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Michelle Buteau Is Always A Delight
Always funny. Always full of heart.
I will watch/read/listen to anything that Michelle Buteau is involved with. And I would love to tell you when and how that came to be but while writing this I’ve racked my brain for what I first saw her in that made her a must-watch for me but I keep drawing a blank, as if she’s always existed as a delightful person I am drawn to.
What I am certain of are my favorite things she’s done, so if you’ve missed any of these I highly recommend getting to them sooner than later.
After listening to Michelle Buteau on Wild Card with Rachel Martin I immediately went to watch her new standup special. In the worst possible way I cannot believe that Michelle Buteau is the first woman comedian to record a live special at Radio City Music Hall. Everyone out here talking about how feminism has gone too far can punt themselves into the sun, please and thank you.
Anyways, I was deeply laughing with the first story she tells and howling by the time she got to a punching vagina story (not a standup to watch with young kids around) where she easily demonstrates how comedy is not meant to punch down. The entire show radiates with her joy for life, smart mouth, facial expressions, the audience clearly loved her, and I love a comic that cracks themselves up.
Netflix hasn’t put out a lot of original rom-coms that have been huge hits for me but the few that I’ve loved have gone into my multiple-watch rotation, which includes Always Be My Maybe. Everyone in this is great including Buteau playing Ali Wong’s assistant. Even in a smaller role it’s obvious that Buteau has great comedy timing and full use of every muscle in her face for the perfect reaction. (I especially recommend this film if you like ridiculous songs that are actually catchy.)
Buteau’s memoir in essays shows her range: not only does she excel at storytelling and cracking jokes, but she has the kind of heart the world needs more of. She’s also able to open up about difficult life challenges, like infertility, with grace and levity. Bonus: Buteau narrates the audiobook!
And she very deservingly got a series based off of her memoir. This is an excellent comedy series for anyone who is a fan of women living in a big city trying to date, forge friendships, establish a career, and survive—all while being hot messes. It’s deeply funny and with a big heart—noticing a theme for all of her work?!—and there is a second season coming!
Loosely based on the 90’s film The First Wives Club you follow three friends who lost touch and are now reconnecting as all their lives and careers are in very different places. The show keeps you on your toes moving from absolute ridiculousness to making you tear up and back again. And as an added bonus Jill Scott is outstanding in this. The only negative is you’re gonna want to be IRL friends with fictional characters.
Babes (Hulu)
How much did I mean that Michelle Buteau is my must-watch? I think pregnancy is a body horror and do not go out of my way to watch things with it as a focus and yet here I am recommending a pregnancy comedy that I watched, and enjoyed, because of Michelle Buteau. It’s once again something to watch that is full of laughs, heart, and the messy moments of life.
I will say that as much as she plays a great best friend I really hope that the Radio City Music Hall special finally propels her into leading lady land in more work than just Survival of the Thickest. Give her a romcom to star in! Give her ‘90s Julia Roberts work!
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