Michelle Buteau’s memoir is making its approach to Netflix!
Survival of the Thickest is the newest Netflix dramedy that may certainly be a success with viewers. Sporting a sturdy solid and heartfelt message, it is a sequence you may positively wish to add to your summer season viewing listing.
Starring alongside Buteau is the hilarious and uber-talented Liza Treyger, a lady of many skills, together with comedy, performing, and podcasting.
As down-to-earth because it will get, Treyger is a ray of sunshine, and we had been so glad to talk along with her every week earlier than the sequence’s debut, chatting in regards to the present and her in style podcast, which is simply in regards to the coolest factor you may hear about in the present day.
We couldn’t cease laughing whereas speaking to the pleasant Treyger, so dive in Fanatics and get to know extra about this fabulous woman!
What are you able to inform us about Survival of the Thickest and your character, Jade?
It is a dream half. I have been born to play a kooky aspect character in a present my complete life. So, I play a nightmare from hell that turns into possibly extra likable than you would like her to be. However Michelle’s story is a few lady with a dream.
She catches her dumb boyfriend dishonest on her, and he or she has to start out over and discover the ability inside herself with out this boyfriend. And it is style, enjoyable, cool, nice style and hair and make-up, and it is so humorous, and he or she’s so gifted.
Yeah, I used to be going to ask you about that. Are you able to describe the dynamic between Jade and Mavis?
Jade is a weirdo, possibly, I do not wish to give away an excessive amount of, however she’s a tradition vulture. And she or he has a enjoyable pet, however I am her all-time low. I am the bodily formation of, oh no, that is who I am with now, so I want to vary my life as a result of I can not be with this girl anymore.
Gotcha.
I am the illustration of her failures in her life, or she’s not the place she needs to be, and I am the illustration of that.
What was it about Jade particularly that attracted you to the position?
I like folks that do not comply with the principles of society or they do not slot in as a result of that is enjoyable. There is not any template for an individual who’s a weirdo, so you may have cool looseness. However it was additionally, I simply wished to work with Michelle [Buteau] so unhealthy that I knew it was going to be so good. She’s actually good within the second. So it was actually enjoyable to go off-script along with her.
I do not know if there was any half I might say no in the mean time of my life. It will be uncommon. However this was a really cool one to get, and it was thrilling. However I am auditioning for trash on a regular basis, too. So, this was a model identify, cool folks, the enjoyable half. It was the whole lot.
And piggybacking off that, how was the filming expertise?
It was wild. So I’ve a podcast known as That is Messed Up, an SVU podcast, and we had been on a twenty-five-city tour whereas I used to be filming this present, so it was wild. And my pores and skin, I had a shingles outbreak from the wild schedule, however then I saved being like, “That is like Woman Gaga’s schedule. You are simply Woman Gaga.”
And that is what made me really feel implausible. However it felt cool touchdown in New York and going straight to set. I preferred having the ability to say that.
So, it was filming expertise? Yeah.
100%. I imply, it is in New York. Yeah, it felt so cool. And the units are unbelievable, and everyone seems to be so good. Yeah, it felt very enjoyable.
Superior. I like within the trailer the place Mavis talks about wanting to decorate girls to assist them love their our bodies. And that is an necessary a part of this story. Are you able to speak about that and the way that may mirror all through the season?
I might say it goes all through the present, for certain. It is one thing she’s keen about, and it leads her to chill ass locations, and her journey of serving to others helps her.
Superior.
As tacky as that sounds.
No, no, by no means.
However positively offset, it was a extremely good expertise with the costumers and the costume designers as a result of that’s such a central a part of the present, and it’s so style, and everyone seems to be of various sizes. There weren’t points that typically you may have on a set. I felt like I used to be given actually cool outfits with none stress.
Are you huge into style? Was that enjoyable so that you can mess around in numerous stuff you would not usually put on? Or was it extra like your common fashion?
In concept. No, it is positively not my common fashion. I feel I’ve a ardour for style, however I do not actually do it properly on a regular basis. I put on a gown and sneakers, often brief clothes, sneakers. I like enjoyable patterns, however I like working with those who know what’s up.
So, I positively all the time really feel cool once I get to be dressed by somebody who is aware of what’s up, who is aware of find out how to store. I want to simply order on-line. I am extra easy. I wish to prepare in 10 minutes. I am not enthusiastic about it, however I like it, and I like the considered it and the concept of it.
I completely perceive that. What’s one thing that you just hope folks can take away from the sequence?
I hope persons are laughing. I need folks laughing. I need everybody to have ass time watching a humorous comedy after which have some moments of possibly self-reflection, thought, one thing like that. However principally laughing after which some tears possibly and a few emotional moments. However I need folks to have time.
