camera ops. We had all female directors this season,
all female directors again of color. We made sure to
put those casting announcements out with trans mask, non binary,
queer questioning, you know, all of those fucking things. And
(20:23):
it's like fucking beautiful because we have Peppermint, who's a
beautiful black female transactor.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
And it's so dope because.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Then then when you hire a black trans woman, you
get to have a stand in a body double, right,
and then you get to hire like an up and
coming black transactress and you're like, Yeah, this is what
the world should fucking be. So this is the future,
so get into it.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Well, you mentioned that you've gone to great lengths to
really make the show distinct and stand out, and I
truly think you have. And one of the ways that
I think survival of this I guess really stands out
from a shows in the space is the honesty. It's
just so real, like you're not afraid to show the mess.
And I know that the show is based on your
(21:09):
book of essays, was there a particular scene that pleasantly
surprised you when it came to life, Like you were like,
oh my gosh, that came out way better than I
ever could have imagined.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
I mean, there's so many catching somebody cheating and like
having a full on like don't go Jersey on a
bitch and getting to do your own stunts a la
Tom Cruise, Like.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
But is there any other option then going all Jersey
in that moment? I think that was the only choice.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
No, there's so many Jersey moments where I'm just like,
just back up and let me do my saying, Like
when I told the director that I wanted to wall
to work for rialsies. She was like, we should get
somebody to do it for you. I'm like, no, just
figure out your camera angles. We get three tries otherwise
I start getting dizzy. I've done the research in college,
and let me just like shake my footy and I
mean also getting gum on like someone's dick in the
(21:59):
back of a taxis.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
It's like just to like even watch it, like come
to life.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
It's just like seriously and serious and the best way possible.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
It does feel like in early Quansa.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Every day.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
I love it. I'm so proud.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
And that's the thing too, Like sometimes the best thing
is just to do it, Like who cares if it's
like gonna work or not.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Like sometimes it's just about getting it done.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Yeah, because a lot of times that fear stands in
the way of actually just getting it out there. Okay.
I saw on Instagram that you reposted an article oh no,
that was titled Young, Fat and Gifted, which celebrated the
progression of plus sized black women on screen. And when
I saw this, it reminded me of our recent conversation
that we had with Natasha Rothwell. And I feel like you,
(22:43):
you two, and so many other women in this industry
behind the scenes as well, are leading this revolution that
is really redefining.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
So what characters look like on screen? Do you feel
a sense of camaraderie with other black female creators, like
a Natasha Rothwell for example, Oh, my.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
God, of course.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
I mean of course, because we kind of started around
the same time. And so there's like this moment, you
know when you used to audition in person like before
COVID for pilot season, and we would always go in
for the sidekick me Natasha, Nicole Bayer, Dulce Sloan, I'm
forgetting a bunch of other bitches. But it's just like
(23:26):
beautiful bucks and bitches, and we're just all there in
the room.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
It was really.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Interesting because I think we all realize that we are
only in competition with ourselves because whoever makes it, we
know that you were like paving the way for all
of us, Like you are making us like like some
sort of like proven entity, right, Like we're so much
more than just a sidekick, and we're gonna like make
your script better and help people feel seen. It's that
(23:50):
thing where and I'm so fucking tired of it. But
it's that thing where you do take the chances because
you don't know when you'll have this chance again, and
because you know that someone your size or your shade
shouldn't be the number one of the call sheet because
we haven't seen it.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
And so I think it's one of those things.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Where it's like, well, I've been jumping a lot, and
now I'm gonna jump even higher and kick that door open,
but also leave it the fuck open for everybody behind us,
because no more, no more of that. That's insane and
it's bigger than just like numbers and advertising and making money.
It's like people need to feel whole, they need to
(24:33):
feel entertained and educated, but.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Also like fucking seen and beautiful. Beautiful.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
People need to feel beautiful, and so like that's the honey, hush.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Well, you do look so beautiful on that show. I
was watching it with my cousin and I was like,
she looks so good in every frame, like the glam
the word break it.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
I'll take it, because you know, half the time the
makeup artists are just like, can we put more makeup
on you?
