EP. S2E49 — TV News Flash w/ Michelle Buteau & Jordan Carlos

Ashley Ray [00:00:27] Welcome to TV, I say with Ashley Ray–your go-to podcast for discovering what to watch on TV and getting behind the scenes insight from the people who make the shows you love. And again, before we dive in, your weekly reminder that the WGA–yeah–we are still on strike. Please go to entertainmentcommunity.org to donate to Hollywood crew members in need. We have rent due. No one is making money right now, but okay. My guest today–they are amazing comedians, actors, writers, and the host of The Adulting Podcast, Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos.

Michelle Buteau [00:01:01] Airhorn!

Ashley Ray [00:01:03] They gave me the most giant list of your credits. And it’s just like, “Imagine any TV show from the last five years. You both have been in it.” The Circle, First Wives Club Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, like, Party Down, and Everything’s Trash. There’s so many, especially a lot that we’ve featured here on the show. Everything’s Trash, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. And I think most importantly, July 13, Survival of the Thickest.

Michelle Buteau [00:01:28] Oh my God, my dick just jumped a little bit. I was so excited. Yes! Survival of the Thickest! July 13th. And Jordan has a cameo up in it.

Jordan Carlos [00:01:36] It’s true. It’s all true. All these things are true. Excited!

Ashley Ray [00:01:42] It is the show I am looking forward to most this summer. I did get to read the pilot because they asked me to audition for something, and I was like, “This is so amazingly hilarious.”

Michelle Buteau [00:01:51] Let’s spill the tea, honey. I didn’t know it was teatime.

Jordan Carlos [00:01:55] We very rarely get these moments in life. So, let’s have it. Let’s go.

Ashley Ray [00:01:59] I mean, it was one of these roles where I remember my mom–I was with my mom–and she was like, “Oh, I’ll help you with the reading.” And I was, like, I think playing a friend. I was, like, a cashier or something, trying to sell my own stuff. And as I was doing it, my mom was just like, “Baby girl, every role isn’t for you.” And I was like, “Oh.”

Jordan Carlos [00:02:16] Wow.

Michelle Buteau [00:02:17] What sign is your mom? Is she a fire sign?

Ashley Ray [00:02:19] Yeah, yeah, she’s a Sagittarius.

Michelle Buteau [00:02:26] Sagittarius realness. Yeah, I’m a fire sign too, but I’m a Leo, so I’m a little bit more delicate. But I get fire sign friends where I’m like, “You could just say it different.”

Ashley Ray [00:02:34] “You could be nicer.” Yeah. She was just like, “You know, girl, every role isn’t yours. And this one? No.”

Michelle Buteau [00:02:42] What was the name of the role?

Ashley Ray [00:02:43] I just remember she was like a friend or something who, like, worked at a goods store or something. And she he was like, “You should buy my lotion moisturizer thingy or something instead of this because I’m a Black creator and support me.”

Michelle Buteau [00:02:57] I don’t remember. It’s all a fever dream. You know what? A big up to all the writers because wow. When my mom asked me what it was like shooting those 42 days, I’m like… You know, even the preparation for writing, which is coming up with this shit and then finding people to help you write it… And then just a year and a half later when you, like, finally get to go on set, I was like, “It felt like…” Because I have a cousin in the Army, in the Marines, it felt like we were deployed. You just go off to set, don’t see your family, and then you come back a little different. Like, “How was it?” And you can’t explain. You just look off in the far distance. You’re like, “I did everything I set out to do.” You know what I mean?

Jordan Carlos [00:03:43] The brave don’t come back.

Michelle Buteau [00:03:46] My brain was broke. You know I got IBS. I got a little thing on my shoulder from sitting and thinking. I’m like, “We’ve got to pay writers what they fucking need because they need to go into the chiropractor!”

Ashley Ray [00:04:01] Yeah. It’s a lot of work. I do love how much more supportive your mother was. Just like, “You had a good time? How was it?”

Michelle Buteau [00:04:08] I mean, we’ve had a long run of it, so I’m like, “Don’t talk to me unless you have something nice.” That’s how we roll.

Jordan Carlos [00:04:13] Did your mom get the part? Or, like, what happened?

Ashley Ray [00:04:20] Yeah, yeah, yeah. She didn’t even record me. She just recorded herself, and I actually think my mom is in your show, Michelle.

Jordan Carlos [00:04:26] We’ll see. July 13th. What’s up?

Ashley Ray [00:04:31] We really wanted to bring you both on to talk about some new TV news that’s been happening. You know, we feel like you both have such a deep appreciation and love of TV. And there’s been a lot in the news just this past week. There was a slaughter of shows, I would say. We got the cancellation of American Auto, Grand Crew, Young Rock… It makes me very, very, very sad.

Jordan Carlos [00:04:55] Racism. Just going to asterisk that with racism. Let’s break it down.

Michelle Buteau [00:04:58] Also, Manifest has been on for, like, 32 seasons. Manifest has been on for 32 seasons, but we couldn’t get, like, the auto thing popping. Come on.

Ashley Ray [00:05:08] Like, we couldn’t get Grand Crew, which to me is the Black Happy Endings. Everyone loved it. Incredible cast and…

Jordan Carlos [00:05:17] Cost nothing to make. It was, like, one set. You know what I’m saying? I think it was a bar in North Hollywood. And they’re like, “Nah! Can’t do it.””

Ashley Ray [00:05:29] So, what’s going on? What’s going on, you two?

Michelle Buteau [00:05:31] Give us a chance like you gave Cheers a chance. Friends. I’m sorry. Friends? Sure, it’s a good show. But I’m sorry, not one Puerto Rican friend? Y’all live in New York City. I’m not buying this shit. Come on. Just give it a chance to grow. The first season is just a seed. You got the money.

