WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.299 Welcome to the deep dive. We often see public 00:00:03.299 --> 00:00:05.719 figures through these, well, carefully crafted 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:08.480 images, don't we? What happens when their art, 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:11.800 their comedy in this case, becomes a really raw, 00:00:12.119 --> 00:00:14.099 honest reflection of their deepest struggles 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:17.399 and triumphs? Yeah, it changes everything. Today 00:00:17.399 --> 00:00:19.920 we're diving into the fascinating, sometimes 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:23.620 surprising, and always evolving world of a comedian 00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:27.059 who consistently redefined observational humor. 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:29.719 Right. Only to later share his most personal 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:32.020 journey with the world. You might know him from 00:00:32.020 --> 00:00:34.439 his sharp suits, that even sharper wit on Saturday 00:00:34.439 --> 00:00:36.939 Night Live may be his beloved stand -up specials. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:39.640 Absolutely. Our deep dive today is into the life 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:42.340 and really the multifaceted career of John Mulaney, 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:44.880 you know, the American stand -up comedian, actor, 00:00:45.020 --> 00:00:48.079 writer, producer. And our mission really is to 00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:50.240 extract the most important nuggets of knowledge, 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:52.060 the insights from all the material out there. 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:54.000 We want to connect the dots between his early 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.600 life, that unique comedic style, his career milestones, 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:01.140 and, well, the truly profound impact of his personal 00:01:01.140 --> 00:01:03.679 story on his art. Yeah, so you listening will 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:06.840 gain not just facts, but hopefully a comprehensive 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:09.659 understanding of what makes Mulaney such a singular, 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:12.599 such an enduring voice in comedy. Right, offering 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:16.379 those aha moments about his craft and maybe the 00:01:16.379 --> 00:01:18.620 broader landscape of modern entertainment too. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:21.519 You know, it's compelling because Mulaney's story, 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:24.859 it really starts in a very specific place, doesn't 00:01:24.859 --> 00:01:27.959 it? Right in the heart of the Midwest. With a 00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:30.299 family background that might surprise some people 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:34.099 who only know that comedic persona. He was born 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:38.000 John Edmund Mulaney, August 26th, 1982, in Chicago, 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.989 Illinois. Third of five kids. Irish Catholic 00:01:40.989 --> 00:01:43.390 heritage. And his parents, Ellen Mulaney and 00:01:43.390 --> 00:01:45.349 Charles Chipp Mulaney Jr., they're both highly 00:01:45.349 --> 00:01:47.849 accomplished lawyers. His mother, a law professor 00:01:47.849 --> 00:01:49.870 at Northwestern University Pritzker School of 00:01:49.870 --> 00:01:52.170 Law. Right. And his father, a partner at a major 00:01:52.170 --> 00:01:55.150 firm, Skadden Arps. So a very sort of high achieving 00:01:55.150 --> 00:01:57.209 environment. Totally. What do you think that 00:01:57.209 --> 00:01:59.650 environment, you know, steeped in logic and argument, 00:02:00.170 --> 00:02:02.549 what did that lend to his early development and 00:02:02.549 --> 00:02:05.049 maybe eventually his comedic voice? Oh, that's 00:02:05.049 --> 00:02:07.569 a fantastic question because it immediately sets 00:02:07.569 --> 00:02:10.620 him apart, doesn't it? From maybe other comedians 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:12.680 whose origins are more about, say, rebellion 00:02:12.680 --> 00:02:16.159 or observing from the fringes, Mulaney's foundation 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:19.180 seems to be an intellectual precision, a world 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:21.840 where arguments are built meticulously, where 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:24.659 language is used with real care. Think about 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:28.400 his stand -up. He often presents these scenarios... 