Speaker 3 (24:57):
I'm like no, what, No, this is what it looks like,
can we reframe your double chin? No, this is what
it looks like.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
People are asking you to do that.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
They are because they're so used to actresses saying hide this,
hide that, get this side in my face, shoot from here.
I need more makeup. I'm waking up, but I need lashes.
And it's just like or we could just be.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Ourselves, which is Mavis's whole point in the show, Like
that is her mo. She wants to help women embrace
their size and not.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Hide from it.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yes, we're in alignment. Were everybody? Yeah, everybody is in alignment.
I love it. I'm sure you get so many women
who come up to you on the street and men too,
and people of other genders who come up to you
on the street and are so moved by your work.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
That's got to be so gratifying.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
It is.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
It really is everything because it's for the people.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Who need it, and then when they get it, you're like,
oh shit, this is great. Even and speaking at the
Black Queer Summit last year for GLAD, there was a
gaggle of non binary twenty somethings and cute little lesbian
is with mohawks and stuff. Yeah, all away from Kenyon
talking about the show, and I was like, what, I
(26:15):
don't even talked to people from Queens.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yeah, from Kenya. What is that flight like?
Speaker 4 (26:21):
But it's really wonderful, you know, and the reach that
you have the platform should only excite you, it shouldn't
limit you.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Okay, your special comes out on the last day of
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
I'm kind of a.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Big New Year's reset person. I don't know if you
are too, So I have some questions for you as
we look ahead into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Oh my god, come on, Barbara, Well just let's go.
Let's go. Welcome to a view.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Let's go starting off, what are some of the truths
or mantras that get you through life's transitions like a
new year? Oh my goodness, upgrade, always upgrade, Like you know,
I'm looking for new dishes, and I'm like, do I
go to many seats with the Monday sale? No?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Oh girl, you've dumb.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Macis go somewhere else because something that looks like it
was made out of clay or something.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
The point is, yes, I think it's like a great
combination of like what's that song like make new friends
but keep the old. Yes, whatever you really love and
you're attached to keep it if it works for you.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Yeah, I don't know, new friends person at this point
in your life or are you open if the feel
is right, if the vibe is right, Yeah, you're you're mad.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
But like also, like you know, these kids have playdates
and stuff.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
So I'm mindfully demurely.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Doing the best that can with what I've been given
because it's twits now.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
It's twits.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yes, that's so true. And they got different sets of friends,
but they're the same age yea yes, and not all
those play dates are fun. It's it's no, it's like
a shashido pepper. It's like one in ten is fun, some.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Like day, some like day. Yes, So it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Okay, do you have any rituals that you'll be doing
to ring in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
I feel the need to do new so new sheets,
new towels, new dishes, new forks. I feel like even
eating in restaurants, especially in airports, like these forks there's
like energy on them. I don't know how they've been washed,
but so many metals have been on them that I'm
just like, So I feel like the kids will be
(28:31):
turning six in January.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Let's do something new for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
So I don't even remember the question, but that's what
I'm going to be doing.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
No, I'm getting a clear message. You need new dishes
and you need I hope, I hope your husband knows. Michelle,
thank you so much for coming on the bright Side.
Is that it?
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Oh my god, it was so fun.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Thank you for making the side bright.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Michelle Buteau is an actor and comedian. Her Netflix special
Buteauful Mind, is out December thirty. First, that's it for
today's show. Tomorrow, we're joined by actor Justine Loop to
talk about her success in some of the buzziest shows
of the last five years, including the fan favorite Nobody
(29:20):
Wants This and Succession. Join the conversation using hashtag the
bright Side and connect with us on social media at
Hello Sunshine on Instagram and at the bright Side Pod
on TikTok oh, and feel free to tag us at
Simone Boyce and at Danielle Robe.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Listen and follow the bright Side on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
See you tomorrow, folks. Keep looking on the bright side.
Hey fam, Hello Sunshine.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Coming up today on the bright Side, comedian Michelle Buteau
is with us, and she's not just making us laugh,
she's making stand up her story. It's Monday, December sixteenth.
