September 29, 2020 • 11 mins
My next guest Michelle Buteau is an 18 year veteran in the stand-up comedy game. Michelle is no stranger to Netflix subscribers. The Netflix films "Someone Great" and "Always Be My Maybe," and Netflix series "Russian Doll" and "Tales of the City," and in 2020, she continued appearances included hosting the Netflix reality competition series "The Circle" which is renewed for a second season. She is talented and is starring in her new Netflix stand-up comedy special "Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia".
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to money making conversations. I'm Sean McDonald. I recognize
that we all have different definitions success. For some, it's
a sizeable paycheck. Mine is helping people wake up and
inspiring them to accomplish their goals and live their very
best life. These are my passions and that's what I'm
going to do for you. I want you to stop
tripping over small challenges I really do, and prepare to
rise above the bigger obstacles to life. You will present
(00:21):
to you my next My next guest. She's she's laying
you can't see, but she's like very relaxed. Uh who
was an eighteen year veteran and stand up comedies that
started doing statard back in ninety two death comedy Jawn
BT comed views. So she's talking to a I would
like to say, a guy who knows a little thing
to do but stand up. Look at I couldn't do
(00:42):
it and Michelle was No strangers Netflix subscribers, the Netflix
films Someone Great, Always Be, My Being, Always Be My Maybe,
and Netflix series Rushing and Doll Tales of the City,
and continued appearances including the Hosting and Netflix Where Out
of the Competition series The Circle which is renewed for
(01:03):
a second season. She's talented and she's beautiful, and she's
starting her new Netflix stand up comedy special, Michelle Bauto.
Welcome to Otavia Beutopia. Dad, are you a counting? You
listen all the things like I gotta start bringing W
nine to W tense is interview? Well, you know when
you're busy and you're talented, like you just got renewed
(01:25):
your a BT plus show got renewed. Correct, Yes, Now
I saw the special first. It was first of all,
you know what they do with Netflix. Uh, they sent
me an account of putting my patchword. It was on Saturday,
and I was in my bed and I started watching
and someone when people start making me laugh, I have
to sit up. I'll sit up. And you made me
(01:49):
sit up. And then you made me stand up, Michelle
because I was laughing. And so so first of all,
let me let me lay down. Everybody know about Michelle Hill.
See when when you're really talented comic and she knows this,
you hit turns hit you. If you say it to
a normal street person, they might be offended. They be
offended by but stuff like you silly, you stupid, you're
(02:11):
you crazy? You're out to control your food. See if
a statup comic, who's a real stand up comic, here's
those statements. They know they kicking, but you're funny, you
ought to control You're crazy. Thank you. I appreciate that.
(02:31):
I really really do, and honestly like and you know
this better than like anybody, especially since you've been in
the game for so long. There's always this thing where
people don't think women are funny. It's just like, okay,
And it's sort of like what I was growing up,
and I was the only black kid in um a
few of the schools I went to. My dad was like,
you have to be the best because you're gonna stand
(02:51):
out whether you want it or not. And so, starting
stand up in two thousand one, for the first five
or six years, everywhere I went, I was like the
only female on a show, and it's just like, you
have to be the best. And so I remember Will Sylvans,
a hilariousation American comedian in New York, was like, you know,
it doesn't matter what spot you get on the show.
(03:13):
A lot of people like the third spot, the force
by everyone has their favorite song to go first. He's like,
doesn't matter. Take any spot and make it hard for
someone to follow you. So I was like, bet, and
those are the lessons that I think we need as
comedians or anybody, like walking into a room or like
a zoom meeting or like pitch and stuff. It's like
the question isn't how do I become popular? How do
(03:34):
I get more followers? How do I make money? It's like,
if you are talented, the money will follow. Well, you know, ugree,
because in this business we can't get caught up in
the slot in the show. Well, first of all, if
you can't handle the slot, that slot won't be yours. Yeah,
because everybody in the stand up comedy game is get
(03:55):
gunning for the funny person. And then you're an attractive woman.