Jordan Carlos [00:05:58] I think what’s going on is this– And I feel you on all those points. Like, you have to let things grow, especially with, like, things like Cheers back in the day. They’re like, “Well, they only got 6 million viewers. Should we let them continue?” Because we only have three channels, right? But what it might be is that the networks are noting that you’re going to have to, like, make good on the actors’ options, which usually come up in August. Right? So, it’s, like, August 15th deadline. So, I think what they’re saying, seeing, or thinking is that the strike will go on longer than August 15th. So, they’re going to have to pay people, you know, to re-up their contracts.

Michelle Buteau [00:06:38] Bitch better have my, bitch better have my…

Jordan Carlos [00:06:43] Or as Michelle just put it in, in terms that we all can understand–

Ashley Ray [00:06:46] Yes. Yes, Rihanna terms. Now I get it. Okay.

Jordan Carlos [00:06:50] Exactly. So, they weighed that, and they were like, “Bye.” I think that’s what happened. It’s terrible.

Ashley Ray [00:06:56] It’s terrible. I mean, I felt like American Auto and Grand Crew could have been this new renaissance for NBC, where it’s like they used to be the home of comedy. They lost that slot, you know? And then I was like, “They’re doing it again. They get it. They’re going to make funny sitcoms and give them a chance.” And then they were just like, “You didn’t hit Abbott Elementary numbers right out of the gate, so you’re done.” It seems like that’s the new standard. And it’s like, “Come on.” It’s so hard for a show to do that these days.

Michelle Buteau [00:07:24] I always– One of my wishes and wants was to get a channel that no one’s really using anymore because there’s a lot of channels, right? And just call it, like, a “graveyard” and just show all the failed pilots.

Ashley Ray [00:07:44] Oh, yeah.

Michelle Buteau [00:07:45] Because there’s so many wonderful pilots. And they just never see the light of day. And all that money just goes to where and to who and to what and to why?

Jordan Carlos [00:07:54] Where does it go?

Michelle Buteau [00:07:55] Yeah. And it was that. And then also I want to do an awards show where just the losers bring their speeches and then they get to see them. Where do the speeches go? And another thing I didn’t realize doing my show that will air July 13th on Netflix in 180 countries–Survival of The Thickest–please check it out. Jordan Peele does a cameo. We also have a podcast called Adulting.

Jordan Carlos [00:08:21] Sold everywhere podcasts are sold.

Michelle Buteau [00:08:21] I just didn’t realize… Jordan always talks about the first pancake. Like, you know, sometimes a joke doesn’t work because it’s the first pancake. I didn’t realize how many pancakes we were really making out here.

Ashley Ray [00:08:34] There’s so many pancakes.

Michelle Buteau [00:08:35] I know that I’m auditioning for stuff, but I had no idea that it actually gets made and then people are still like, “No.” You think once it gets made, like, then let’s give it a chance.

Ashley Ray [00:08:47] Put it on. I know they just announced they’re not moving forward with Amber Ruffin’s new pilot that everyone was excited about. It was, like, evil twin sister, and it sounded hilarious. And then they did a whole pilot, and everyone’s like, “Never mind.”

Michelle Buteau [00:09:02] Thank God we age well is all I’m going to say because, you know, when you finally do get the show–whatever it is–when you finally hit, everyone’s like, “Where’d they come from? Oh my God, are you 32?” It’s like, “No, bitch. I’m 58, and thank God I’ve aged well, okay?”

Ashley Ray [00:09:17] Yeah. And they’ve been doing the work. Like, with Abbott and Quinta, she had been on so many shows that didn’t go–so many failed pilots. And it’s like, “That experience is what leads to a hit like Abbott.”

Jordan Carlos [00:09:28] She’s still in her 30s. I mean if you think about it, people like Lisa Ann Walter, who’s on the show– She plays the tough Philadelphia Italian teacher. I remember Lisa Ann Walter from a tango movie with, like, Richard Gere from when I was a kid. That lady hustling, you know what I’m saying?

Ashley Ray [00:09:50] That is a much older reference than the Parent Trap, which is what I was going to go with. But yeah.

Jordan Carlos [00:09:55] Thank you. Her, Sheryl Lee Ralph–those people are, like, grinding on Moesha! You know what I’m saying? Come on.

Michelle Buteau [00:10:02] You know what I realize, though, is, like, that’s the norm. Like, that’s what it is. Like, it isn’t what you see. It isn’t being an industry darling. That is a very small group of people that get to win all the awards and be on all the magazines and do all the things. People just always think it’s that you just show up. You know, you just keep showing up, and all of a sudden, you’re going to be famous. And that’s just not what it is. Like, you will keep showing up and hopefully have health insurance; that’s what it is.

Ashley Ray [00:10:38] Enough to pay your rent. Like, yeah.

Michelle Buteau [00:10:40] Even Sonny Lee, who created Beef–I remember doing his pilot in 2015 with Seth Rogan for FX. And it was really hilarious, and it was dark comedy. Dark comedy really didn’t have a space back then. And we’re like, “This guy dies?” And he’s like, “Yeah, and his guts ooze out and it smells like shit.” And I’m like, “Okay.” Like, it was wacky and wild and fun. And, you know, unfortunately, like, not everybody got it, but eventually people caught up to him and his genius. And this is what I will always say–whether it’s in the business or self-acceptance or whatever the fuck it is for you–it is not you that needs to catch up to the world, it’s the world that needs to catch up to you. Period. So just keep doing whatever the fuck you’re doing because it will eventually happen. And if it doesn’t, that means you’re a dick. I’m just kidding! I’m just kidding! I’m just kidding! I’m just kidding!