I'm Danielle Robe and.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
I'm Simone Boyce and this is the bright Side from
Hello Sunshine, a daily show where we come together to
share women's stories, laugh, learn and brighten your day. On
my Mind Monday is brought to you by Missus Meyers
Clean Day inspired by the goodness of the garden. All right,
it's Monday, Danielle. What's on your mind?
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Okay, I'm thinking about something that came across my Instagram page.
Actually from organizational psychologist Adam grant So. In his recent post,
he wrote, the test of a relationship is not how
much you enjoy each other's highs, it's how well you
support each other's lows. It's really easy to get along
on a good day, right, But care is showing up
on a hard day. And the most reliable people in
(00:58):
your life are the ones who step up when you're down.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Ooh, yeah, that's truer than true. Is there a specific
moment or story that comes to mind when you think
about friendship during tribulation.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yes, you know this is interesting for me because I
have had really good friends disappoint me during hard times
and acquaintances really step up. And I don't necessarily blame
people because I think not everybody is skilled in tough moments,
and so I wasn't so upset at the friend, but
(01:34):
I have never forgotten the acquaintances who stepped up, and
that changed everything for me. When I went through a
really hard breakup years ago, I had a friend named
Lauren Gallo who's just kind of an acquaintance at the time,
and she would text me every single week saying, hey, Bunny,
I'm thinking about you, like just little love notes, and
(01:55):
for her to care that much went such a long way.
I don't know if she knew how much it meant
to me, and it changed the way I show up
for people during hard times.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Bear with me here. I think this is going to
sound weird, but let me explain. I think there is
some truth to the idea that misery loves company, And
when I think about when I have felt most supported
by my friends, it's when we're both experiencing something really
tough together and we can like find camaraderie and support
(02:24):
in that, oh for sure. You know so I think
you can. You can find it in unexpected ways. And
when I think about supporting each other through lows, I
think about the camaraderie that I have with the women
who became mothers around the same time as me, Like
that is a bond that is truly unbreakable.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Yeah, you know, I'm thinking about this sentiment, especially as
we're in the throes of the holidays, because undoubtedly we're
all going to experience some highs and lows, and instead
of living in those, I'm wondering if we can carry
this idea in our back pocket and think, hmm, maybe
some of these challenge jing moments are going to bring
us closer together.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Well, I've got a friend who definitely knows how to
bring us all together. I'm talking about comedian Michelle Buteau. Yes,
the Michelle Buteau who created the show Survival of the
Thickest on Netflix, which is renewed for season two. She
also starred in the movie Babes alongside bright Side bestie
Alana Glazer. And you may know Michelle as the narrator
(03:22):
of the Circle. Well with her new stand up special
she is making history as the first woman to ever
record a comedy special at Radio City Music Hall in
New York. Danielle, of course, you know that we missed
you for this interview, but I think you're going to
enjoy this conversation too. We got to talk about embracing
your thirties and beyond, some of the unexpected challenges of parenting,
(03:44):
plus what's in store for Michelle in twenty twenty five.
I can't wait to listen Simon after the break my
conversation with Michelle Buteaux. Stay with us.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Thanks to our partners at missus Myers. When it comes
to cleaning, it's more fun if it smells like the garden.
Missus Meyers collection of household products Smell, grate and pack
a punch against dirt and grime. Visit missus Meyers dot com.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Michelle Viuteaux, Welcome to the bright Side.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Oh my god, thank you like in more than one way,
I hope.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Oh yes, oh yes, We're gonna keep it bright. Maybe
a little spicy, but we gonna keep it bright today. Yeah, yes, yes, Michelle.
I knew I was gonna laugh whenever I watched your
special abuteauful mind. Yes, However, I wasn't expecting to cry,
and that's exactly what happened. When you walk out on
stage to this standing ovation. I saw tears in your eyes.
(04:45):
And the reason was you were performing at Radio City
Music Hall, which is herstory. You made herstory. You're the
first woman to shoot a comedy special at Radio City.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Yeah. So crazy.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
In comedians, when we like do our special, it it's
sort of like a wedding because you have an idea
as a baby comedian what it would look like, you
know what I mean, and you kind of do what
everybody else is doing.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You're like, I need a maroon.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Curtain and like a four tiered you know, audience like theater,
so I can look up and they're laughing.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
But the more you do comedy, you're like.