00:02:28.270 --> 00:02:31.509 less like simple jokes and more like carefully 00:02:31.509 --> 00:02:35.430 built cases to the audience, right? Right. Dissecting 00:02:35.430 --> 00:02:38.349 social absurdities with almost like legalistic 00:02:38.349 --> 00:02:40.469 precision. That's a great way to put it. Like 00:02:40.469 --> 00:02:43.189 a closing argument for absurdity. Exactly. That 00:02:43.189 --> 00:02:45.669 parental influence, I think, it instilled a certain 00:02:45.669 --> 00:02:48.189 meticulousness, maybe even a gravitas in his 00:02:48.189 --> 00:02:50.110 approach. Even when he's talking about, you know, 00:02:50.129 --> 00:02:52.550 a horse in a hospital, he's presenting a well 00:02:52.550 --> 00:02:54.469 -reasoned argument for why it's absurd. That 00:02:54.469 --> 00:02:56.810 makes perfect sense. Yeah. He almost cross examines 00:02:56.810 --> 00:02:59.479 reality in his jokes, doesn't he? He does. And 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:01.259 the family connections? They don't stop there. 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:04.080 His maternal great grandparents included George 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:07.099 J. Bates, a Republican mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:10.520 and a U .S. congressman. Right. And his maternal 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:13.500 great uncle, William H. Bates, also served as 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:16.039 a U .S. congressman. So it's not just lawyers, 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:20.099 it's a family with this clear tradition of public 00:03:20.099 --> 00:03:22.939 service, public engagement. How might that thread 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:25.620 of public life, you know, maybe from a distance, 00:03:26.139 --> 00:03:28.300 have woven into his own journey into the public 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:30.319 eye? Well, it definitely highlights a background 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:32.819 of, let's say, high intellectualism and public 00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:35.659 awareness around him from a young age. And while 00:03:35.659 --> 00:03:38.979 Malini's comedy isn't always overtly political, 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:41.520 not in the way some comics are, there's a certain 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:45.270 maybe public -facing decorum. of responsibility 00:03:45.270 --> 00:03:47.490 to his craft that you could maybe trace back 00:03:47.490 --> 00:03:49.909 to this lineage. Interesting. He's not just, 00:03:49.909 --> 00:03:52.129 you know, firing off jokes. He's presenting a 00:03:52.129 --> 00:03:55.650 carefully curated, often insightful view of the 00:03:55.650 --> 00:03:58.310 world, kind of like a public servant might articulate 00:03:58.310 --> 00:04:00.509 a policy, maybe. Yeah, I could see that. And 00:04:00.509 --> 00:04:02.349 speaking of interwoven circles, there's that 00:04:02.349 --> 00:04:05.330 incredible anecdote about his maternal grandmother, 00:04:05.650 --> 00:04:07.930 Carolyn Stanton. Oh, yeah. She actually performed 00:04:07.930 --> 00:04:10.990 in a hospital benefit show alongside Hilary Myers, 00:04:11.370 --> 00:04:14.069 who is, of course, Seth Meyer's mother. Exactly, 00:04:14.330 --> 00:04:16.810 Mulaney's future SNL colleague. And the show 00:04:16.810 --> 00:04:19.290 is directed by a then 19 -year -old Tommy Toon. 00:04:19.610 --> 00:04:22.750 No way. That's wild. It's like the creative universe 00:04:22.750 --> 00:04:25.009 is already kind of nudging things together. Yeah. 00:04:25.129 --> 00:04:27.350 Subtle foreshadowing. It really feels like it, 00:04:27.370 --> 00:04:29.850 doesn't it? And his parents also went to Georgetown 00:04:29.850 --> 00:04:32.589 University and Yale Law School at the same time 00:04:32.589 --> 00:04:35.290 as future president Bill Clinton. Wow. Who Mulaney 00:04:35.290 --> 00:04:38.410 actually met in 1992. These aren't just random 00:04:38.410 --> 00:04:41.750 facts. They paint this picture of an upbringing 00:04:41.750 --> 00:04:44.850 steeped in... intellectual curiosity, influential 00:04:44.850 --> 00:04:46.870 circles. It's quite a foundation. Absolutely. 00:04:47.029 --> 00:04:49.290 It speaks to an environment that really valued 00:04:49.290 --> 00:04:52.569 education, critical thinking, engagement with 00:04:52.569 --> 00:04:55.490 the wider world. And within that, his early life 00:04:55.490 --> 00:04:59.470 also had this profound personal and spiritual 00:04:59.470 --> 00:05:01.910 dimension. Right. He was an altar boy. Yes. And 00:05:01.910 --> 00:05:04.449 he chose Martin as his confirmation name. He 00:05:04.449 --> 00:05:06.709 did that to honor his late brother, Peter Martin, 00:05:06.870 --> 00:05:08.930 who sadly died at birth when millennia was four. 00:05:08.970 --> 00:05:10.990 I didn't know that. That's incredibly poignant. 