Ashley Ray [00:11:33] It means you’ve always been a horrible person.

Jordan Carlos [00:11:34] Or you’re a great artist, and nobody understood you. You know, people get great posthumously as well, you know?

Ashley Ray [00:11:39] Exactly.

Michelle Buteau [00:11:40] That’s true.

Ashley Ray [00:11:41] Let’s go to our next news topic, because this one… I want to ask if you two are watching The Idol. The New York Post reported there would not be a second season, but then HBO was like, “Well, we haven’t made a decision.” And then Sam Levinson and The Weeknd we’re like, “Whatever. We don’t even care. It was always supposed to be a limited series anyway.” But since the Max rebrand, The Idol seems to be their first big flop. It has a 27% on Rotten Tomatoes. Episode Two lost over 100,000 viewers. Are you watching it?

Jordan Carlos [00:12:12] I gave it five minutes. I really tried. I mean, it was cray cray and banaynay. It was like, “What am I watching here? I’m watching so many nepo babies.” First of all, Sam Levinson–Barry Levinson’s son–fine. Started at the goal line. “Thanks, Dad.” Right? Okay. And then you’ve got Johnny Depp’s daughter playing the lead.

Ashley Ray [00:12:34] Yes.

Jordan Carlos [00:12:35] Boy, but she struggled. And then it was like, “What am I watching at the beginning of the show?” Like, it’s just kind of, like, raunch–things we’ve kind of gone over–you know what I’m saying? And then Hank Azaria, like, locking the intimacy coordinator in a bathroom and like, “Go for it. Do the stuff you really want to do.”

Ashley Ray [00:12:58] Yeah, it’s a bit of a mess. It’s all over the place. I will say, if you erase everything with, like, the Weeknd–his character–if you just erase that part, it actually is a pretty funny show about pop stars. And, like, Dan Levy’s in it–all these people around that are really funny–Rachel Sennott. And then for some reason they were like, “Oh, this could be a funny workplace comedy about people who work for a pop star, but instead, let’s have him show up and be a weird cult leader sometimes.” And you’re just like, “What?” Also, he is the Weeknd. Abel is not an actor.

Michelle Buteau [00:13:36] He’s not able?

Ashley Ray [00:13:37] He’s not able. And every clip that is of him goes viral on Twitter for the bad acting.

Michelle Buteau [00:13:44] This is what I was about to say. I have seen the memes. And I’ve seen Black Twitter shut it down. I have no idea what Black Twitter was coming for. But now I know, and I’ll watch. You know what? I don’t get HBO Max in the Netherlands.

Ashley Ray [00:13:59] Yeah. Max isn’t everywhere yet. They’re still messing around the rest of the country or world.

Michelle Buteau [00:14:04] Yeah, it’s not “Max,” you know? It’s “Point Five.”

Ashley Ray [00:14:08] I think the big clip that, like, went viral this past week, maybe you saw it. Otherwise, I can play it for you. But it’s Abel’s character threatening a person at a clothing store because the person, like, looked at Lily Rose Depp’s character. And you see Abel trying to intimidate this guy and be like, “If you look at her again, I’ll hurt you, man.” And you can tell halfway through, he’s. Like, forgetting his lines.

Michelle Buteau [00:14:33] Also, why did they take that take? I used to be an editor. That’s the best take?

Jordan Carlos [00:14:44] It probably was. You have to think about that. And then, I mean, I would only say this. What made me think of the nepo baby stuff was just how bad the writing was at the outset. I don’t have to go to nepo. If your writing is tight, Jordan’s there all night.

Michelle Buteau [00:15:01] So, what do you think about Euphoria?

Jordan Carlos [00:15:03] Euphoria’s great.

Michelle Buteau [00:15:03] They’re both A24 projects. It’s a Sam project, too.

Ashley Ray [00:15:08] It is. And he writes it all himself. But they do let, like, the actresses and… I don’t want to say students when they’re all actually, like, 29 years old. But he lets them, like, write for their own characters. So, the episode with Hunter Schafer’s character that was, like, a special–Hunter wrote all of that with Sam. So, there’s some control there. And The Idol is like, “Well, remove that and just let Sam do what he wants.” And it is a mess.

Tedros [00:15:36] Let me catch you looking at it again. Let me catch you looking at her again.

Guard [00:15:40] I’m not–

Tedros [00:15:40] Let me catch you looking at her again.

Guard [00:15:42] I’m sorry, I’m not–

Tedros [00:15:43] Let me fucking catch you looking at her again, I’ll fucking drag you down Rodeo by your fucking ass… Just fucking stomp you. I’ll fucking curb-stomp you.

Guard [00:15:52] I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you were interpreting, but I wasn’t doing anything.

Tedros [00:15:55] Let me see it. Let me see it.

Jordan Carlos [00:15:56] I’ve always thought the Weeknd was cool. And then today came up.

Michelle Buteau [00:16:00] Until now?

Ashley Ray [00:16:01] Until this video.

Jordan Carlos [00:16:03] This day came along. Yeah. There’s some things you can do, some things you can’t–things you just can’t do. I can’t juggle.

Michelle Buteau [00:16:12] I love Madonna, you know? And I love Prince. Like, nobody come for Prince. But acting is not for everybody. It isn’t. And also, because you excel at one thing, doesn’t mean that you’re going to excel at the other thing. You got to get a coach. You got to get an acting coach. I had an acting coach on set every day, especially for my scenes, when I was filming because it’s just nice to have the help–an opinion you trust, another way to do it, you know? Sometimes the director is dealing with 17 things and not that scene. You know, the writers aren’t allowed to be on set. It’s not in the budget now for the person who actually wrote the episode to be on set.