You so, And I can say this a lot of
times people will be kind of condescending. Oh he's getting
because she's cute or she last because she's a woman.
So how did you overcome those negatives? Well that's the
thing too, write like I worked all the circuits. I worked, um,
(04:19):
you know, the clubs with like my wife and kids,
sitcom stude, I did the chilling circuit, I did the
gay clubs, and everyone's just like it's a woman, or
well she's like what she gotta say about this experience?
Or she cute? How funny can she be? And that's
the thing that going by to what my dad said,
(04:40):
you know, he also said, never worked for a thank you.
So I said, okay, I'm not gonna work for a
thank you. I'm just to leave it. You're welcome, and
so all that should decided. It doesn't matter how you look,
it's it's what is inside. And so I know that
I have a story in my heart that you won't enjoy,
either you're on board or or not. So yeah, I mean,
I just want to make it. I just want to
(05:01):
make it so hard. I just want to tickle people.
Like you know how you always focus on the one
person that's not laughing. I'm like, I'm here for that person,
you know what I mean. I don't focus on that idiot.
I really don't. You're not gonna bring down my vibe
because but you're right, you can stand the comment is
interesting because you can control the side of a room,
you can put froll the middle, and it's beautiful when
(05:23):
you control the entire room. Yes and so, and the
goal is really the control in any percent of the
room because you're not gonna make everybody laugh. That's just life.
You don't know what's wrong with that person. They might
be having a bad day. I just got robed. Car
might not start and they know when they go outside. Yeah, yea,
you never know. And that's really important lesson to that
(05:45):
we all have to know is that you never know
what someone's going through. I mean, you know what happened
with Chadwick. I'm just like you guys. We have to
be nicer to each other on the internet. Don't come
for someone's looks. You do not know what we are
going through. So that's what I really try to hopefully
I did with the Special two was yeah, it could
be funny, Yeah I got stories. Yeah I'm going through ship.
(06:06):
But at the end of the day, we have to
be kind to each other. Otherwise it's all for not well.
I agree, and she's staying Chadwick Boseman, that's who she's referencing,
and just in somebody's under a rock. Don't know who
who you're talking about, but rock fell on their head. Okay,
now let's say let's talk about your standard specials. It's
own Netflix, Uh start September twenty night, Um, why. First
(06:32):
of all, one of the Pikes, one of my all
time favorite people. She's one of the EPs on her
production company. Tell us about that. Yes, so Wanda owns
Push the Productions UM and she's partners with Paige Horowitz,
who was an amazing producer who did UM last Comic
Standing All the year she did. Tiffany has his special
Fortune Feamsters, and so they're just like a dynamic duo
(06:55):
of just female empowerment who have been in the game
long enough to know how to set you up. UM well.
And you know, I've already been a fan, such a
fan of Wanda for so long because not only is
she funny, she's so smart, she's so intelligent, she's so thoughtful.
So those are the people I want to work with.
(07:16):
And I felt like I was in really good company,
which is great because an our you are leaving yourself
vulnerable to a lot of things and sometimes overwhelming, much
like buying your first car, getting married, people, sometimes praying
your vulnerabilities and just like you should do this because
a lot of people do this. You should do that,
you should get this venue because this is what they do.
And it's like, no, man, these two women were like
(07:36):
what do you want? What? How are we going to
showcase your personality? What is a night out for you?
And it's really nice working with people who understand you
and celebrate you, not tolerate you. And that's important that
you say that. I wanted to talk about the specially
a little bit more detail because of your gifts, your
(07:56):
ability to wait for the moment each to allow that
moment to build. You know, the value of your facial expressions,
the look, the cutting of the eye, that the sneaky grin,
you know, which makes you in wonderful actress too. I
can't act. That's why that's a blessing. It's a blessing
(08:19):
about that ability to wait for the moment. Man, I
think that just comes with time. You know, you don't
know that. You don't know you can do that until
you've tested and tried, test and try. You could do
it in front of your first gig for two thousand,
You could do it at that bar show for ten people.