00:05:11.149 --> 00:05:14.430 It is. And that early exposure to structure, 00:05:14.629 --> 00:05:17.529 to ritual, combined with such a personal connection 00:05:17.529 --> 00:05:20.970 to a name, it's almost like a foundational template 00:05:20.970 --> 00:05:24.149 for the meticulous, almost formal delivery we 00:05:24.149 --> 00:05:25.970 see in his stand -up, isn't it? That's a sharp 00:05:25.970 --> 00:05:28.370 observation. He brings a kind of architectural 00:05:28.370 --> 00:05:30.949 precision to his jokes, almost like a priest 00:05:30.949 --> 00:05:33.230 delivering a sermon, but with punch lines instead 00:05:33.230 --> 00:05:36.050 of scripture. Right. That blend of high, low, 00:05:36.149 --> 00:05:38.670 sacred, profane. Yeah. Yeah, that could absolutely 00:05:38.670 --> 00:05:41.160 stem from those early experiences. It gives his 00:05:41.160 --> 00:05:43.399 observational humor this unique kind of gravitas. 00:05:43.459 --> 00:05:45.980 It's not just funny. It often feels very considered. 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:49.360 And his comedic journey, it has a very specific 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:52.060 origin point, too. At just five years old, Mulaney 00:05:52.060 --> 00:05:53.959 decided he wanted to go into show business after 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:57.560 watching Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy. Incredible. 00:05:57.660 --> 00:05:59.379 He's an altar boy, parents of lawyers, then he 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:01.699 sees Ricky Ricardo, boom, show business. It's 00:06:01.699 --> 00:06:03.920 almost comically dramatic, isn't it? It really 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:06.860 is. But seriously, what does that early, almost 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:09.720 instantaneous conviction... Tell us about the 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:12.519 foundational drive in Mulaney. It's truly a lightning 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:15.680 bolt moment, isn't it? And it suggests this really 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:19.680 clear, almost preordained ambition. For many 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.740 people, show business is this kind of meandering 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:25.360 path. But for Mulaney, it was like a direct north 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.920 star from age five. He was drawn to Ricky Ricardo's 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:31.360 charisma, his command of the stage, the way he 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:34.939 held an audience. That unwavering focus probably 00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:37.459 fed into his meticulousness later on. He knew 00:06:37.459 --> 00:06:39.339 exactly what he was building towards, even if 00:06:39.339 --> 00:06:41.980 he didn't know the exact blueprint yet. He wasn't 00:06:41.980 --> 00:06:44.720 just dreaming, he was actively pursuing it. At 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:47.199 age seven, he was already performing in the Rugrats, 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:49.689 which was a Chicago -based Children's Sketch 00:06:49.689 --> 00:06:53.129 Group. Wow. Seven. Yeah. This wasn't just a casual 00:06:53.129 --> 00:06:55.850 interest. It was practical, hands -on experience 00:06:55.850 --> 00:06:58.649 and performance from a really young age. He was 00:06:58.649 --> 00:07:01.009 embracing the craft with impressive early commitment. 00:07:01.329 --> 00:07:03.629 That's incredible foresight for a child. And 00:07:03.629 --> 00:07:05.389 speaking of early opportunities, there's that 00:07:05.389 --> 00:07:08.189 fascinating what -if moment. He had the chance 00:07:08.189 --> 00:07:10.850 to audition for Kevin in Home Alone, but his 00:07:10.850 --> 00:07:13.949 parents declined. Imagine. How might his entire 00:07:13.949 --> 00:07:15.850 career trajectory have shifted if he'd landed 00:07:15.850 --> 00:07:18.740 an iconic child star role like that? Oh, man, 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:22.120 it's a classic Hollywood sliding doors scenario, 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:24.500 right? If he had done Home Alone, who knows? 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:27.180 Maybe he gets typecast, maybe early fame puts 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:30.420 him off comedy entirely. Instead, his parents' 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:33.620 decision, maybe unwittingly, kept him on this 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:37.240 path of self -directed comedic education stage 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:40.660 experience, which I believe was crucial for developing 00:07:40.660 --> 00:07:43.420 his unique voice authentically, you know, away 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:46.060 from the glare of early mainstream stardom. Allowed 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:48.420 him to develop on his own terms. Exactly. And 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:50.319 his inclination toward performance continued 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:53.180 anyway. In junior high at St. Clement's school, 00:07:53.300 --> 00:07:55.240 instead of writing traditional reports, he and 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:57.860 his best friend, John O 'Brien, they'd perform 00:07:57.860 --> 00:08:00.019 what they had learned as skits. That's brilliant. