Survival Of The Thickest

Summary

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Episode Summary – "Survival Of The Thickest"

Introduction to "Survival of the Thickest"

In this engaging encore episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, host Aisha Harris and her panel delve into the delightful comedy series Survival of the Thickest. The show, co-created by and starring comedian Michelle Buteau, follows Mavis Beaumont (Buteau), an aspiring stylist navigating the tumultuous waters of her personal and professional life after a sudden breakup. Joined by her best friends Marlee (Tasha Smith) and Khalil (Tone Bell), Mavis embarks on a journey of self-discovery, career advancement, and personal reinvention. The panel, featuring podcast producer and film critic Kate Young, NPR contributor Serena Toros, and journalist Trevel Anderson, offers a thorough exploration of the series' themes, character development, and cultural significance.

Character Development and Authentic Representation

Michelle Buteau opens the discussion by highlighting her passion for showcasing career-driven narratives, stating, “[...] we get a chance to, like, see that, like, when you're starting something kind of new, you've got this potential connection that you could exploit, but, like, you don't really want to because it makes it kind of, you know, messy” (04:17). This focus on professional growth sets Survival of the Thickest apart from typical relationship-centric comedies, providing a nuanced portrayal of ambition and resilience.

The panel praises Buteau’s portrayal of Mavis, emphasizing the authenticity and depth she brings to the character. Trevel Anderson comments, “their chemistry is like popping off the screen” (07:25), highlighting the dynamic interactions between Mavis and Natasha Karina (Garcelle Beauvais). The inclusion of well-known Black actresses like Tasha Smith and Garcelle Beauvais adds layers of representation, enriching the show's narrative tapestry.

Addressing Fatphobia and Body Positivity

A significant portion of the discussion centers on how Survival of the Thickest handles themes of fatphobia and body positivity. The panel lauds the show for its progressive approach, where Mavis does not dwell on her own insecurities but instead focuses on empowering her clients. Serena Toros articulates this sentiment:

“[...] instead of leaning on the easy, like, body positive, like, we all want to love ourselves thing, she's very specifically trying to help her clients feel at home in their bodies. [...] It's not about how you feel about it, it's about the wider world and how it treats fat people.” (10:20)

Michelle Buteau draws parallels to the film Fat Girls, noting:

“[...] there are so many other body types as well that are being kind of uplifted and centered from fatter bodies to, you know, trans bodies and queer bodies, etc.” (11:47)

This approach not only challenges societal norms but also fosters a more inclusive and realistic representation of diverse body types in media.

Memorable Scenes and Dialogue

The panel highlights several standout moments that showcase the show's sharp writing and comedic timing. Kate Young shares a favorite scene involving a "dog wedding," illustrating the playful banter and genuine chemistry between characters:

Michelle Buteau: "Kristen. Karina."

Kate Young: "Kristen. Your dog. Her dog. Kristen. Hi." (06:40)

Such interactions highlight the show's ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments, making the characters relatable and endearing.

Another notable example is the "drumstick special" metaphor, which Serena Toros finds both funny and character-revealing:

Serena Toros: "It's my drumstick emoji physique. It's meaty on top, nubby on the bottom. Very delicious." (08:44)

These specific and quirky dialogues not only enhance character depth but also add a unique flavor to the show's narrative style.

Sex-Positive and Authentic Storytelling

Trevel Anderson applauds the series for its sex-positive narrative, emphasizing the respectful and realistic depiction of Mavis's romantic life. He notes:

“[...] the camera didn't shy away from, like, showing Michelle Buteau, you know, getting groped, getting loved on, like, showing her, like, under the sheet, showing her in, like, undressed in lingerie.” (12:44)

This authenticity extends to the show's handling of relationships, avoiding clichéd love triangles and allowing each character to pursue their own path. Serena Toros appreciates this approach, stating:

“We got to see her have all of these really charming, lovely moments. [...] she was able to fairly early on find someone who was interested in her and interested in investing in her.” (14:12)

Cultural and Social Commentary

The setting of Survival of the Thickest in diverse New York neighborhoods, such as Crown Heights and Harlem, adds another layer of cultural richness. Trevel Anderson comments on the realism of character lifestyles within these locales, while also noting humorous inconsistencies, like Khalil’s ability to afford transportation after late nights out.