Speaker 4 (05:20):
Oh, okay, I can do my own thing and that's okay.
And so the one thing I always love with the
special is a really good material, duh. But b like,
just I wanted to feel like a New York City
night out. And so because Netflix has such a crazy platform,
you know, the reach is far and mind I'm like,
(05:40):
what about those people in one of those like one
hundred and ninety countries that Netflix is in that's going
to watch this special and be like I can't go
to New York for whatever reason, but I feel like
I'm there, and that's what I wanted. I had no
idea it would be Radio City Music Hall, And I
always ask whenever I rent an apartment, I'm like, has
anyone died here? And anytime and anytime I do like
(06:01):
I look at like a venue for a comedy special,
I'm like, what other female comedians have performed here?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Because you just want to know, you know, And when
the booker told me no one, I was like, oh man,
I gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Well, I'm glad you brought that up. Just the significance
of performing at Radio City, the fact that you were
the first female comedian to shoot a special there, because
a lot of probably a lot of our listeners don't
realize that you actually have to bet on yourself to
even perform at Radio City as a comedian. What gave
you the courage to do that?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I feel like, for anyone doing something that they love
doing and definitely taking a chance for themselves doing it, like,
don't ever lose that. So even though I've been doing
comedy for over twenty years, I still treat this day
like I did day one. What made me think I
could go on stage and make people laugh? I don't know,
(06:54):
just a feeling instinct, whatever it is. And so I'm
just like, why stop taking answers because honestly, we really
aren't promised tomorrow. I don't care how many Instagram quotes
you have to read to feel better about yourself for
cutting those like toxic family members off, that's great. But also,
like bet On, you believe in you and do something
fun and scary because you will be stronger for it
(07:15):
and you'll be smarter for it. Like if it didn't
work out, it would have been a huge learning curve.
But I was just like, ooh, we gotta try a
bet On Black lol.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yes, yes, okay. So coming from Jersey as a Jersey girl,
was baby Michelle dying to perform at Radio City? Was
this always the goal or performing at a venue like that?
Speaker 4 (07:37):
No, the goal was go to Radio City to see
the Nutcracker with my mom. Don't lose her hand, don't
get lost, you know, wait patiently in line for the bathroom,
Like no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
No, When did you first know you were funny?
Speaker 4 (07:56):
I don't know, you know you make your friends laugh
high school. But you know, I am the only child
and I went to like a lot of different schools,
and I have a lot of different types of family. Yeah,
my family is Jamaican and Haitian and they've married all over.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
It's always that thing where it's like a quick and.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Hot, fast greeting where you kind of have to make
yourself at home no matter where you go because you
can't wait on people to do that for you.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
So I feel like that's really helped me and served
me in comedy. But in terms of being funny, like
I was just you know, working in production and trying
to make people like what they did and you know,
trying to make them look good. And I'm like, God,
you guys are just like basic bitches. Why do I
have to teach you, you know, to be passionate about something.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
So I was just like, let me just go and do.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
This because I was kind of just cracking everybody up,
and I'm like, it's not that hard.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
But I'm realizing it's not that hard. I feel like
actually funny, right right?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
No, Yeah, you have to be born with some natural talent,
you know what I mean. I can remember, so I
was an only child too. Michelle and I remember growing
up always being surrounded by adults and also having to
We moved around a lot, so I found myself having
to assimilate into different sort of cultural situations. And I
found that humor became this lifeline for me. If I
(09:13):
could crack a joke, then that maybe that was a
way to get in with a group of friends.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Yeah, and also to get in with people, but also
make people just relax, you.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Know, yeah, yeah, totally, Okay. I want to sneak peek
into what the holidays at your house look like, because,
like you said, you are the daughter of Jamaican and
Haitian immigrants. What do we got Do we got some
sorrel cake? What are some of the what are some
of the delectable items on the menu this year?