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.879 It really underscores this early, consistent 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:05.699 preference for performance over, say, traditional 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:08.620 academic presentation. It shows that innate pull 00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:11.000 towards the stage. That's a clear signal of where 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:13.819 his talents really lay. And by 14, he was already 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:15.879 engaging with theater, playing Wally Webb in 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:19.310 a production of art. town. Right. So this steady 00:08:19.310 --> 00:08:22.790 progression from childhood sketches to theater, 00:08:23.129 --> 00:08:25.870 it shows consistent development of his performance 00:08:25.870 --> 00:08:28.329 skills, building that foundation. But you know 00:08:28.329 --> 00:08:30.629 what I find truly compelling, maybe the most 00:08:30.629 --> 00:08:33.330 compelling part of this early period, is how 00:08:33.330 --> 00:08:35.870 Mulaney seemed to engineer his comedic voice 00:08:35.870 --> 00:08:39.610 from such a young age. That intense self -directed 00:08:39.610 --> 00:08:43.350 study of comedy history. It feels like he built 00:08:43.350 --> 00:08:46.370 his own comedic operating system. He frequented 00:08:46.370 --> 00:08:49.049 the Museum of Broadcast Communications, studying 00:08:49.049 --> 00:08:51.470 archived episodes of shows like I Love Lucy, 00:08:51.809 --> 00:08:54.210 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. How 00:08:54.210 --> 00:08:56.429 crucial was that deep immersion for the polished 00:08:56.429 --> 00:08:59.200 style we recognize today? Oh, that deep dive 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:01.259 into comedy history is absolutely crucial. And 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:02.679 it's something you don't hear about from every 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:04.740 contemporary comedian, you know. Right. He wasn't 00:09:04.740 --> 00:09:06.980 just watching. He was studying the masters. This 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:09.860 explains so much about his polished, almost classic 00:09:09.860 --> 00:09:12.659 style, the structure, the pacing, the careful 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:15.960 word choice. He absorbed the craft of Carson's 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:18.899 monologues, the theatricality of Lucille Ball, 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:22.159 the timeless observations of early standups. 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:25.039 He didn't just want to be funny. He wanted to 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:27.259 understand why things were funny and how to construct 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:29.860 humor with lasting impact. Like a comedy scholar. 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:32.899 Pretty much. It gave him this appreciation for 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:35.019 the mechanics of a joke, the architecture of 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:37.840 a set. It probably allowed him to bypass a lot 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:40.120 of the trial and error stages other comedians 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:42.340 go through. That makes perfect sense. He brought 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:45.320 an academic rigor to his passion. After graduating 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:48.240 from St. Ignatius College Prep in 2000, he followed 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:51.059 his parents to Georgetown University. majored 00:09:51.059 --> 00:09:53.879 in English, minored in theology. Right. And that 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:56.620 combination, literature and philosophy, you could 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:59.279 see that directly feeding into his analytical, 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:01.940 observant, and often kind of moralistic, comedic 00:10:01.940 --> 00:10:04.779 voice, right? Giving it a unique depth beyond 