Additionally, the show addresses social issues through its characters' interactions and personal growth. For instance, the dynamic between Mavis and her roommate Jade (Liza Trager) serves as a microcosm for boundary-setting and personal space, reflecting broader societal themes.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The panel unanimously recommends Survival of the Thickest for its heartfelt storytelling, authentic representation, and comedic brilliance. Michelle Buteau's personal experiences, such as her relationship with her husband, enrich the narrative, bringing genuine emotion and relatability to the screen. The show's vibrant wardrobe, sex-positive themes, and strong character development make it a standout series worth watching.

As Kate Young aptly summarizes, “We all really, really dug this show,” encapsulating the panel’s enthusiastic endorsement. Whether you're a fan of nuanced comedies or seeking diverse and empowering narratives, Survival of the Thickest offers a refreshing and engaging viewing experience.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Michelle Buteau: “We want to focus on the trials and tribulations of love, I suppose.” (04:17)
• Michelle Buteau: “When they said, what in the brown titty TED Talk is going on?” (08:32)
• Serena Toros: “[...] she's very specifically trying to help her clients feel at home in their bodies.” (10:20)
• Michelle Buteau: “There are so many other body types as well that are being kind of uplifted and centered from fatter bodies to, you know, trans bodies and queer bodies, etc.” (11:47)
• Trevel Anderson: “Their chemistry is like popping off the screen.” (07:25)
• Serena Toros: “We got to see her have all of these really charming, lovely moments.” (14:12)

About the Contributors

• Kate Young: Podcast producer and film and culture critic.
• Serena Toros: NPR contributor with a focus on cultural analysis.
• Trevel Anderson: Journalist and author of We See each A Black Trans Journey Through TV and Film.
• Michelle Buteau: Comedian and co-creator/star of Survival of the Thickest.

For those interested in exploring Survival of the Thickest, the series is currently streaming on Netflix. To share your thoughts or join the conversation, visit facebook.com/PCHH.

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This summary was crafted based on the transcript provided for "Survival Of The Thickest" episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, released on April 1, 2025.

Transcript

[Aisha Harris]

This message comes from NPR sponsor FX presenting Dying for Sex, a new series starring Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, Jay Duplass and Sissy Spacek. FX's Dying for Sex all episodes streaming April 4th on Hulu.

[Kate Young]

A warning this episode contains explicit language. The delightful comedy series Survival of the Thickest is about an up and coming stylist whose professional and personal ambitions go sideways when she finds herself newly single. With the help of her best friend, she recalibrates her life and steps outside her comfort zone to varying results. It stars the charming comedian Michelle Buteau, who also co created the series. The show just returned for a second season, so we thought it was the perfect time to revisit our conversation about the series. I'm Aisha Harris, and in this encore episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, we're talking about Survival of the Thickest.

[Sarah Levy]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Betterment, the automated investing and savings app. CEO Sarah Levy shares how Betterment utilizes tech tools powered by human advice.

[Kate Young]

Betterment is here to help customers build wealth their way and we provide powerful technology and complete human support where technology can deliver ease of use and affordability and the people behind that technology can provide advice and guidance.

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Learn [e-mail] investing involves risk performance not.

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Guaranteed this message comes from Discover. Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the last 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide and every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the Now It Pays to Discover. Learn more at discover.com credit card Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report, this message comes from Amica Insurance. As Amica says, empathy is our best policy. Whether you're seeking auto, home or life coverage, they'll work with you to choose the policy that best serves you and your family. Discover how Amica can help protect what matters most to you today. Go to amica.com and get a quote today.

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[Kate Young]

Joining me today is podcast producer and film and culture critic Kate Young. Welcome back, Kate.

[Serena Toros]

Hi. Happy to be here.

[Kate Young]

Also with us is NPR contributor Serena Toros. Hey, Serena.

[Trevel Anderson]

Hey, Aisha.

[Kate Young]

And rounding out the panel is journalist and author of We See each A Black Trans Journey Through TV and Film, Trevel Anderson. Hey, Trevel.

[Michelle Buteau]

Hello.

[Kate Young]

So Survival of the Thickest stars Michelle Buteau as Mavis Beaumont, an assistant stylist on the cusp of her big break. Her longtime boyfriend Jacques, played by Taylor Soleil, is an established fashion photographer helping her make the right connections in the industry. He's also cheating on Mavis as she discovers to her horror. And now in her late 30s, she has to start all over, find a new place to live and a new way to rise within the ranks of her career. Now, for emotional support and sound advice, Mavis leans on her best friends Marlee and Khalil, played by Tasha Smith and Tone Bell. And she manages to land a gig styling Natasha Karina, an older and severely prickly ex supermodel played by Garcelle Beauvais. Michelle Buteau created the series alongside Daniel Sanchez Witzel, who previously produced shows like New Girl and My Name Is Earl and Survival of the Thickest is streaming on Netflix now. So we all really, really dug this show. Trevel, why don't you kick us off?