Speaker 4 (09:43):
My mom always sends a fruitcake for sure, like just
a very dark, heavy rum. Is there a green fruit
in there? Or is it someone's booger? I don't know,
but I think the main main is stewing. We're just
gonna stew some stuff. You know, before it was oxtail,
but we're trying to be healthy, so we'll like brown
(10:03):
and is dow some chicken but for the most part.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Yeah, uh, it's wine. It's just wine.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
It's a lot of secret ingredient. It's for me, yes, wine. Yeah,
it's fun though. There's nothing better than like having a
house full of like Christmas likes and like food roasting
and cooking.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
It's like great.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
And my husband's Dutch, so we'll get a little like
fond or whatever country Holland has colonized.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
We'll have a little appetizer from there, Indonesia or something.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
You know, it goes what's up surnum woo whooa.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Oh my gosh. I want to go back to your
special Michelle. You said something that I thought was so interesting.
You said you didn't find your voice until you were thirty. Yeah,
in my thirties. Yeah, your in your thirties. Yeah, what
changed then? What changed with that decade?
Speaker 4 (10:57):
I think it's like one of those things where people like,
when you're forty, you.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Don't give a shit.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Yeah, And I feel like that's kind of what happened
in my thirties, definitely for work and for relationship, to
just advocating for myself, just being okay with telling people
that's not okay, you know, not being so hot headed.
It sounds kind of, you know, corny, but really looking
(11:26):
at things from a holistic standpoint, like I feel really
shitty when I'm around you, And that could be for
a date, that could be with family members, that could
be with a comedy show that everyone thinks I should
be doing, or you know, a festival. And so I
just kind of really saved myself by saying no. And
(11:47):
then when people had some shit to say, it's like, oh,
if you want to go, we can go.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Like I do stand up.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Like I have a sharp tongue, I can hurt your
feelings but also make you laugh about it. That's the
fucking gift of stand up. So if you want to go,
we can go. But I'm not trying to start from
that place. I don't want to feel like I have
road rage all the time because then I'm like giving
people my energy and they don't deserve it.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
That process of getting honest with yourself is so powerful.
It's something that just started doing. It's revolutionary being like
I want this thing I want the way did you
decide to do it? I think I think reading. I've
been reading some books from like a female perspective about
desire and rage and want and how these are emotions
that we tend to just tamp down as women. Yeah,
(12:31):
so I'm trying to navigate, like, Okay, how do I
unleash all of these and embody these in a healthy
and positive way, you know, but also honest with myself.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Yeah, that's the most important. That's the most important.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
It's powerful if you can like figure out when and
where and how to use it, It's powerful.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
How has motherhood helped you become more honest? I find
that for a lot of mothers, we've gained so much
perspective and we care so much less about the things
that we used to care about. Do you feel that way?
Speaker 4 (13:08):
I feel like I care more about other things now,
which is so weird and wild.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
To like really pinpoint.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
It's really hard to pinpoint where I am and who
I am and what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
When I've never done it before.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
So I'm just like, you know, it's like when I'm
in those meetings and people are like, do you have
any questions?
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Like, I don't know what to ask.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
I've never been here before, but like, yeah, like I
my friend Jodan Carlos once told me, like, when you
become a parent, you have to pare it yourself.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Oh, yes, it's so true.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Yeah, I didn't know what he meant.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
I thought he meant like, figure out your hangovers. But
it's like, how are you going to react in these situations?
How are you going to advocate for them? And it
could be with anything. It could be with that kid
at the slide that's not sharing the slide. It could
be with the pediatrician. It could be with the teacher
where you don't like their tone, it could be truly
with it could be with yourself, right, and so like,
(14:06):
it's changed me in a way where I'm definitely more
responsible about my health for sure, because I want to
be here as long as possible. You know, these cute
little souls, they're so good and fun and pure and
they have curly hair, and so I need to be
around to do that.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Yes, you do. As mom of a curly headed child.
I agree. I felt so seen by the way that
you talk about parenting and your special fun.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
How old are you guys?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
They are three and four.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
I have two little boys, my yeah. Do they share
a room?
Speaker 1 (14:39):
They do share a room? Yeah? And you have two
five year old twins yeah? Yeah, okay, so I have
to ask you about this one dynamic that you pointed out.