(08:40):
You know. I think comedy especially, you know, we get
stuck in the script and it's just like, if there's
a side of you that wants to color outside the box,
trust it. It's not gonna work. The first time, but
nobody plays chopin the first time they played piano. You
gotta keep away and figure it out. So I feel
like that efflen comes with time. And also, you know,
(09:03):
comedy being a woman in her forties, like all this
stuff is like I am tired of trying to fit
in someone else's world, Like, come to mind, this is
my world, Utopia. You want to celebrate great you don't.
There's something else for you on Netflix. There's a lot
of ship Go watch your childler show. Welcome to Potopia.
I can. I can only follow that title. What you
(09:24):
just say. Give me a wrap up here, and I
want to wrap up on a hot note with you.
Welcome to Patopia, September twenty night, Netflix, Starwing the Incredible Michelle. Michelle,
I'm gona tell you that when they when they told
me that you had a comedy special, I went, but
I said, not a negative. I didn't know you did
stand up? You know what I'm saying. So so I went,
(09:46):
who are you talking about? You know? First last cli
plays out, so with success can kind of like, Hi,
what God you that? Yeah, it's crazy, And that's also
what people know you from what they don't right, right,
(10:06):
And so to see you doing stand up and I
won't give anybody any secret way. Please watch the opening,
please watch them. But I say, stupid, silly goofy the goofy?
Did you goofy? Goofy is silly? The same thing? So
she double five, double five, double five. But it's a
(10:27):
great special, Michelle. I want to just thank you. Welcome
to allowing me to see you as a stand up
being a guy. You know, I've done def jam bt,
I've done all the comedy special I walked away, and
I've had a successful careers and producer, writer and manager.
And to see a fresh face like yours come on
the comedy scene. I've been fortunate to interview my man
George Lopez when your special air on Netflix. And it's
(10:51):
a great run of a new, fresh female talent casing
itself in this pandemic year of one of them congratul elections.
Thank you, Rashana was so nice to meet you. I
hope to see you and give me a zoomer in
person with a mask who knows when you come down.
Make sure you people let me know. Okay, I got
a big old, beautiful office, love to bring you by.
(11:11):
Were talking live in my studio perfect. Don't give it
so much. I love you. Be strong, Thank you brother. Bye,
Welcome to money making conversations. I'm Sean McDonald. I recognize
that we all have different definitions success. For some, it's
a sizeable paycheck. Mine is helping people wake up and
inspiring them to accomplish their goals and live their very
best life. These are my passions and that's what I'm
going to do for you. I want you to stop
tripping over small challenges I really do, and prepare to
rise above the bigger obstacles to life. You will present
(00:21):
to you my next My next guest. She's she's laying
you can't see, but she's like very relaxed. Uh who
was an eighteen year veteran and stand up comedies that
started doing statard back in ninety two death comedy Jawn
BT comed views. So she's talking to a I would
like to say, a guy who knows a little thing
to do but stand up. Look at I couldn't do
(00:42):
it and Michelle was No strangers Netflix subscribers, the Netflix
films Someone Great, Always Be, My Being, Always Be My Maybe,
and Netflix series Rushing and Doll Tales of the City,
and continued appearances including the Hosting and Netflix Where Out
of the Competition series The Circle which is renewed for
(01:03):
a second season. She's talented and she's beautiful, and she's
starting her new Netflix stand up comedy special, Michelle Bauto.
Welcome to Otavia Beutopia. Dad, are you a counting? You
listen all the things like I gotta start bringing W
nine to W tense is interview? Well, you know when
you're busy and you're talented, like you just got renewed
(01:25):
your a BT plus show got renewed. Correct, Yes, Now
I saw the special first. It was first of all,
you know what they do with Netflix. Uh, they sent
me an account of putting my patchword. It was on Saturday,
and I was in my bed and I started watching
and someone when people start making me laugh, I have
to sit up. I'll sit up. And you made me
(01:49):
sit up. And then you made me stand up, Michelle
because I was laughing. And so so first of all,
let me let me lay down. Everybody know about Michelle Hill.