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:07.080 just surface level humor. Absolutely. It adds 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:09.080 that layer of intellectual rigor, that almost 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:11.879 philosophical inquiry to his jokes. He's often 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:13.840 exploring the absurdities of human behavior, 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:16.620 societal norms, which is deeply rooted in both 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:19.220 literature and philosophical thought. And Georgetown 00:10:19.220 --> 00:10:21.379 was pivotal for another reason, too. He joined 00:10:21.379 --> 00:10:24.399 the university's improv group, where he met future 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:26.720 collaborators Nick Kroll and Mike Birbiglia. 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:28.759 Wow, so that's where those connections started. 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:31.179 Yeah. These weren't just college friendships. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:33.659 They proved to be absolutely pivotal for his 00:10:33.659 --> 00:10:36.279 career, laying the groundwork for a network that 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:38.659 would become incredibly influential later on. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:41.519 That collaborative spirit clearly started early. 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:44.960 and a crucial step in his development was overcoming 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.779 stage fright. He did that by joining Birbiglia 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:49.940 on his stand -up tour. Right. For an aspiring 00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:53.320 comedian, that kind of hands -on experience facing 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.899 live audiences night after night, that's truly 00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:58.100 transformative, isn't it? Oh, absolutely. It 00:10:58.100 --> 00:11:00.659 forces you to hone your delivery, your presence, 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.399 in a way nothing else can. It really highlights 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:06.059 how deeply committed he was to comedy, pushing 00:11:06.059 --> 00:11:08.440 through that common fear to pursue his calling. 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:11.419 So if we think about all these formative experiences, 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:14.240 family background, early ambitions, self -directed 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:17.299 study, academics, early collaborations, it all 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:20.259 kind of culminates in his unique comedic influences. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.360 Mulaney is a self -professed longtime collector 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.419 of stand -up albums. He emphasizes the profound 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:29.000 importance of audio comedy in his development. 00:11:29.389 --> 00:11:31.970 He grew up, as he puts it, sitting on the floor 00:11:31.970 --> 00:11:34.690 with his disc men listening to albums. That image 00:11:34.690 --> 00:11:37.309 alone says so much about his dedication, just 00:11:37.309 --> 00:11:40.289 absorbing it. Exactly. And this detail is critical 00:11:40.289 --> 00:11:42.590 for understanding his foundational style. And 00:11:42.590 --> 00:11:44.669 the list of albums he cited, it's like a master 00:11:44.669 --> 00:11:47.409 class in comedy history itself. He named Chris 00:11:47.409 --> 00:11:50.169 Rock's Bring the Pain and Bigger and Blacker. 00:11:50.610 --> 00:11:53.210 Classics. Woody Allen's Comedian. Nichols and 00:11:53.210 --> 00:11:55.970 Mays, Mike Nichols and Elaine May examine doctors, 00:11:56.429 --> 00:11:58.809 and Albert Brooks' Comedy Minus One. This isn't 00:11:58.809 --> 00:12:00.789 just a list, it's like a curriculum in comedy, 00:12:01.110 --> 00:12:02.950 right? Showing his appreciation for narrative, 00:12:03.129 --> 00:12:05.929 character, sharp observation across generations. 00:12:06.090 --> 00:12:08.370 It's an incredibly diverse and sophisticated 00:12:08.370 --> 00:12:11.750 palette. You've got Chris Rock's raw, energetic 00:12:11.750 --> 00:12:15.490 social commentary, Woody Allen's neurotic observational 00:12:15.490 --> 00:12:18.669 storytelling, Nichols and May's sharp improvisational 00:12:18.669 --> 00:12:21.610 sketch brilliance, and Albert Brooks' meta comedy 00:12:21.610 --> 00:12:24.269 that plays with the form itself. This range suggests 00:12:24.269 --> 00:12:26.570 Mulaney wasn't just confined to one style, but 00:12:26.570 --> 00:12:28.590 drew from this wide spectrum to forge his own. 00:12:28.909 --> 00:12:31.309 He also mentioned listening to Jerry Seinfeld, 00:12:31.450 --> 00:12:33.669 Dave Chappelle, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, 00:12:33.929 --> 00:12:37.649 Conan O 'Brien, Bob Newhart. A true pantheon 00:12:37.649 --> 00:12:40.350 of greats, covering styles from observational 00:12:40.350 --> 00:12:42.809 to dark, quick wit to masterful storytelling. 