2023 Netflix series Survival of the Thickest, starring stand-up comedian and actress Michelle Buteau, is adapted from Buteau’s autobiographical book of essays of the same title.
The 2020 Simon & Schuster publication, Survival of the Thickest, is a comedic and detailed take on Buteau’s life up to that point in her own voice, which serves as the jumping-off point for the series. There’s bits and pieces, large passages, and whole experiences from the book that run all through the show’s eight episodes, so feel free to go read that, too (Spoiler alert: The bubblegum encounter in the show’s episode three really happened!).
Primarily, the TV series is about the ups and downs of Buteau’s 38-year-old Mavis Beaumont, living in present-day New York City, whose fabulous fashion stylist career and accompanying love life with a fashion photographer are turned completely upside down before the opening credits. Her two best friends, art teacher Khalil (portrayed by Tone Bell), and corporate ballbuster Marley (portrayed by Tasha Smith), help Mavis in various ways to move on from the life she thought would be living with her former fiancé, Jacque (portrayed by Taylor Selé), and to decide the best ways to handle the new challenges she now faces. The circle of her new life is complete once she makes herself at home at CC Bloom’s, a drag nightclub in her new neighborhood, and makes friends with drag queen Peppermint—portrayed by Miss Peppermint herself!—who has Mavis style the house queens as well as clues her in to the open position of stylist to haughty former haute couture supermodel, Natasha Karina (portrayed by Garcelle Beauvais).
While Mavis copes with her quirky new roommate, Jade (portrayed by Liza Treyger), and relishes her new single life by diving head-first into one-night stands, including with Luca (portrayed by Marouane Zotti), don’t think that Khalil and Marley are just sitting on the sidelines. The two have their own fresh challenges to overcome and growing to do, and we get to see them fully do that, along with their own supporting characters.
We meet Mavis’s churchgoing mother, Loretta (portrayed by Monnae Michaell), and later Mavis’s supportive father, Emmanuel (portrayed by Clifton Davis), who both, in well-meaning ways, think she should go back to Jacque.
Don’t blink or you will miss the other famous faces who appear throughout the series—although Nicole Byer blasts onto the scene playing herself!–including Michelle Visage, and standup comedians Sarah Cooper and Joyelle Nicole Johnson (previously profiled in our very pages).
With its rap music cues, adult sexual relations and ensuing (or not) relationships, artistic flourishes, casual use of weed and constant use of cell phones, an arguably more accurate depiction of the race and gender identity diversity found there (in comparison to other TV shows), Buteau’s intentional emphasis on accepting fuller bodies as beautiful, and sheer audacity, Survival of the Thickest resides in a contemporary, quick-witted, and inclusive New York City. There’s a viral Instagram video, complete with hashtag and dance remix, from a funeral. You also have a front row seat at a top-of-the-line, A-list only event being covered by People magazine, a lesbian dog wedding. And fresh off a big girls lingerie launch, CC Bloom’s holds an alternative prom, inviting everyone, with teen attendees styled by Mavis herself.
Say no to the corset. Say yes to the upgrade.
UPDATE!!