You say that your son is on the quieter side,
but you've got a sassy daughter. Yeah, and your daughter
brings out that black mom sassiness in you.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
She sure do.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
I am trying to figure out, like how do I
how do I conscious parent while also like taming that
nineties black mom that raised me that just like comes out.
It's a lot.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
It's a lot. Let her say, let her cook, let
her say, let her cook.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Like picking the moment is important too, because this morning
I was getting the kids breakfast and lunch together before school,
and I let them watch the tablet while like they
breakfast and I comb their hair and stuff, and it
just it sound as different and you have to really
watch what they're watching.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
I and they found a video.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
I don't know how they found YouTube number one, but
they found a video about like somebody like shooting Peppa Pig, and.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
It was like it was just like a weird I
was just like, what is this?
Speaker 4 (15:49):
And then I just like really lost my shit, but
like in the best way possible. Mama far came out
and I was just like, we don't do guns. Guns
is not part of this house. Guns are dangerous, they
are violent.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You don't know what violent is. Al r, let's get
into it. Aggressive.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
You know, aggressive is okay, and you like use examples
and like, my guns are an absolute no. And even
people who say they know how to use a gun
sometimes don't. And so like, you know, you pick and
choose those moments where I'm like, look me in the
eye and tell me that you understand what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
You say yes, mama. And if someone says that they
have a gun at home or like their dad's got
a gun and they want to you tell me first yes.
And so I really kind of fucked their morning up.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
They were like in such a bad mood getting in
the van, but I was like, shut it down.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
You know, there's there's so so many types of moments
in situations.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
It's hard, like you know, in public and oh well,
parenting in public is so rough.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
It's not okay.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
I'd rather I would rather get a perhaps your in
Times Square at five am.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
That'd be more productive for society than parenting. And I'm like,
oh my god, oh so true.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
How do you and your husband navigate parenting? Do you do?
You each have different parenting philosophies like is one of
you the disciplinary and one of you is a little
more lenient.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
Yeah, we're so different, and it like about different things too,
Like my dad was very strict at the dinner table
with like manners, and you know, it's.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Like and so like I would like sometimes go to
bed with like no.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Dinner, and I'm like, I don't want to build anxiety
around food, you know. Yeah, but that's like that's like
such a thing, and everybody has a different relationship around
food and like, and so that's just like one of
the many examples. But you know, again, like you parent yourself,
and so we're like parenting to get there together.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Yeah. I was always like how did Sunny even share
work together?
Speaker 4 (17:47):
But it was probably like easier doing something on stage
together than it was like parenting.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
That's that's for sure. That's what nobody ever tells you
that parenting is the hardest job. Maybe people do tell
us that we just don't listen. We just do it.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
Yeah, because it's like you're dammed if you do, you
damn if you don't. It's always right, is always wrong.
It's just like oh he cares, Oh he cares too much.
Oh he doesn't care at all. It's like, oh my,
like the what is it?
Speaker 3 (18:07):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
It's yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
I think it's very rare to be on the same
page about everything that's wild.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
It doesn't happen. I don't think. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
I don't think it does. And if you do, then
your edible is real good.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
The key is disassociation.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
Don't ask me to spell it, but I love it.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
It's time for another quick break. We'll be right back
with Michelle Buteau. And we're back with Michelle bute Michelle,
I am. I'm just so happy for you. You seem
like you are really loving the work that you're doing,
(18:55):
loving your life. Like you just seem your passion and
your or enthusiasm for your work it just jumps off
the screen. You have started in dozens of films and
TV shows over the course of your career, but season
two of your show, Survival of the Thickest Oh my God,
is dropping next year. Season two's are not guaranteed in
(19:17):
this business anymore. What did it take to make season
two a reality?
