Michelle Buteau is gearing up for an even bigger and bolder second season of Survival of the Thickest, revealing major updates on the cast, directors, and a surprising awards season setback. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the comedian, actress, and co-creator of the series shared that season two will see Tasha Smith promoted to series regular while also stepping behind the camera to direct two episodes. The show will also welcome an exciting slate of guest stars, including Anderson .Paak, Tika Sumpter, Jonathan Chad Higginbotham, Deon Cole, Alecsys Proctor-Turner, Jerrie Johnson, Celisse, Rolonda Watts, Michael Rishawn, Monét X Change, and RonReaco Lee.
Returning for season two are Survival of the Thickest stars Tone Bell (Trigger Warning, Coyote vs. Acme), Liza Treyger, Peppermint (Harlem), and Marouane Zotti (I May Destroy You, Bodkin). This season will be helmed by an all-female team of directors, including Kim Nguyen (Prom Dates, Never Have I Ever), Thembi Banks (Young. Wild. Free., Insecure), Amy Aniobi (Insecure, 2 Dope Queens), and Smith herself. Aniobi will also serve as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside The Carmichael Show and New Girl alum Danielle Sanchez-Witzel.
As production kicks off, Buteau describes season two as a journey where “everyone is taking chances and putting themselves out there” in what she calls a “very sexy season.” Despite the excitement, she expressed deep disappointment over the show’s Emmy eligibility issue. Due to a submission error on Netflix’s part, season one of Survival of the Thickest was not considered for this year’s Emmy nominations.
“I’m proud of myself, the cast, the crew, and I’m gutted that nobody will receive the proper shine they should,” Buteau told THR. “It’s not even about winning the Emmy. It’s about everybody recognizing how hard we’ve worked and how special this community is that we managed to put together in this crazy industry.”
Netflix confirmed the submission mistake and stated that despite their efforts to correct it, the Television Academy does not allow late entries. Buteau acknowledged the challenges of the entertainment industry, particularly for women of color, adding, “We all have felt forgotten. Don’t forget us. We matter.”
Despite the awards season misstep, Netflix remains committed to the show. “We believe in this series, we absolutely believe in Michelle,” said Netflix’s VP of comedy series, Tracey Pakosta. “Reflecting the world and relationships that we all have makes the shows more exciting, more interesting, funnier, and real.”
For Buteau, the recognition of her work extends beyond awards. “It’s the fact that [the book] was optioned to series, and that people are a fan of it, and that I did what I wanted to do, and I made it as Black and brown and fat and queer as I possibly could,” she shared. “I learned how to advocate for myself with this series and other people in this crazy business. Because you always have to advocate for yourself, no matter what.”
As Survival of the Thickest season two continues filming, Buteau remains focused on telling authentic, diverse stories. “We’re doing it for the culture. We’re doing it for each other. We’re saving lives, and we’re living our dreams,” she said. With a powerhouse team in front of and behind the camera, season two is set to be one of Netflix’s most anticipated comedy returns.