The nice vibes, I like that. Had been comedy and performing one thing that you just all the time wished to pursue, or is it one thing you fell into?
I simply did not comprehend it was an actual factor. what I imply? Standup comedy, I positively went to an open mic on accident, and I used to be watching folks, and I used to be like, the basic, I feel I can do this. After which I went up. However in concept, my display identify was ‘Film Retailer 54’ in junior excessive. And I cherished motion pictures.
I went to the films with my dad and mom each Friday. We watched the Oscars and Leisure Tonight. I’m very into Hollywood. I like all of the stuff. So yeah, I cherished it, however I did not understand once I began standup that this was potential or a factor till it was like, “Oh, okay, cool. Hell, yeah.” So, it is positively my dream, but it surely’s actually wild.
Yeah, yeah, I can think about. I do know you stated earlier, “I audition for no matter,” and you will do no matter, however in the event you may give you the proper dream position for your self, like, “I see myself as this, on this position, on this style,” what do you assume that will be?
Oh my God. I wish to play myself in one thing, a funner model of me. I feel the dream life is a kooky greatest good friend on a sitcom. You are working lower than everybody. You simply are available in, you are humorous, you are out. You do not have to guide the story, however you may have time, and folks snort.
After I have a look at Patton Oswalt on The King of Queens, I am like, dream position. what I imply?
Oh my God, that is really my favourite present.
No approach. What are the percentages?
You talked about your podcast earlier, and I’m obsessive about SVU too. Are you able to inform us a bit about your podcast and the way it happened?
I am so excited that you just love SVU. Okay, so my good friend Kara Klenk and I knew one another as a result of comedy. You all know one another. I met her in New York years and years in the past, and we bonded within the inexperienced room as a result of I used to comply with this Twitter account known as doink-doink.
And he would tweet anytime Legislation & Order was on tv, what channel, what episode, what time. She simply remembered that. After which she had this concept. She recorded episodes with someone else simply to show the idea. They did not have time.
We had been hanging out, and he or she’s like, “Wait, would you do that?” And I used to be like, “Completely. I have been ready for a podcast.” After which it has been actually cool. It has been enjoyable and a number of work. I do really feel like I am in faculty typically.
So we recap an episode, discuss in regards to the true crime it is primarily based on, after which interview an actor from the episode. Or a author. We have had a showrunner and administrators, however principally it is the actors from the present.
And so, you are getting a number of behind-the-scenes tea in regards to the episodes and issues like that?
Yeah, we’re positively getting scoop. After which we have now gotten some off-the-record scoop, and that is thrilling as properly. So, we love that. However when it comes to, we had Kelli Giddish 4 days after her final episode aired. So, it did really feel like that was actually cool to have.
I imply, it sucks, we talked to somebody who had simply gotten fired, but it surely did really feel like, are we Diane Sawyer? It felt cool.
Do you may have a favourite episode of all of the episodes?
It is so exhausting as a result of there are such a lot of classes. We all the time say we have now a factor like haunting. There are some that simply hang-out you and alter your perspective on the world. And you are like, “Oh my God.” After which some are simply campy, enjoyable. You just like the drama, the lesson. It is simply so exhausting.
However I feel ‘Broken’ and ‘Uncooked’ are those we wished to do instantly once we began our podcast. These had been those the place I used to be like, “Let’s go.” And we acquired Ari Graynor and Marcia Homosexual Harden as our company. In ‘Broken,’ she units up a homicide on the video retailer of her little sister. Do you do not forget that one?
Vaguely, yeah.
Then they discover a tape. She’s assaulting her sister and gave her an STD. Ari Graynor is so good with BD Wong on the finish, after which he is making an attempt to scare her about going to jail for all times. And she or he goes, “Are you making an attempt to scare me? I am not scared to die. I am already useless.” One thing like that. It is simply so wild. So, I like that one.
After which ‘Uncooked’ is so fucked up, and it is like Aryan Brotherhood, Nazis. Marcia Homosexual Harden performs an FBI agent undercover. There is a shootout within the court docket, twists, and turns, and it felt like a ’90s thriller, I might say. I examine it to that.
Yeah, there are such a lot of episodes, such as you stated.
After which for our dwell ones, we do the enjoyable ones that are not primarily based on crimes. There’s nonetheless a homicide, however we’re not speaking about horrific little one murders.
Yeah, gotcha.
Oh, what? After which I like the Martin Brief one. He performs a psychic named Sebastian Ballentine, who additionally has a factor for virgins.
Yeah, I feel I do not forget that one.
Which of them stick out to you?