00:12:43.769 --> 00:12:46.549 And for someone so particular, his top four comedy 00:12:46.549 --> 00:12:49.129 albums, they really distill his core influences. 00:12:49.629 --> 00:12:52.169 What's fascinating here is his top four, Chris 00:12:52.169 --> 00:12:54.889 Rock's Bring the Pain, Mitch Hedberg's uniquely 00:12:54.889 --> 00:12:57.509 surreal one -liner genius in strategic grill 00:12:57.509 --> 00:13:00.269 locations. So good. Eddie Izzard's theatrical 00:13:00.269 --> 00:13:03.049 historical storytelling in Dressed to Kill. Brilliant. 00:13:03.250 --> 00:13:05.590 And David Tell's dark rapid -fire observations 00:13:05.590 --> 00:13:09.139 in Skanks for the Memories. This detailed list 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:11.720 offers incredible insight into the diverse masters 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:14.179 who shaped his comedic sensibilities. It shows 00:13:14.179 --> 00:13:17.559 a preference for smart, often rapid fire, intricately 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:20.240 structured humor, but also a willingness to embrace 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:22.259 the unconventional. You've hit on something important 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:23.740 there. It's not just about the humor itself, 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.500 it's the craft of it. Each of those comedians, 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:29.019 despite their vastly different styles, they're 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:32.240 masters of structure and delivery. Right. Hedberg 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:35.500 with his perfectly formed non sequiturs, Izzard 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:39.340 with his epic storytelling, Attell with his dense 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:42.580 joke writing, Rock with his commanding stage 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:46.429 presence. Mulaney absorbed elements from all 00:13:46.429 --> 00:13:49.049 of them, I think, to create his own distinct, 00:13:49.529 --> 00:13:52.470 highly polished, yet deceptively complex style. 00:13:52.710 --> 00:13:54.669 Okay, let's fast forward a bit. His breakthrough 00:13:54.669 --> 00:13:56.870 in New York City. After graduating Georgetown 00:13:56.870 --> 00:14:00.610 in 2004, he makes the big move, comedy ambitions 00:14:00.610 --> 00:14:03.899 firmly in mind. And he started out... maybe surprisingly, 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:06.179 as an office assistant at Comedy Central. Yeah, 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:08.360 that's a common, pretty humble entry point for 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.740 a lot of people in the industry, right? Starting 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:12.100 at the bottom. Definitely. But even then, his 00:14:12.100 --> 00:14:13.960 collaborative spirit, his innate talent, they 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:16.720 were evident. He pitched I Love the 30s, a parody 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.840 of I Love the 80s, which he developed with Nick 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:23.409 Kroll. Ah, Kroll again. Yep. This early collaboration 00:14:23.409 --> 00:14:26.269 clearly foreshadowed so many successful partnerships 00:14:26.269 --> 00:14:29.409 to come. It shows his ability to generate creative 00:14:29.409 --> 00:14:32.090 ideas even when he was, you know, technically 00:14:32.090 --> 00:14:34.190 in an administrative role. And here's a real 00:14:34.190 --> 00:14:36.029 turning point that speaks to his conviction. 00:14:36.830 --> 00:14:39.250 He was working at Comedy Central when Dave Chappelle 00:14:39.250 --> 00:14:42.309 abruptly left the network. Right, a huge moment 00:14:42.309 --> 00:14:44.769 for Comedy Central. And Mulaney seized the moment, 00:14:45.289 --> 00:14:47.970 quit his job, he felt it was a hindrance to being 00:14:47.970 --> 00:14:51.429 a comedian, and started working freelance. That 00:14:51.429 --> 00:14:53.570 was a bold, almost audacious move, wasn't it? 00:14:53.690 --> 00:14:56.009 Oh, absolutely. To leave a stable job to chase 00:14:56.009 --> 00:14:58.809 stand -up full -time. But it totally paid off. 00:14:59.049 --> 00:15:01.190 It freed him up to pursue his passion fully. 00:15:01.330 --> 00:15:03.049 Yeah, it speaks volumes about his conviction, 00:15:03.370 --> 00:15:05.389 his unwavering commitment to his true calling. 