Speaker 4 (19:21):
I mean again, it's just like just the unbridled like
joy and love and passion and making sure that you
kind of like leave it all on the field like
no matter what, like even getting season one done, and
then also out not promise, so like don't do things.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
For other people.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I mean, yes, you like work with producers and it
is like a wedding sometimes SCOOPEI has to say, right,
but definitely always put your voice to your stake in
there and just switch at the fuck up. You don't
have to do what everybody else is doing, and that's
how you stand out, honestly. So for me, it was
just inclusion because the hilarity is always like gonna be
there because the bitch is funny. But you know, I
w I wanted to reflect my New York and then
(20:03):
also diversity behind the camera, and so we had all
female camera ops. We had all female directors this season,
all female directors again of color. We made sure to
put those casting announcements out with trans mask, non binary,
queer questioning, you know, all of those fucking things. And
(20:23):
it's like fucking beautiful because we have Peppermint, who's a
beautiful black female transactor.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
And it's so dope because.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Then then when you hire a black trans woman, you
get to have a stand in a body double, right,
and then you get to hire like an up and
coming black transactress and you're like, Yeah, this is what
the world should fucking be. So this is the future,
so get into it.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Well, you mentioned that you've gone to great lengths to
really make the show distinct and stand out, and I
truly think you have. And one of the ways that
I think survival of this I guess really stands out
from a shows in the space is the honesty. It's
just so real, like you're not afraid to show the mess.
And I know that the show is based on your
(21:09):
book of essays, was there a particular scene that pleasantly
surprised you when it came to life, Like you were like,
oh my gosh, that came out way better than I
ever could have imagined.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
I mean, there's so many catching somebody cheating and like
having a full on like don't go Jersey on a
bitch and getting to do your own stunts a la
Tom Cruise, Like.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
But is there any other option then going all Jersey
in that moment? I think that was the only choice.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
No, there's so many Jersey moments where I'm just like,
just back up and let me do my saying, Like
when I told the director that I wanted to wall
to work for rialsies. She was like, we should get
somebody to do it for you. I'm like, no, just
figure out your camera angles. We get three tries otherwise
I start getting dizzy. I've done the research in college,
and let me just like shake my footy and I
mean also getting gum on like someone's dick in the
(21:59):
back of a taxis.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
It's like just to like even watch it, like come
to life.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
It's just like seriously and serious and the best way possible.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
It does feel like in early Quansa.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Every day.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
I love it. I'm so proud.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
And that's the thing too, Like sometimes the best thing
is just to do it, Like who cares if it's
like gonna work or not.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
Like sometimes it's just about getting it done.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Yeah, because a lot of times that fear stands in
the way of actually just getting it out there. Okay.
I saw on Instagram that you reposted an article oh no,
that was titled Young, Fat and Gifted, which celebrated the
progression of plus sized black women on screen. And when
I saw this, it reminded me of our recent conversation
that we had with Natasha Rothwell. And I feel like you,
(22:43):
you two, and so many other women in this industry
behind the scenes as well, are leading this revolution that
is really redefining.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
That's great.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
So what characters look like on screen? Do you feel
a sense of camaraderie with other black female creators, like
a Natasha Rothwell for example, Oh, my.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
God, of course.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
I mean of course, because we kind of started around
the same time. And so there's like this moment, you
know when you used to audition in person like before
COVID for pilot season, and we would always go in
for the sidekick me Natasha, Nicole Bayer, Dulce Sloan, I'm
forgetting a bunch of other bitches. But it's just like
(23:26):
beautiful bucks and bitches, and we're just all there in
the room.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
It was really.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
Interesting because I think we all realize that we are
only in competition with ourselves because whoever makes it, we
know that you were like paving the way for all
of us, Like you are making us like like some
sort of like proven entity, right, Like we're so much
more than just a sidekick, and we're gonna like make
your script better and help people feel seen. It's that
(23:50):
thing where and I'm so fucking tired of it. But
it's that thing where you do take the chances because
you don't know when you'll have this chance again, and
because you know that someone your size or your shade
shouldn't be the number one of the call sheet because
we haven't seen it.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
And so I think it's one of those things.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Where it's like, well, I've been jumping a lot, and
now I'm gonna jump even higher and kick that door open,
but also leave it the fuck open for everybody behind us,
because no more, no more of that. That's insane and
it's bigger than just like numbers and advertising and making money.
It's like people need to feel whole, they need to
(24:33):
feel entertained and educated, but.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Also like fucking seen and beautiful. Beautiful.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
People need to feel beautiful, and so like that's the honey, hush.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Well, you do look so beautiful on that show. I
was watching it with my cousin and I was like,
she looks so good in every frame, like the glam
the word break it.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
I'll take it, because you know, half the time the
makeup artists are just like, can we put more makeup
on you?