I am making an attempt to assume. Truthfully, I took a giant SVU break. I used to be devastated when Christopher Meloni left again within the day. So, I took a giant break and got here again in all probability three or 4 years in the past. So, the whole lot that is floating round in my head proper now could be fairly latest. And I like Organized Crime, so I used to be actually into the crossovers.
I feel I am only a actually huge Christopher Meloni fan.
You’re keen on Meloni. He is your high canine.
Yeah, I feel I am a Stabler lady.
We all the time say you wish to be slammed into submitting cupboards by Stabler.
That might be me, yeah. Simply put me on that listing.
If we’re speaking new ones, which one stands out to me? I feel it is season 20 or 22. I simply watched ‘A Story Of Extra Woe,’ the place it is just like the sister tells her sister the dad is molesting her, so then the sister kills her dad, however then it is the neighbor that is really the pedophile orchestrating all of this. After which this teen killed her dad for nothing.
After which, in the event you actually wish to be haunted, ‘Fallacy’ with Kate Moennig is haunting. Slaves on the finish of season one. It is the final episode. Nightmares for years. ‘Charisma,’ it is little one homicide, cult, faith. It is upsetting. So, if you would like to be haunted and upset, I might watch possibly these.
And if you wish to go balls to the wall, silliness, I might say ‘Moist.’ It is about mushrooms. That is humorous. I might say ‘Wildlife.’ It is about animal trafficking, so there is a gibbon. These are if you wish to have a foolish time, zebras.
I like how all of this. That is superb.
I did not go into it being this intense, however we’re continually searching for company. So, we’re watching episodes, totally different classes, crimes. So, then all of them are in our heads continually. I am annoying to be round. I will be like, “Oh, he was in SVU. Oh, on SVU …” It is robust. It is robust to be round me.
What TV are you presently watching, and what’s an all-time consolation present? It could possibly be Legislation & Order SVU, however possibly you may have one thing else too.
Oh, I’ve so many issues. So, I am actually glad about this. So, for sleep and background, there’s all the time a Seinfeld or a BoJack Horseman as a result of Netflix is one of the best as a result of it does cease ultimately. The opposite ones simply actually do not cease. So, these are on fairly typically.
After which I am watching Drag Race. Regardless that All-Stars Eight shouldn’t be doing it absolutely for me, I am addicted. I will watch it, after which I will watch the Pit Cease on YouTube the following day—and style photograph RuView. So, Drag Race. I simply completed The Bear season two, one of the best present I’ve ever seen. I’m blown away by season two of The Bear in each approach. So, I actually love that.
I simply watched a extremely fucked up documentary. I used to be within the submarine house due to the submersible. So, Netflix had a documentary known as Into The Deep. Did you watch this?
I didn’t.
Heinous, horrific homicide. This man is serving life. Do not you are concerned. It is a heinous crime that occurs in a submersible.
In a submersible?
In it. In Denmark. It is actually fucked up. So, we’re on episode 130 one thing. I am researching true crimes regularly. This documentary is likely one of the high 10 worst issues I’ve ever seen. It is horrific. So once more, in the event you’re in that temper, no strain.
Additionally, wildly, I have not been like this for years, however the motion pictures are again this summer season. I really feel like I’ve a packed film schedule, which hasn’t occurred since pre-pandemic for me.
I might say consolation for me, I discussed these two up high. Additionally, for consolation, love Intercourse and the Metropolis. I am a giant Intercourse and the Metropolis.
I am a Bravo head, so I’m watching What Occurs Stay with Andy Cohen. I feel he is one of the best late-night discuss present host. We’re in a bit of little bit of a drought. Actual Housewives OC is okay, however we simply acquired off of untamed seasons of Vanderpump with Scandoval, clearly.
However then I believed Jersey was nice, and I believed Summer season Home, they had been sleeping, as Brian Moylan from Vulture says, “The mattress sore sisters had been sleeping.” However the friendship, the combat, the reunion, it was intense. We simply had a lot good Bravo, and a lot is coming, and I like Bravo.
I’ve watched since 2006, and I do not see any stopping. That is what’s sick is I do have this SVU podcast, however I actually may do a podcast about eight extra exhibits. I actually like it. After which Simpsons, to me, is an all-time the place I am a number of merch round me, and it brings me infinite pleasure. Life jogs my memory of The Simpsons greater than something.
Superior. You’ve a number of totally different tastes in there. I like that. Going from Scandoval to submersible loss of life, the whole lot.
Yeah. However they’re all dramatic and intense. I like enjoyable stuff. I like tv, and so I am in it.
***This interview has been edited for size and readability.***
You’ll be able to watch Survival of the Thickest now on Netflix.
Whitney Evans is a employees author for TV Fanatic. Observe her on Twitter.