00:15:05.809 --> 00:15:08.149 His big break came after performing on Late Night 00:15:08.149 --> 00:15:10.649 with Conan O 'Brien. Huge platform. Which then 00:15:10.649 --> 00:15:12.350 led to an audition for Saturday Night Live in 00:15:12.350 --> 00:15:15.129 August 2008. He went in with what he described 00:15:15.129 --> 00:15:17.710 as low expectations, performing standup, but 00:15:17.710 --> 00:15:20.190 with these character bits in them, rather than 00:15:20.190 --> 00:15:23.990 just say traditional impressions. character driven 00:15:23.990 --> 00:15:27.309 approach. It worked. It landed him a coveted 00:15:27.309 --> 00:15:29.370 spot on the writing team. And what a spot it 00:15:29.370 --> 00:15:33.250 was. He stayed for four seasons, 2008 to 2013, 00:15:33.830 --> 00:15:35.950 becoming this really crucial part of the show's 00:15:35.950 --> 00:15:37.970 creative engine during a pretty vibrant period. 00:15:38.629 --> 00:15:40.669 He became known for writing monologues for hosts, 00:15:41.090 --> 00:15:44.009 which requires a very specific, polished, comedic 00:15:44.009 --> 00:15:46.929 voice. Yeah, tricky skill. And occasionally even 00:15:46.929 --> 00:15:49.669 appeared on Weekend Update, showing his versatility 00:15:49.669 --> 00:15:53.009 beyond just writing. But his most enduring contribution 00:15:53.009 --> 00:15:56.029 as a writer, you'd have to say, undeniably, was 00:15:56.029 --> 00:15:59.190 co -creating the iconic recurring character, 00:15:59.549 --> 00:16:02.769 Stefan, with Bill Hader. Oh, absolutely legendary. 00:16:02.870 --> 00:16:05.529 That dynamic between Mulaney's meticulous, bizarre 00:16:05.529 --> 00:16:08.450 descriptions of New York's hottest clubs. This 00:16:08.450 --> 00:16:11.529 place has everything. Exactly. And Hader's performance 00:16:11.529 --> 00:16:13.970 became legendary, often leading to Hader breaking 00:16:13.970 --> 00:16:16.610 character on live television. Which fans adored. 00:16:16.850 --> 00:16:19.230 Totally. It showcased their brilliant chemistry, 00:16:19.710 --> 00:16:21.879 proved the material - was genuinely side -splitting. 00:16:22.059 --> 00:16:24.779 And his talent as a writer, it didn't go unnoticed 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:27.200 right. He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:30.200 Award for outstanding writing for a variety series 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:33.200 with the SNL writing staff from 2009 to 2012. 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:35.820 That's major recognition within the industry. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:38.360 Yeah, consistently nominated. And he secured 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:41.059 an individual win, too, highlighting his specific 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:44.360 contributions. He won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:47.080 original music and lyrics at the 2011 Emmys. 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:49.620 For what? For the Justin Timberlake monologue, 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.440 an award he shared with Timberlake, Seth Meyers, 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:55.860 and Catrice Barnes. Ah, OK, so that highlights 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:58.320 his talent for crafting memory. musical comedy 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.980 within a sketch format, a skill he'd definitely 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:03.259 revisit later in his career. Absolutely. And 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:05.539 his connection to SNL, it really endured beyond 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:07.839 his writing tenure in a truly remarkable way. 00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:10.500 Yeah, he's hosted SNL six times since leaving, 00:17:10.900 --> 00:17:13.200 became only the fourth SNL writer to ever host. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:16.079 And, even more impressively, joined the prestigious 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:18.720 Five Timers Club in 2022. For those listening 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:21.180 who might not know, what does joining the Five 00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:23.500 Timers Club actually signify in the world of 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:25.910 SNL? It's more than just a jacket, right? Oh, 00:17:26.069 --> 00:17:28.150 absolutely. It's more than just an honorary title. 