WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING? "Survival of the Thickest" & "Platonic"

Are you running out of TV? Or more accurately, out of good TV? Then you'll want to know about "Survival Of The Thickest" (on Netflix) and "Platonic" (on AppleTV), two genuinely funny, though under-the-radar, half-hour comedies, both of which have two key story elements in common: close friendships and career struggles. Nothing new at face value, of course, yet they explore them with surprising freshness. And, yes, deliciously spiky humor. 

"Survival Of The Thickest" stars Michelle Buteau (pictured above), an actress, author and stand-up comic who you've likely seen in countless supporting roles in TV shows, from "Key and Peele" to "Russian Doll," along with her ensemble work in "First Wives Club" and more. Like Judy Reyes, the camera's in love with her, and not only because of her beauty, though that's there, but her unaffected, almost dumbfounding naturalness on screen. You can't help but be beguiled by her. Even when "Survival Of The Thickest" misuses her in a few strained slapstick scenes in the first two episodes, she wins you over. 

The series, based on a series of essays published by Buteau, charts the adventures of Mavis, a self-described "thick girl" who begins her life anew after leaving her cheating boyfriend, pursuing her career as a stylist and trying to balance it all with her new Italian boyfriend. But what really makes the episodes stand-out are Mavis' close friendships with Marley, played by Tasha Smith (pictured above), a sharp-tongued financial executive; and Khalil, played by Tone Belle (pictured below), an artist and self-described "man whore" who scrambles to mend his ways after meeting a beautiful single mom. There's a warmth and reality to these friendships which you don't often see in a half-hour comedy - some of the best moments are the simplest, like when they all share a joint and crack each other up - yet it never feels forced. These longtime friends get each other on a granular level, warts and all, and they're seldom afraid to call each other out - and when they do, it's with disarming compassion. 

That the show manages to counterbalance these moments with campy satire about the fashion industry and winged, truly loopy comic antics is something approaching miraculous. "Survival Of The Thickest" is "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" reimagined with all of life's modern messiness. It's also one of the best comedy shows no one's talking about. 

Equally standout is "Platonic," a series I avoided at first given my complicated feelings about Seth Rogan. Yet he's perfectly cast as Will, a recently divorced, micro-brewmaster who reunites with Sylvia, played by Rose Byrne, his now married friend from college who's attempting to restart her professional life. There's not an ounce of romantic chemistry between these two, which is in keeping with a show, which, like "Survival Of The Thickest," explores how they bring out the best in each other as supportive friends.

Rose Byrne is the show's stealth weapon. In nearly every comedy she's ever been in, I've marveled at how she slyly subverts her glamorous, "normal gal" appearance, and here she does it with dizzying comic results. Maybe it's the fact that she's able to retain her own Aussie accent in "Platonic," but she seems newly unshackled, her mastery of slapstick, crisp timing and witty facial expressions a pitch-perfect counterpoint to Rogan's more rubber-faced performance. Even the supporting cast is on their game, including Charlie, Sylvia's husband, played by Luke Macfarlane (pictured below), who's at first unbothered by his wife's friendship with Will, then confused, then threatened, then back to unbothered and onward, though his devotion to Sylvia is never in question. 

And, yes, I know, supportive friendships are a time-worn staple of half-hour TV comedies, yet I was caught off guard by how "Survival Of The Thickest" and "Platonic" both managed to find something new to say about them - and with such ingenious humor. So far, no word on whether either has been renewed for a second season - those pesky streaming "metrics" are the downfall of many good shows - but even if they aren't, they're worth enjoying. Or at least until the streamers remove them. 

What are you watching these days? Got any good recommendations?

Photo Credits: Netflix; Apple TV