[Michelle Buteau]

Yeah. You know, I've always been one of those girls who, like, cares a little bit less about the relationship stuff, and I'm like, how was work? You know, like, how are you navigating the corporate ladder? You know, that side of so many of these characters aren't often. It's just not often explored in any sort of depth because, you know, we want. I guess we want to focus on the trials and tribulations of love, I suppose.

[Kate Young]

Yeah.

[Michelle Buteau]

But I've just always found the career stuff more interesting. So I love that we get a chance to, like, see that, like, when you're starting something kind of new, you've got this potential connection that you could exploit, but, like, you don't really want to because it makes it kind of, you know, messy. And. And I love that, you know, the show also allows. My favorite part about the show. Okay. Is, you know, we've got some black famous people, especially Tasha Smith, Right.

[Kate Young]

Yes.

[Michelle Buteau]

Garcelle Beauvais before she was a real housewife of Beverly Hills. Okay. We knew her as Fancy on the Jamie Foxx show.

[Kate Young]

Jamie Foxx, Yes. Yes.

[Michelle Buteau]

So I love that as well.

[Kate Young]

Yeah. Yeah. I actually want to play one of my favorite moments from the show. Cause you mentioned Garcelle Beauvais, and I've never watched the Red House Rides franchise, so she. That's not how I know her. But like, yes, don't worry about it. I know, I know. But on the Jamie Fox show, you know, she was really, really fantastic. And I think her character, to me is just so interesting because. And I would even love to see if there were a second season even more of her and her journey, because she was a famous supermodel in the 90s. And when we think of 90s supermodels, we think Raelfin, the Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss type. And now she's. And her body is no longer what it used to be. And so I think the way the show really kind of plays with her own insecurities of being older and also trying to move in and understand her body as it is now and love her body as it is now is really interesting. But the part that I wanna play involves her character and Mavis talking about a dog wedding. It's great. And I just wanna play this part because it's just this great example of how the banter on the show often kind of ping pong in a way that feels fun. And Michelle Buteau's face also, which you can't see, but, like, just imagine you're seeing it when you hear this clip.

[Michelle Buteau]

Kristen. Karina.

[Kate Young]

Kristen. Your dog. Her dog. Your dog. Kristen. Hi.

[Serena Toros]

Is getting married. She's getting married.

[Kate Young]

To whom? Tudy D'Lane. Okay. Tootie Delane. And Tootie Delaney is also a dog. I just love the way, like, you see Mavis processing this and just speaking it aloud and saying it multiple ways. I just think that's kind of the beauty in many ways of Michelle Buteau and how she carries it and also how, you know, Garcelle Beauvais really commits to this role and she's completely serious about this dog and thinks that, you know, Mavis should also be excited about it. I don't know, it's just one of those things that I think was really fun.

[Michelle Buteau]

Yeah, it feels very real in that way. Like, I feel like I would have that react to somebody telling me that they dog's about to go get married, you know, and so it just feels like, oh, this is my homegirl. Who? Somebody I know in a very real way. And I think that, like, makes it an even more enjoyable experience.

[Trevel Anderson]

Yeah, I think the line reading is kind of so fantastic. And like, their chemistry is like popping off the screen. And one of My favorite kind of subplots is the way that Marley, who is like, the best friend. This, like, high powered. Is she like, a lawyer? She's kind of like somebody corporate.

[Serena Toros]

Exactly.

[Kate Young]

I couldn't tell what she was, but she's giving. You know, CEO.

[Trevel Anderson]

She's wearing suits. I love it.

[Kate Young]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Trevel Anderson]

And her. Her other childhood best friend Khalil, who is more of, like, the artsy type, are initially at odds and slowly kind of like, making their way towards each other and developing their own dynamic. And I just felt like they played that beautifully. And I just love the way the dialogue just feels so lived in and feels so fresh and so present and, like, it's jumping off the screen.

[Michelle Buteau]

Can I tell y'all my favorite line real quick?

[Serena Toros]

Yes.

[Kate Young]

Yes.

[Michelle Buteau]

When they said, what in the brown titty TED Talk is going on?

[Kate Young]

I love it.

[Michelle Buteau]

I was like, yes, absolutely.

[Kate Young]

That's her catchphrase. I feel like I love it.

[Serena Toros]

There's a bit, I think, in one of the early scenes where she says something like, oh, it's the drumstick special.

[Kate Young]

And the camera loves you.