Ashley Ray [00:16:56] To be there and be like, “Oh, maybe, like, this feeling. This was a sentiment we had in mind.” That’s not there anymore.

Michelle Buteau [00:17:00] Yeah. This all goes back to spending the money and taking the time to curate really good TV because I don’t know why everybody got paid, but that’s a waste of motherfucking money. They didn’t need money. They didn’t need that money.

Ashley Ray [00:17:16] They did not. And I also do feel like maybe someone was like, “Hey, Abel. We would love to get you an acting coach.” And he was like, “I don’t need that, okay? I just feel the spirit and the character honestly within me, okay?”

Michelle Buteau [00:17:28] Yeah. No, that’s gas. That’s bad heartburn.

Jordan Carlos [00:17:32] Yeah. I can’t wait to watch more.

Ashley Ray [00:17:44] It looks like Netflix has their next hit.

Jordan Carlos [00:17:48] Survival of the Thickest?

Ashley Ray [00:17:51] Yes! On July 13th!

Michelle Buteau [00:17:54] Dropping in all 190 countries that Netflix is represented in. Thank you so much, everyone.

Ashley Ray [00:17:57] Amen. And they also just put out a new season of Black Mirror. Season Six just dropped. The first episode, in fact, deals with a Netflix clone streaming service using AI to write and produce its content. Why does that sound so familiar to everything happening right now? And Jordan, you were in Black Mirror last season. So, are you watching this season?

Jordan Carlos [00:18:17] I did watch. I watched an episode of the new season. And may I just say the critics have said it’s not as good as last season.

Ashley Ray [00:18:25] No, of course, come on. Jordan’s not in it.

Jordan Carlos [00:18:30] Mine was pretty dope. Striking Vipers was pretty sick. And it was kind of a moment for the culture where, like, it was, you know, two Black men on screen, wondering whether or not they were queer through the video game platform and everything like that. The answer was yes. And it was really cool. This one? I don’t know. You know, people have just said, and post-COVID, Charlie Brooker himself said that, like, during COVID, he was like, “I don’t know if I wanna make the show because the world has gone crazy, and there’s nothing I can make that’s crazier than this.” So, this is, like, a post-COVID… I mean, I love the show. So, it’s like there’s a post-COVID, you know, iteration. And I did watch the one–I don’t want to give any spoilers away–about paparazzi. I liked it. I liked it. I thought it was really good. But it was a little ham-fisted. But it’s really good. I mean, it was the most… It wasn’t… It didn’t… I mean, I don’t know. It’s like he’s going to the past somewhat when we’re supposed to be talking about the future. I thought Black Mirror was about the future, you know?

Michelle Buteau [00:19:32] I was just going to say, like, because obviously all I could do is, like, watch what I can while I try to put my kids to sleep and read what Twitter has to say. But I’m just like, “What do people want?” In this instance, it feels like everybody just wants to be… They don’t want to be satisfied. They want to have something to say. They want to be involved. And again, now that I know what it’s like to create a show… Survival of the Thickest, out on Netflix July 13th. Or Streamberry. You can Streamberry, too. It’s available also on Streamberry. But, yeah, what is your takeaway? Like, how do you want to feel at the end of each episode? Do you know what I mean? I think everybody is so connected in this personal way to an episode. And I feel bad for people attached to Black Mirror who work their asses off. And then just to have, like, people say, “It’s not as good. They could have done better.” What was the takeaway? What do you want? I’m just very confused by that part. And I think people should have some grace when it comes to shit like this because I feel like he just did Season Six because the people wanted it.

Ashley Ray [00:20:48] Because the people wanted it. Exactly. And also, I mean, the talent in this season–they have an incredible cast every episode. The first one had Camirin Farmer, who’s an amazing LA comic. And I was like, “They got just all the best talent. It’s all there.” And then it’s kind of like, “Well, this feels like it would have been the future if this episode came out two years ago.” I mean, the way TV is made, that’s how it probably was supposed to go. And we’re just stuck with the schedule that Netflix demands that we all live on.

Michelle Buteau [00:21:19] Oh, oh! My rash just flared up when you said that because you have no idea.

Ashley Ray [00:21:26] Right. I mean, and it works out when we get to see Survival of the Thickest, premiering July 13th on Netflix. But outside of that, sometimes I will be so upset. I think, with Netflix, a good example is Big Mouth and Human Resources, which they just announced, like, Human resources–the season that just came out is the last. And then we waited forever for the next season of Big Mouth, and they were like, “Well, that’s also going to be the last one.” And it’s just like… I was watching the new Human Resources. I didn’t even remember what happened in the first season because it came out, like, two years ago or something. And you gotta keep it fresh.

Jordan Carlos [00:22:00] Well, I mean, the whole system–the whole structure–has been, like, turned upside down and upended. And platforms can kind of do what they want because they have the elegant code–the algorithm–we don’t know about. And that’s what it is, you know?

Ashley Ray [00:22:15] Yeah, they have a computer that’s like, “Doo-doo-doo. Oh, wait, actually, if we put out the next season of Stranger Things four years after the last season, it’ll be a hit. So, let’s do that.”

Jordan Carlos [00:22:24] Right, if it’s a part of the zeitgeist. But I was just going to say one thing, which is that I feel like some shows just aren’t equal to the sum of their parts. They just aren’t, you know? They have great and talented actors, and sometimes the story’s not there, sometimes the direction is bad. And as much as I would like to light them, it’s like, “Augh…” You know what I mean? It’s just like a date. It’s a date.