Speaker 3 (24:57):
I'm like no, what, No, this is what it looks like,
can we reframe your double chin? No, this is what
it looks like.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
People are asking you to do that.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
They are because they're so used to actresses saying hide this,
hide that, get this side in my face, shoot from here.
I need more makeup. I'm waking up, but I need lashes.
And it's just like or we could just be.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Ourselves, which is Mavis's whole point in the show, Like
that is her mo. She wants to help women embrace
their size and not.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Hide from it.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yes, we're in alignment. Were everybody? Yeah, everybody is in alignment.
I love it. I'm sure you get so many women
who come up to you on the street and men too,
and people of other genders who come up to you
on the street and are so moved by your work.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
That's got to be so gratifying.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
It is.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
It really is everything because it's for the people.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
Who need it, and then when they get it, you're like,
oh shit, this is great. Even and speaking at the
Black Queer Summit last year for GLAD, there was a
gaggle of non binary twenty somethings and cute little lesbian
is with mohawks and stuff. Yeah, all away from Kenyon
talking about the show, and I was like, what, I
(26:15):
don't even talked to people from Queens.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yeah, from Kenya. What is that flight like?
Speaker 4 (26:21):
But it's really wonderful, you know, and the reach that
you have the platform should only excite you, it shouldn't
limit you.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Okay, your special comes out on the last day of
twenty twenty four.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
I'm kind of a.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Big New Year's reset person. I don't know if you
are too, So I have some questions for you as
we look ahead into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Oh my god, come on, Barbara, Well just let's go.
Let's go. Welcome to a view.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
Let's go starting off, what are some of the truths
or mantras that get you through life's transitions like a
new year? Oh my goodness, upgrade, always upgrade, Like you know,
I'm looking for new dishes, and I'm like, do I
go to many seats with the Monday sale? No?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Oh girl, you've dumb.
Speaker 4 (27:01):
Macis go somewhere else because something that looks like it
was made out of clay or something.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (27:06):
The point is, yes, I think it's like a great
combination of like what's that song like make new friends
but keep the old. Yes, whatever you really love and
you're attached to keep it if it works for you.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Yeah, I don't know, new friends person at this point
in your life or are you open if the feel
is right, if the vibe is right, Yeah, you're you're mad.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (27:30):
But like also, like you know, these kids have playdates
and stuff.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
So I'm mindfully demurely.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
Doing the best that can with what I've been given
because it's twits now.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
It's twits.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yes, that's so true. And they got different sets of friends,
but they're the same age yea yes, and not all
those play dates are fun. It's it's no, it's like
a shashido pepper. It's like one in ten is fun, some.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Like day, some like day. Yes, So it's interesting.
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Okay, do you have any rituals that you'll be doing
to ring in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
I feel the need to do new so new sheets,
new towels, new dishes, new forks. I feel like even
eating in restaurants, especially in airports, like these forks there's
like energy on them. I don't know how they've been washed,
but so many metals have been on them that I'm
just like, So I feel like the kids will be
(28:31):
turning six in January.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Let's do something new for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
So I don't even remember the question, but that's what
I'm going to be doing.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
No, I'm getting a clear message. You need new dishes
and you need I hope, I hope your husband knows. Michelle,
thank you so much for coming on the bright Side.
Is that it?
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Oh my god, it was so fun.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
Thank you for making the side bright.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Michelle Buteau is an actor and comedian. Her Netflix special
Buteauful Mind, is out December thirty. First, that's it for
today's show. Tomorrow, we're joined by actor Justine Loop to
talk about her success in some of the buzziest shows
of the last five years, including the fan favorite Nobody
(29:20):
Wants This and Succession. Join the conversation using hashtag the
bright Side and connect with us on social media at
Hello Sunshine on Instagram and at the bright Side Pod
on TikTok oh, and feel free to tag us at
Simone Boyce and at Danielle Robe.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
Listen and follow the bright Side on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
See you tomorrow, folks. Keep looking on the bright side.
Host
Simone Boyce
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