[Serena Toros]

Is that right? Well, it must be my drumstick emoji physique. It's meaty on top, nubby on the bottom. Very delicious.

[Michelle Buteau]

That's what it is.

[Serena Toros]

And I thought that was so funny because it's the kind of, like, very specific, you know, metaphor slash imagery that would never occur to me. And it was really funny. And I think there's a lot of that in the show where it's extremely specific, it's really, really funny, and it takes you in a direction where you understand specifically who this character is, because a lot of it is that she's, like, she's really smart, she's really quick, she's really clever. She's always ready with a cute comment. And that's something that's hard to do. So I really appreciate that. And I thought it was really, really cute. And it was one of the things that immediately kind of indifferent to me.

[Kate Young]

Yeah. I'm curious what you all think about. You know, we've mentioned a few lines, and the drumstick line is also a great visual. How does that. The show talks about or confronts fatphobia, and those sorts of things land for you? Because I think it could have been very easy for this show to lean on Mavis feeling insecure about her body, but, like, she doesn't. And I think kind of the genius of this is the fact that her job is to be a stylist. And one of the things that she wants to do is Help other people who might feel more insecure about these things feel better about themselves. Does that land for you or feel true or interesting at all?

[Serena Toros]

100%. I think one of the things that really stuck out to me is precisely that, you know, I don't think there is any mention at any point in the series that she is self conscious about her body or that she has a problem with it or anyway. Or that she ever did have a problem with it, to be honest. And what I like about how it treats this is that instead of leaning on the easy, like, body positive, like, we all want to love ourselves thing, she's very specifically trying to help her clients feel at home in their bodies. And it's much more about feeling okay about what they look like and feeling okay about what their bodies feel like. And I thought that was really, really interesting because I think with the body positive movement we've had over the last decade or so, it's gotten really easy to rely on, you know, pat catchphrases or whatever about loving yourself. And you can't love yourself into being part of the dominant body aesthetic. Like, it's not about how you feel about it, it's about the wider world and how it treats fat people. And I think this really captures that really, really well. And I think that by having Mavis not have those issues with her body, you end up dispensing with all of that back and forth. And we get to focus on what her like actual philosophy is in terms of dressing her clients and making them feel good.

[Michelle Buteau]

It reminds me of Monique's movie Fat Girls, if anyone has ever seen that. Right. You know, okay, great, love. I'm among family. Love that for me. But it has a lot of those, like, similar vibes where it's like, you know, it's a fat black woman who loves who she is. The only people who really kind have an issue with her body are like, it's the outside world. Right? Like, there's a joke at the top of the show in which she's like, you know, he's cheating on me with like a skinnier version of me. It's a light skinned girl with curly hair or whatever. But I think it has that similar through line and it allows us as an audience to see a fat person on tv. And also. Right. There are so many other body types as well that are being kind of uplifted and centered from fatter bodies to, you know, trans bodies and queer bodies, et cetera. Yeah.

[Trevel Anderson]

I love also that this is a sex positive show and that like, the camera didn't shy away from, like, showing Michelle Buteau, you know, getting groped, getting loved on, like, showing her, like, under the sheet, showing her in, like, undressed in lingerie. Like, I loved that they didn't have her in makeup for a lot of the scenes when she was at home. I thought that was such a great detail.

[Kate Young]

Her skin, my goodness. Like, whatever the regimen is.

[Serena Toros]

She mentions the freckles at one point, too, and I'm like, yes, 100%.

[Trevel Anderson]

I also. I loved how I saw that Netflix budget went towards the costuming and the wardrobe, and I feel like, you know, her message of confidence is, like, embedded in the clothing, too. I feel like the wardrobe was so colorful, so beautiful. It didn't feel like she was trying to style people to, like, settle into what was available on, like, the market. She was really making people, like, beautiful and fun, and I feel like the clothing was so. So vibrant, and I feel like it really just kind of, like, tied it all together for me.

[Kate Young]

Yeah. Nicole Byer pops up at one point, which I love seeing fat Livia garn. Her and Michelle Buteau have perfect, perfect chemistry. And at one point, I think she's. She wants, like, sexy lingerie or whatever. And I was looking at the lingerie, and I was like, that's cute. We're always getting put in a Christmas.

[Serena Toros]

Red or, like, a clinical beige. But this beige girl, I don't know her. I am a walking, talking bag of Skittles.

[Kate Young]

And, you know, I had to put.

[Serena Toros]

That in my line.