Michelle Buteau [00:22:50] It’s also really hard to top yourself. It just is. What is it? The “sophomore jinx?” Like, it’s just fucking hard. And, you know, to get to stand-up specials–we don’t need to churn shit out every year. It can take time–three to five years.

Ashley Ray [00:23:11] Take time between those specials.

Michelle Buteau [00:23:14] Grow. Yes. Make me want it. And then also believe people when they say they’re not inspired. Do you know what I mean? Like, I felt like homeboy was just like, “I don’t think I… This feels…” And everyone went, like, “Nooooo!” The kids, like, wanted more candy and made dad go and get it. And they’re like, “What? We don’t like it.” It’s like, “What the fuck do you want then?”

Ashley Ray [00:23:36] Yeah, you wanted it. Speaking of what people want in Netflix…

Michelle Buteau [00:23:43] I love a segue!

Ashley Ray [00:23:44] Look at me segue. I’m like a professional.

Jordan Carlos [00:23:47] Love this. What’s going on?

Ashley Ray [00:23:51] Speaking of things people want in Netflix, Netflix announced they’re opening up a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles. In the midst of the writers’ strike, Netflix has decided that people want to eat at a Netflix-themed restaurant. The two of you–as Netflix experts–I am curious what Netflix-themed dishes would you want to eat?  I’m asking you to come up with puns quickly. You know, you got Stranger Wings.

Michelle Buteau [00:24:20] Oh, that’s so funny. Like, maybe Always Be My Dumpling.

Jordan Carlos [00:24:24] Oh, yeah.

Michelle Buteau [00:24:26] I don’t know. I just… That’s wild.

Ashley Ray [00:24:33] I was going to be like, “The Circle Rings” with, like, onion. But, you know, that’s a second suggestion. That’s low on the board, but…

Michelle Buteau [00:24:41] Welcome to Buteaupia is just, like, a big banana split that looks like a hairy vagina.

Ashley Ray [00:24:48] I’m trying to think of Survival of the Thickest. Like, Survival of the Thickest Milkshake.

Jordan Carlos [00:24:55] How about Narcos Nachos.

Ashley Ray [00:24:56] Oooh! Yes! There we go.

Jordan Carlos [00:24:59] We’re talking loaded nachos topped with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and jalapeños. Come on.

Ashley Ray [00:25:05] Yeah. And then cocaine.

Jordan Carlos [00:25:07] Cocaine!

Michelle Buteau [00:25:07] What about Tales of My Titty? But it’s just chicken breast.

Jordan Carlos [00:25:13] I love that.

Ashley Ray [00:25:13] Yeah. Yeah. I don’t even know that’s a pun of, but I love it.

Michelle Buteau [00:25:18] Tales of the City?

Jordan Carlos [00:25:19] Oh, yeah. Tales of the City, yes.

Ashley Ray [00:25:20] Yeah. Yeah, Tales of the City. Yeah.

Jordan Carlos [00:25:23] Ooh, you better know.

Ashley Ray [00:25:26] Okay. That’s on my producer. They didn’t put it on–

Michelle Buteau [00:25:28] I’m going to just drop my IMDb in the chat.

Ashley Ray [00:25:31] Maybe, like, a Never Have I Ever Fries.

Jordan Carlos [00:25:33] Oh, I love that. What about Crown Croissant?

Ashley Ray [00:25:38] Yeah, Crown Croissant

Jordan Carlos [00:25:40] It comes together so flaky, you know? I used to watch the beginning of The Crown.

Michelle Buteau [00:25:44] No soggy bottoms You just see Paul Hollywood fingerfuck that croissant. Sorry, your mom’s listening to this.

Ashley Ray [00:25:52] She is. She really is.

Jordan Carlos [00:25:53] And stealing all your jobs.

Ashley Ray [00:25:56] She’s literally like, “Oh, yeah. I did get the role in Survival of the Thickest. I can’t believe Michelle doesn’t remember me.”

Jordan Carlos [00:26:03] I don’t know.

Ashley Ray [00:26:04] I think it’s a crazy idea, but I–

Michelle Buteau [00:26:09] The Floor is Guava.

Jordan Carlos [00:26:12] Do it!

Ashley Ray [00:26:14] Oh, we’re not beating that.

Jordan Carlos [00:26:17] How about Orange is the New Black Orange Duck? I don’t know. I’m trying.

Michelle Buteau [00:26:23] How dare you? How dare you?

Ashley Ray [00:26:26] That was literally just saying the word “orange,” Jordan.

Jordan Carlos [00:26:30] Game of Scones?

Ashley Ray [00:26:32] That’s not even a Netflix show.

Jordan Carlos [00:26:33] Wait! But it could be.

Michelle Buteau [00:26:35] Duck à l’Orange is the New Black.

Jordan Carlos [00:26:36] Yes.

Ashley Ray [00:26:38] Oh, there we go.

Michelle Buteau [00:26:39] Come check your girl. Come check your bitch.

Ashley Ray [00:26:41] I hope Netflix, like, pays you to make this menu.

Jordan Carlos [00:26:45] Money Heist Quesadillas?

Michelle Buteau [00:26:45] We got it. You did it. You tried. Okay?

Ashley Ray [00:26:55] A Big Mouth Burger, right?

Jordan Carlos [00:26:58] A Big Mouth Burger is great. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Michelle Buteau [00:27:03] Can we stop now?

Jordan Carlos [00:27:04] What about Cumin Resources? Like, that’s a spice. Come on.

Ashley Ray [00:27:11] I’ll allow it. I will allow it. I just hope they make a lot of money off of this so they can pay the writers who write the shows they’re making these meals based off of. For the last part of the interview, as we kind of come to a close, we’re going to do a watchlist. Listeners are like, “We did it backwards. Usually the watchlist is first.” We had to get through all that TV news, okay? There was so much.

