Comedian Michelle Buteau Wants You To ‘Netflix And Chill’ To Her Upcoming Special
Comedian Michelle Buteau revels in sex, relationships, and body image in her stand-up. She has made appearances on Key & Peele, as well as being a frequent guest on the “2 Dope Queens” podcast. This week, Buteau launched a podcast of her own, “Late Night Whenever,” and she is in Atlanta right now filming a special for Netflix.
The streaming service is filming a series of 15 minutes stand-up specials at Terminal West to be released throughout 2018. Buteau is in the lineup among many other comedians, including Aisling Bea, Tim Dillon, JR De Guzman, Janelle James, and Sam Jay.
“They have so much experience doing stand-up specials,” she explains, “and it’s great for a comedian doing stand-up on Netflix, because you get to say whatever you want! Which is my favorite!”
The New Jersey native comes out of the New York comedy scene which has also produced Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson of “2 Dope Queens,” as well as Ilana Glazer of Comedy Central’s “Broad City.”
“We all live in Brooklyn, we’re all doin’ the thing,” Buteau says of that scene. If it seems from all of the noise that group has kicked up recently that women of color are having a moment in comedy, Buteau says she is here for it.
“We’ve been around for a while,” she says, “but there was only one spot for a woman of color, whether it be in a TV show or a comedy festival or a stand-up show. And what I love what’s happening now, not just with TV but other media, it’s like ‘wow, we can have more than one and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a black show.’”
With all of this activity going on in front of cameras and on-stage, Buteau is also taking the mic for “Late Night Whenever,” a podcast she’s producing through WNYC.
“I do feel like I’m corrupting their minds,” she jokes about her new public radio digs, which she shares with the other aforementioned Queens from the NYC scene. To Buteau, getting into the world of podcasting through an NPR affiliate feels in step with the times.
“The internet has made the world smaller,” she says. “Housewives know who Eminem is, and black people are listening to country music. This is a beautiful place where we can share and dip into each others cultures and art forms. I love taking advantage of that medium and trying to reach people in a new, different way.”
“This is such a great way to reach a whole new audience,” Buteau says, “without having to take out my liquids that are over 3.7 ounces at the airport every two weeks.”
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