See when when you're really talented comic and she knows this,
you hit turns hit you. If you say it to
a normal street person, they might be offended. They be
offended by but stuff like you silly, you stupid, you're
(02:11):
you crazy? You're out to control your food. See if
a statup comic, who's a real stand up comic, here's
those statements. They know they kicking, but you're funny, you
ought to control You're crazy. Thank you. I appreciate that.
(02:31):
I really really do, and honestly like and you know
this better than like anybody, especially since you've been in
the game for so long. There's always this thing where
people don't think women are funny. It's just like, okay,
And it's sort of like what I was growing up,
and I was the only black kid in um a
few of the schools I went to. My dad was like,
you have to be the best because you're gonna stand
(02:51):
out whether you want it or not. And so, starting
stand up in two thousand one, for the first five
or six years, everywhere I went, I was like the
only female on a show, and it's just like, you
have to be the best. And so I remember Will Sylvans,
a hilariousation American comedian in New York, was like, you know,
it doesn't matter what spot you get on the show.
(03:13):
A lot of people like the third spot, the force
by everyone has their favorite song to go first. He's like,
doesn't matter. Take any spot and make it hard for
someone to follow you. So I was like, bet, and
those are the lessons that I think we need as
comedians or anybody, like walking into a room or like
a zoom meeting or like pitch and stuff. It's like
the question isn't how do I become popular? How do
(03:34):
I get more followers? How do I make money? It's like,
if you are talented, the money will follow. Well, you know, ugree,
because in this business we can't get caught up in
the slot in the show. Well, first of all, if
you can't handle the slot, that slot won't be yours. Yeah,
because everybody in the stand up comedy game is get
(03:55):
gunning for the funny person. And then you're an attractive woman.
You so, And I can say this a lot of
times people will be kind of condescending. Oh he's getting
because she's cute or she last because she's a woman.
So how did you overcome those negatives? Well that's the
thing too, write like I worked all the circuits. I worked, um,
(04:19):
you know, the clubs with like my wife and kids,
sitcom stude, I did the chilling circuit, I did the
gay clubs, and everyone's just like it's a woman, or
well she's like what she gotta say about this experience?
Or she cute? How funny can she be? And that's
the thing that going by to what my dad said,
(04:40):
you know, he also said, never worked for a thank you.
So I said, okay, I'm not gonna work for a
thank you. I'm just to leave it. You're welcome, and
so all that should decided. It doesn't matter how you look,
it's it's what is inside. And so I know that
I have a story in my heart that you won't enjoy,
either you're on board or or not. So yeah, I mean,
I just want to make it. I just want to
(05:01):
make it so hard. I just want to tickle people.
Like you know how you always focus on the one
person that's not laughing. I'm like, I'm here for that person,
you know what I mean. I don't focus on that idiot.
I really don't. You're not gonna bring down my vibe
because but you're right, you can stand the comment is
interesting because you can control the side of a room,
you can put froll the middle, and it's beautiful when
(05:23):
you control the entire room. Yes and so, and the
goal is really the control in any percent of the
room because you're not gonna make everybody laugh. That's just life.
You don't know what's wrong with that person. They might
be having a bad day. I just got robed. Car
might not start and they know when they go outside. Yeah, yea,
you never know. And that's really important lesson to that
(05:45):
we all have to know is that you never know
what someone's going through. I mean, you know what happened
with Chadwick. I'm just like you guys. We have to
be nicer to each other on the internet. Don't come
for someone's looks. You do not know what we are
going through. So that's what I really try to hopefully
I did with the Special two was yeah, it could
be funny, Yeah I got stories. Yeah I'm going through ship.
(06:06):
But at the end of the day, we have to
be kind to each other. Otherwise it's all for not well.