Michelle Buteau [00:27:52] We had chemistry right off the bat. We couldn’t do it.

Jordan Carlos [00:27:55] That’s right.

Ashley Ray [00:27:55] Come on. Yeah. So, let’s get into our watchlist. What have you both been watching?

Jordan Carlos [00:28:02] Michelle, what you watching? What you out here seeing?

Michelle Buteau [00:28:04] Oh my God. I just finished Beef. I just finished Swarm.

Ashley Ray [00:28:08] Loved Swarm. Yeah.

Michelle Buteau [00:28:10] And I watched a few episodes of Manifest, so I was like, “Why is this trending in Holland?” I had to. And I was like, “How dare they leave Montego Bay? How fucking dare you? Okay? We need all the tourism we can fucking get.”

Ashley Ray [00:28:23] And I think a new season of Manifest just came out. Like, it moved to Netflix, and then they made more.

Michelle Buteau [00:28:31] And Queer Eye. To be honest, Queer Eye.

Ashley Ray [00:28:34] Queer Eye is good.

Michelle Buteau [00:28:36] There’s just this warm, fuzzy, like, bringing the blue and red states together. You’re looking at these people; they don’t even know how to say “non-binary.” They don’t even know what it’s like to see this, like, gorgeous person in a dress just telling them what they should do with their hair. And somehow, they’re just like, “I’ll listen to you.” And it just warms my cold, dead heart.

Ashley Ray [00:29:03] Yeah. Personally, the part I look forward to most in Queer Eye is everything Bobby does. I think he’s the only one who actually does any real work on the show.

Michelle Buteau [00:29:12] LOL. You don’t like Antoni’s guacamole? You don’t like Antoni’s sauteed shrimp?

Ashley Ray [00:29:17] Yeah, his sauteed shrimp with, like, asparagus and peas that he’s just like, “And then if we mash this down, it’s a meal to serve a family of ten.” And you’re just like, “Antoni, no one eats that. Like, no.”

Michelle Buteau [00:29:28] I think we all need a Karamo, though. We all need, like, a life coach friend that’s not going to be preachy as fuck. I want to feel like it’s a big titty TED talk every time you come in the room. Sneak in the vegetables.

Ashley Ray [00:29:38] But they’re doing all that, and then Bobby’s like, “So I totally knocked your house down, built you a brand-new house–and here you go.”

Jordan Carlos [00:29:44] Yeah, I’ve seen, like, Bobby make a garden that’s elevated–like a hanging garden–for people. I was like, “What the fuck?” And the rest of them are like, “You have to change this wall color.” I’m like, “What? Bobby’s doing the most.”

Ashley Ray [00:29:59] Yeah, Bobby’s doing the most. And then you just have, like, the other guy who’s just like, “Oh, maybe instead of button ups, you should wear, like, V-necks.” And it’s like, “Oh, okay. Wow.”

Michelle Buteau [00:30:10] No. I got to stand up for Tan France and those French tucks.

Ashley Ray [00:30:13] True. I love the French tuck.

Michelle Buteau [00:30:16] Yes. I love to style people and shop for them. And it’s very hard to get them something that looks good that they’re comfortable in. And I feel like everybody just walks a little straighter when he put them in, like, a bowling shirt or something.

Ashley Ray [00:30:32] Yeah. Oh, he loves putting them in bowling shirts. Like, every guy–he’s just like, “Oh, it’s going to be so flattering. The straight lines. Oh.”

Michelle Buteau [00:30:39] And I’ve come up with something called a Belgium tuck, which is just one.

Jordan Carlos [00:30:48] Okay. I like that.

Michelle Buteau [00:30:48] Thanks, guys. I got ideas. I got dreams, okay?

Ashley Ray [00:30:50] Yeah, I love that. That’s beautiful.

Jordan Carlos [00:30:52] Belgic. I love it.

Ashley Ray [00:30:52] Yeah. Jordan, what’s on your watchlist?

Jordan Carlos [00:30:55] What’s on my watchlist? Good question. Good question. I’ve been trying to watch my friends’ stuff because you have these awkward moments where you run into friends and you’re like, “The show that you did! I meant to see the show. ” So, I watched Zoe Lister-Jones new show, Slip. Oh, gosh! So good. So good. It’s on Roku.

Ashley Ray [00:31:23] What is this? I don’t even think I’ve heard about it.

Jordan Carlos [00:31:25] It’s all about someone slipping through different, you know, voids and planes of reality. And it starts off– I just watched the pilot, but I’m hooked.

Michelle Buteau [00:31:38] Really?

Jordan Carlos [00:31:38] Yes. In the pilot, she and her husband are just kind of going through the motions–have been married for 13 years. It’s very based on her life. And so, she has a one-night stand with this man. Oh God, I’m giving it all away. But it’s really good.

Ashley Ray [00:31:55] Yeah. Come on.

Michelle Buteau [00:31:55] Yeah, why would you give it away?

Jordan Carlos [00:31:56] It’s really good. It’s really good. But it upends the consequences. The consequences that you think that are going to follow traditionally get totally upended in a very, like, meta, weird, altered reality kind of way.

Ashley Ray [00:32:10] And this is on the Roku Channel?

Jordan Carlos [00:32:12] This is on Roku.

Ashley Ray [00:32:12] I don’t even know how you watch a Roku show. Do you have to buy a Roku to watch Roku shows?

Jordan Carlos [00:32:17] You do it carefully. You do it with loved ones. You have to make sure that all the curtains are drawn.

