The comedy series Survival of the Thickest, created by Michelle Buteau (Babes, The Circle) and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (The Carmichael Show), hasn’t just survived, but thrived — and a new trailer from the long-awaited Season 2, set to debut March 27, finds Mavis Beaumont (played by Buteau) and crew back and better than ever. Check it out above,
The ensemble cast of Buteau, Tone Bell, Tasha Smith, Marouane Zotti, Peppermint, Garcelle Beauvais, Anthony Michael Lopez, and Liza Treyger return, along with new guest stars Anderson .Paak, Deon Cole, Tika Sumpter, Monét X Change, Honey Balenciaga, Sandra Bernhard, and Bevy Smith.
Survival of the Thickest is a story only Buteau can tell. Inspired by her acclaimed book of essays of the same name, the first season’s eight episodes followed Mavis, a stylist whose life is blown up after she catches her partner (Taylor Selé) in bed with another woman.
We’re just along for the ride as Mavis, with the help of her besties, picks up the pieces (including plenty of pieces of big-budget designer swag) and hustles to rebuild her career on her own terms, while also creating opportunities for folks who’ve been overlooked by the fashion world for too long, and getting back out there in the terrifying dating scene. Scroll through some images from Season 2 to check in on our girl and her friends.
In a hilarious and honest interview with Tudum, Buteau previously described the series as “my love letter to New York. It’s my love letter to all the fatty baddies, oddie bodies, and beautiful-ass freaks that I’ve met growing up there.”
Before stepping into her main character energy in Survival of the Thickest, Buteau was already all over our screens, hosting The Circle and Barbecue Showdown as well as her own comedy specials Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia and Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall — both of which are available on Netflix — and stealing scenes in a plethora of rom-com supporting roles.
In the Season 1 finale, Mavis turned down photographer ex-boyfriend Jacque when he came crawling back to her, and instead flew out to Italy in a sweeping, grand gesture to try to win the heart of the sweet and supportive Luca (Zotti).
In Season 2, Smith gets a glow-up from a recurring character to a series regular and will direct two episodes. Directors for the season also include Kim Nguyen (Prom Dates, Never Have I Ever), Thembi Banks (Young. Wild. Free., Insecure), and Amy Aniobi (Insecure, 2 Dope Queens), who serves as showrunner alongside Sanchez-Witzel. Buteau, Sanchez-Witzel, Aniobi, Grace Edwards, Anne Hong (Mosaic), Ravi Nandan, and Alli Reich (A24) executive produce, with Solomon Georgio, Ian Edwards, and April Korto Quioh co-executive producing.
Keep coming back to Tudum for more Season 2 updates — we can’t wait to see how it all turns out — and stream Season 1 now.