I agree, and she's staying Chadwick Boseman, that's who she's referencing,
and just in somebody's under a rock. Don't know who
who you're talking about, but rock fell on their head. Okay,
now let's say let's talk about your standard specials. It's
own Netflix, Uh start September twenty night, Um, why. First
(06:32):
of all, one of the Pikes, one of my all
time favorite people. She's one of the EPs on her
production company. Tell us about that. Yes, so Wanda owns
Push the Productions UM and she's partners with Paige Horowitz,
who was an amazing producer who did UM last Comic
Standing All the year she did. Tiffany has his special
Fortune Feamsters, and so they're just like a dynamic duo
(06:55):
of just female empowerment who have been in the game
long enough to know how to set you up. UM well.
And you know, I've already been a fan, such a
fan of Wanda for so long because not only is
she funny, she's so smart, she's so intelligent, she's so thoughtful.
So those are the people I want to work with.
(07:16):
And I felt like I was in really good company,
which is great because an our you are leaving yourself
vulnerable to a lot of things and sometimes overwhelming, much
like buying your first car, getting married, people, sometimes praying
your vulnerabilities and just like you should do this because
a lot of people do this. You should do that,
you should get this venue because this is what they do.
And it's like, no, man, these two women were like
(07:36):
what do you want? What? How are we going to
showcase your personality? What is a night out for you?
And it's really nice working with people who understand you
and celebrate you, not tolerate you. And that's important that
you say that. I wanted to talk about the specially
a little bit more detail because of your gifts, your
(07:56):
ability to wait for the moment each to allow that
moment to build. You know, the value of your facial expressions,
the look, the cutting of the eye, that the sneaky grin,
you know, which makes you in wonderful actress too. I
can't act. That's why that's a blessing. It's a blessing
(08:19):
about that ability to wait for the moment. Man, I
think that just comes with time. You know, you don't
know that. You don't know you can do that until
you've tested and tried, test and try. You could do
it in front of your first gig for two thousand,
You could do it at that bar show for ten people.
(08:40):
You know. I think comedy especially, you know, we get
stuck in the script and it's just like, if there's
a side of you that wants to color outside the box,
trust it. It's not gonna work. The first time, but
nobody plays chopin the first time they played piano. You
gotta keep away and figure it out. So I feel
like that efflen comes with time. And also, you know,
(09:03):
comedy being a woman in her forties, like all this
stuff is like I am tired of trying to fit
in someone else's world, Like, come to mind, this is
my world, Utopia. You want to celebrate great you don't.
There's something else for you on Netflix. There's a lot
of ship Go watch your childler show. Welcome to Potopia.
I can. I can only follow that title. What you
(09:24):
just say. Give me a wrap up here, and I
want to wrap up on a hot note with you.
Welcome to Patopia, September twenty night, Netflix, Starwing the Incredible Michelle. Michelle,
I'm gona tell you that when they when they told
me that you had a comedy special, I went, but
I said, not a negative. I didn't know you did
stand up? You know what I'm saying. So so I went,
(09:46):
who are you talking about? You know? First last cli
plays out, so with success can kind of like, Hi,
what God you that? Yeah, it's crazy, And that's also
what people know you from what they don't right, right,
(10:06):
And so to see you doing stand up and I
won't give anybody any secret way. Please watch the opening,
please watch them. But I say, stupid, silly goofy the goofy?
Did you goofy? Goofy is silly? The same thing? So
she double five, double five, double five. But it's a
(10:27):
great special, Michelle. I want to just thank you. Welcome
to allowing me to see you as a stand up
being a guy. You know, I've done def jam bt,
I've done all the comedy special I walked away, and
I've had a successful careers and producer, writer and manager.
And to see a fresh face like yours come on
the comedy scene. I've been fortunate to interview my man
George Lopez when your special air on Netflix. And it's
(10:51):
a great run of a new, fresh female talent casing
itself in this pandemic year of one of them congratul elections.
Thank you, Rashana was so nice to meet you. I
hope to see you and give me a zoomer in
person with a mask who knows when you come down.
Make sure you people let me know. Okay, I got
a big old, beautiful office, love to bring you by.
(11:11):
Were talking live in my studio perfect. Don't give it
so much. I love you. Be strong, Thank you brother. Bye,
Host
Rushion McDonald
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