Ashley Ray [00:32:25] You head down to Roku City.

Jordan Carlos [00:32:26] You go to Roku City, and you have to fill out a form. No. It’s actually not that hard. So, you can get the app on your phone. It’s all free TV. You can just project it onto your television or your Apple TV–what have you. So that’s how it goes. It was good.

Ashley Ray [00:32:41] I like how you just explained it like, “So it works like every other app.”

Michelle Buteau [00:32:49] I will say I do like Roku. I did narrate a show for them, and it was very hard to find the show. It’s not super, super user friendly like Streamberry is.

Ashley Ray [00:32:59] Yeah, I assume you had to have a Roku device plugged into your TV to get any of their shows to work. Now, you just introduced me to a whole new thing.

Michelle Buteau [00:33:10] Yeah, it feels like IBM back in the day. Like, Whoopi Goldberg, Jumpin’ Jack Flash. What do we need to do?

Ashley Ray [00:33:15] Yeah. And I mean, Roku’s picking up shows. I feel like every other week I hear, like, something that sounds interesting is going to be on Roku, and I’m like, “I’ll figure that out.” Just, you know, they got me with Quibi and Seeso, so I’ll figure out Roku TV.

Jordan Carlos [00:33:26] I just can’t believe that. Jumpin’ Jack Flash. “I’m a little Black woman in a big silver box.” The references. I love it! All right. So, I’m watching Slip. I watched my homegirl, Zoe Winters, on Succession. So, I’ve been watching Succession. I was like, “Man, this is crazy. I mean, it is white nonsense, but it is–”

Michelle Buteau [00:33:49] All the Zoes.

Jordan Carlos [00:33:52] Yes. Yes. All the Zoes.

Michelle Buteau [00:33:56] So did you start from the beginning of Secession, or are you–?

Jordan Carlos [00:33:59] Did you say “Secession?” Now that’s a good one. That’s about the Civil War.

Ashley Ray [00:34:03] I thought you said, “Secession.”

Jordan Carlos [00:34:05] I’m saying “Succession.”

Ashley Ray [00:34:06] Oh, sorry.

Michelle Buteau [00:34:06] Oh, this is fucked up. This was hard to watch, but I did it. It was very hard to watch on Zoom, but I saw it. I saw it.

Jordan Carlos [00:34:18] I thought you were making a joke like secede from the Union about the Civil War–Secession. It’s about the South. Now, I saw Succession. I liked it. It’s been great. It’s good. Succession is great. And I think Brian Cox is a very underrated actor who finally is getting his flowers. I remember him from, like, Rushmore back in the day. All that stuff. Yeah. And then finally, Ted Lasso. My homegirl, Jamie Lee.

Ashley Ray [00:34:47] Oh, I love Jamie Lee.

Jordan Carlos [00:34:49] Love Jamie.

Michelle Buteau [00:34:50] I didn’t know you were into this white boy shit.

Jordan Carlos [00:34:52] I mean, for real for real? Not really. I was going to mention that I’ve been watching Atlanta and things like that, but I was like, “Let me watch my friends.” And so, I was like, “Ted Lasso…”

Ashley Ray [00:35:04] Yeah. The last season of Atlanta–I think it was kind of overlooked. I loved the last season of Atlanta, and I thought it was going to get more attention. And people just kind of, I think, got burnt off on the Europe season and then just, like, didn’t really come back to the last season. But it was great.

Michelle Buteau [00:35:20] Same here. It’s like when Glenn got killed off of The Walking Dead.

Ashley Ray [00:35:26] I stopped watching. Wasn’t for me anymore. And so, did you finish Ted Lasso? Did you get to the finish?

Jordan Carlos [00:35:32] I have not. I haven’t gotten to the finale, but I’m the penultimate episode of the first season. So, it’s very good.

Ashley Ray [00:35:44] Yeah. Yeah. You’re in a good place to stop watching. Sorry. The first season is so good.

Michelle Buteau [00:35:54] It’s hard to top yourself.

Ashley Ray [00:35:56] It is. And, like, the first season’s good. The second season’s good. And then the third season–all of the previous writers left and went to other projects. Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence went to go work on Shrinking, which is also very good.

Michelle Buteau [00:36:09] That’s on my list. Love Jessica Williams.

Ashley Ray [00:36:11] Oh, love it. And she’s amazing in it. Honestly, I wish it was just her show. She’s so, so good.

Michelle Buteau [00:36:16] It is her show.

Ashley Ray [00:36:17] And so the last season of Ted Lasso? All I’ll say is the finale episode was so controversial that fans started a petition to get it deemed a dream. They were like, “We want you to say the last episode was a dream and that none of that happened.”

Jordan Carlos [00:36:32] Right. I think it’s really sweet, and it’s what people needed during COVID. And I get why it was so popular and remains so. So, yeah. Well, I’ll just watch one more episode.

Ashley Ray [00:36:51] I mean, watch it all! Watch it all.

Michelle Buteau [00:36:55] I’m just having this moment where I’m like, “are people going to be talking about my show like this?”

Jordan Carlos [00:37:00] Yes! They will because what we’ve done is put it up for public display. But that’s okay! There’s going to be a lot of people that love it, though. You know, that’s what’s up.

Ashley Ray [00:37:11] Exactly. And most people love Ted Lasso. They love it. They have tattoos. They name their children Ted.

Jordan Carlos [00:37:18] Are you ready for a tat? Are you ready for people tatting themselves?

Ashley Ray [00:37:25] They’re going to name their children after your character. They’re going to get Survival of the Thickest tattoos. There’s going to be stan accounts making fan cams and… Yeah.

Jordan Carlos [00:37:36] Ready?