[Kate Young]

I love that. Yeah. It's such a fun show to look at and to just taken. And one other thing I want to note is that I was very happy to see that. You know, Serena, you mentioned earlier the budding friendship between Khalil and Marlee, but it doesn't ever tilt into, like, will they or won't they? Like, there's no sort of triangle happening within this new friend group. I was like, good, you all have your own things happening.

[Serena Toros]

And I thought there would be, to be honest.

[Kate Young]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's such a trope, right? Like, that is often how things work out, and I'm glad that it kind of avoids that. And each character kind of has their own journey while still just managing to be friends without all the sex stuff, because that's life. Yes. Yes. We can be friends and not have the sex stuff there.

[Serena Toros]

Yeah. And we were talking earlier about the balance between, you know, the work stuff and the love stuff. And I think one of the, like, overall things about the series that really impressed me is simply that we got to have a really beautiful romantic story for a flat girl on tv. Like, I think that she manages to become not quite the usual rom com heroine in the sense that we've evolved from that a little bit. But, you know, she gets broken up with on that same night, like she's finding someone new. She does not have any problems finding people to date. It's never presented as though she would ever have a problem finding someone to date. And I really appreciated that because we. We got to see her have all of these really charming, lovely moments. I mean, I swooned multiple times in the scenes with Luca. I mean, it's just they were adorable together and they had great chemistry. And I loved that she was able to fairly early on find someone who was interested in her and interested in investing in her. And I feel like that that's just not a story that you tend to get for black women, especially fat black women.

[Kate Young]

And I think that is partially based on her own Michelle Biteau's own life. Her husband was from another country and he was, like, visiting New York City. And so similar to the Luca character who's played by Marwan Zotti. It's got a similar vibe from my understanding of how she met her husband in real life, which I think is really. It's kind of cool. It's cute and it shows. Yes. Like, she has found happiness in her own life, and I think that helps to be able to create something like this. Even though Mavis is clearly going through a lot of her own thing, she understands that there can be and should be a happy ending for people who look like her.

[Trevel Anderson]

Can we talk about the setting? I feel like my favorite New York trope is friends who live like 90 minutes away from each other on the train, meeting up all the time.

[Kate Young]

Seriously.

[Trevel Anderson]

I think she's in Crown Heights and it's like, very obvious that Khalil is in Harlem. And I was like, oh, my God, there's no way that Khalil can afford a taxi uptown after spending a night out at a drag club. It's so funny to me.

[Kate Young]

He said, like, he teaches art classes. He's not. He's not rolling in town.

[Serena Toros]

He's not quite ballin'speaking. Of tropes, actually, I was really entertained by her roommate and the kind of over familiar white woman that we tend to see a lot.

[Kate Young]

Yeah, that dynamic between the roommate Jade, played by Liza Trager, and Mavis, is really, really funny and fascinating.

[Serena Toros]

I personally, there's a lot of it that I was like, girl, please try again. But I also really appreciated that towards the end of the series, they give her a moment where she's allowed to be right. She comes in and Mavis finds one of her friends, like, sleeping in her bed, which is obviously quite obsessing and would freak me out too. But when she comes out to confront her roommate, she basically says, like, where else is he supposed to go? Your things are everywhere. You've taken over all of the public spaces and you're very adamant that I not touch or move anything. And I started off that scene on Mavis side, and by the time it ended, I was like, you know what? That is on you. That's a very inconsiderate thing to do. You moved in with her and you've taken over her space and it isn't fair and she's allowed to want that kind of boundary. You're very insistent about your own boundaries, but you're not respecting hers, even as.

[Michelle Buteau]

She has cornrows, you know, and, oh.

[Trevel Anderson]

My God, rubbing olive oil all over herself. I love the way that Mavis was allowed to mess up and be wrong and that we weren't always supposed to take her side and that we were just kind of like, watching her journey, like, evolving, finding her footing, getting back on her feet. I loved that.

[Kate Young]

Well, it sounds like we all would highly recommend this show if you haven't checked it out already. And if you have, you need to let us know what you think about survival of the thickest. Find [e-mail] PCHH that brings us to the end of our show. Thank you so much to Kate Young, Serena Toros, and Trevel Anderson for being here. This was fun. I enjoyed it.

[Serena Toros]

Absolutely.

[Michelle Buteau]

Thank you, Aisha.

[Trevel Anderson]

Thank you, guys.

[Kate Young]

This episode was produced by Romel Wood and edited by Jessica Reedy. Research was performed by Susie Cummings and Christopher Intagliotti. And hello. Kamin provides our theme music. Thank you for listening to Pop Culture Happy Hour from npr. I'm Aisha Harris and we'll see you all tomorrow.

[Sarah Levy]

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