Michelle Buteau [00:37:36] The answer is no.

Ashley Ray [00:37:41] I’ll share a little from my watchlist. I have been keeping up with Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

Michelle Buteau [00:37:46] Fuck, yes. I’m always just like, “How come no one has stains on those white shirts?” And they’re not even clothes. It’s, like, shorts or… My bonnet that I wear at night is bigger than the fucking shit they got to wear all day.

Ashley Ray [00:38:01] All day. And they are just, like, clean pressed.

Michelle Buteau [00:38:04] And we are we taking, like, 17 fucking bowls of salad out to a beach to sit on a fucking rickety-ass IKEA fold up chair.

Ashley Ray [00:38:14] You rented a boat! Why do you want to do a beach picnic?

Michelle Buteau [00:38:23] “Oh, I forgot the salad dressing two miles away on the boat!” “Bitch, now we eating dry salad?”

Ashley Ray [00:38:23] Every time someone’s like, “We want a beach picnic,” you’re getting ready for the worst thing that they could do.

Michelle Buteau [00:38:27] Why would you do that to any–? Go camping, you dumb, basic fuck. Also, why are these people sleeping in coffins? I could never do it.

Ashley Ray [00:38:36] Oh, yeah. Especially on my sailing yacht–they have the smallest… Even the captain doesn’t get his own room. He shares a room with someone.

Michelle Buteau [00:38:47] He’s a mess!

Ashley Ray [00:38:47] Oh, Captain Glenn is a mess. Every other episode, his boat is, like, on fire.

Michelle Buteau [00:38:52] Are you serious?

Ashley Ray [00:38:53] Yeah.

Michelle Buteau [00:38:53] He’s giving the divorced dad who just got let back to Thanksgiving. He’s always apologetic. You know, he never gets it right.

Ashley Ray [00:39:05] Yeah. In this last episode, he, like, fails to put the anchor down properly.

Jordan Carlos [00:39:08] What?

Michelle Buteau [00:39:08] How do you not get the anchor down?

Jordan Carlos [00:39:12] How hard is it to put the anchor down? “Anchors away.”

Ashley Ray [00:39:15] Right? I wanted to just bring up Below Deck on my watchlist because, everyone, officially we are team Colin. Listeners, you know the drama. Daisy and Colin started hooking up. Daisy says “Gary,” her ex’s name, to Colin in bed–blames Gary and Colin. So, we are officially team Colin.

Jordan Carlos [00:39:32] Can I say something now?

Ashley Ray [00:39:32] Yes.

Jordan Carlos [00:39:34] I haven’t really watched the show. But I will say if we’re talking boating and we’re talking broken hearts, then this is a triangle of sadness. Those who get it get it.

Michelle Buteau [00:39:47] Just call me Bermuda, but don’t call me late for dinner.

Jordan Carlos [00:39:51] Those who get it get it.

Ashley Ray [00:39:53] We got it. I think we both got it.

Michelle Buteau [00:39:57] Go to the restaurant and have some Orange is the New Black Duck.

Jordan Carlos [00:40:00] That was a deep cut.

Ashley Ray [00:40:05] But I want to thank you both–Michelle and Jordan–for joining me. Please listen to Adulting with Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos wherever you get your podcasts. And is there anything else you want to plug other than Survival of the Thickest–premieres on Netflix July 13th.

Jordan Carlos [00:40:17] Oh my God. Michelle, go.

Michelle Buteau [00:40:20] You could watch Barbecue Showdown on Netflix. It’s also streaming. It’s Season Two that I’m hosting. And it’s just fun, fun, fun.

Ashley Ray [00:40:29] I love Barbecue Showdown. I loved the first season. It made me so hungry all the time. It’s so good.

Michelle Buteau [00:40:33] Oh, good. Well, you get to watch the second season. It’s going to make you even more hungry.

Ashley Ray [00:40:36] That’s your homework.

Jordan Carlos [00:40:37] When does this bad boy come out, actually?

Ashley Ray [00:40:39] Next Wednesday.

Jordan Carlos [00:40:40] Next Wednesday. Okay, cool. I mean, I’ll be hitting the west coast pretty soon to do some shows–I’m really excited about those–in August in LA. Got a week of shows, April 12th through 19th. So please come see me. I’m in LA.

Michelle Buteau [00:40:54] Oh yeah. Duh. Oh, fuck. I’m on a tour. I’m going on tour, too. It’s going to be called Full Heart, Tight Jeans.

Jordan Carlos [00:41:01] Can’t lose.

Ashley Ray [00:41:02] We love it. Can’t lose. We love a TV reference in the marketing. Boom boom. Thanks for joining me, listeners. I don’t have any homework for you this week because frankly, I’ve been on tour too. Like, it’s summer. Just catch up on Below Deck. Like, what else is there to do? Thanks so much for listening. We’ll be back next week with another episode.

Jordan Carlos [00:41:20] Bye.

Michelle Buteau [00:41:21] Bye, bitches.

Ashley Ray [00:41:33] TV, I Say with Ashley Ray is an Earwolf production made by me, Ashley Ray-Harris. It’s engineered by Abby Aguilar, produced by Scott Sonne, executive produced by Amelia Chappelow. And our original theme song is by RaFia. It means so much to me if you go rate, review, subscribe. Follow TV, I Say. Let us know what you think and tell your friends. Share with your Golden Girls. Tell your Boys. If you love my TV recommendations, let everyone you know know. For special TV Club members, join my Patreon. And you can also find my full archive of ad free episodes of TV, I Say over on Stitcher Premium. Use Promo code “tvisay”–all one word–for a one-month free trial at stitcher.com/premium