00:17:28.630 --> 00:17:31.809 It signifies this deep integration into the SNL 00:17:31.809 --> 00:17:34.849 family. It's history. It's an affirmation of 00:17:34.849 --> 00:17:38.410 your comedic power, your enduring appeal. It's 00:17:38.410 --> 00:17:41.250 a rare achievement, really, a symbol of being 00:17:41.250 --> 00:17:43.750 one of the show's most beloved and successful 00:17:43.750 --> 00:17:46.130 alumni. They bring you back because they know 00:17:46.130 --> 00:17:48.829 you can deliver a truly memorable episode. And 00:17:48.829 --> 00:17:51.369 his hosting stints became renowned for these 00:17:51.369 --> 00:17:54.200 elaborate musical sketches. almost mini Broadway 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.039 productions. Totally. We're talking about numbers 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:59.500 like Diner Lobster, Bodega Bathroom, Airport 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:02.259 Sushi, New York Musical, Subway Churro, Port 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:04.059 Authority, Dwayne Reed. They were incredible. 00:18:04.250 --> 00:18:06.369 These intricate productions became a signature 00:18:06.369 --> 00:18:08.990 of his hosting style, showed his love for musical 00:18:08.990 --> 00:18:11.289 theater, blended with his unique comedic voice. 00:18:11.410 --> 00:18:13.869 And his five -timers club induction in 2022. 00:18:14.089 --> 00:18:16.170 It was this star -studded affair, wasn't it? 00:18:16.210 --> 00:18:19.210 Oh, yeah. Comedy royalty. Candice Bergen, Tina 00:18:19.210 --> 00:18:22.349 Fey, Elliot Gould, Paul Rudd, Steve Martin, Conan 00:18:22.349 --> 00:18:25.190 O 'Brien, all welcoming him in an on -air sketch. 00:18:25.289 --> 00:18:27.690 It really solidified his place in comedy royalty. 00:18:27.829 --> 00:18:29.809 Yeah. Underscore the respect he commands within 00:18:29.809 --> 00:18:32.349 the industry. Definitely. And while he was making 00:18:32.349 --> 00:18:34.930 waves at SNL, he was also diligently building 00:18:34.930 --> 00:18:37.450 his stand -up career on the side. Right. He was 00:18:37.450 --> 00:18:40.410 a headliner since 2008, performing at major festivals 00:18:40.410 --> 00:18:42.529 like Bonnaroo, hitting the late night circuit. 00:18:42.869 --> 00:18:45.569 Yeah. Crucial proving rounds. Live at Gotham, 00:18:45.789 --> 00:18:48.549 Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night with Jimmy 00:18:48.549 --> 00:18:51.730 Fallon, Comedy Central Presence. He was truly 00:18:51.730 --> 00:18:53.829 laying the groundwork for his solo career. And 00:18:53.829 --> 00:18:56.339 he started documenting that work. His first comedy 00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:59.180 album, The Top Part, came out in 2009. Mm -hmm. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.460 Followed by his first stand -up special, New 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:04.920 in Town, in 2012, both produced with Comedy Central. 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:07.319 And these early works, they really established 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:10.160 his unique voice, didn't they? That blend of 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:12.960 observational humor, precise storytelling, and 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:16.039 that clean cut. almost boyish persona that became 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:18.579 so recognizable. Yeah, these specials were crucial 00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:20.460 in defining the John Mulaney we came to know 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:22.900 initially, a voice really distinct in the comedy 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:25.380 landscape. He carved out this niche with the 00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:28.539 sharp suits, the even sharper wit, often recounting 00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:31.359 relatable, slightly awkward social interactions. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:34.480 So moving on from SNL, Mulaney never wanted to 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:36.799 rest on his laurels. He starts exploring new 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:39.680 creative avenues, though maybe not all of his 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:41.819 ventures were immediately successful. Right. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.839 So with SNL behind him, Stanup career taking 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:47.640 off, he's at this crossroads, eager to explore 00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:51.059 new creative avenues. One of his first big swings 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:53.960 outside live performance was a sitcom that, well, 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:56.940 maybe surprisingly, didn't quite land. Yeah, 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.670 tell us about the Malini experiment. So, that 00:19:59.670 --> 00:20:02.029 sitcom was this fascinating attempt to channel 00:20:02.029 --> 00:20:04.430 his deep affection for classic multi -camera 00:20:04.430 --> 00:20:07.450 television. He created, produced, and starred 00:20:07.450 --> 00:20:10.890 in the semi -autobiographical Fox sitcom. It 00:20:10.890 --> 00:20:14.710 aired 2014 -2015. Okay. Costarred some fantastic 00:20:14.710 --> 00:20:17.890 names. Nassim Pedrad, Martin Short, Elliot Gould. 00:20:18.269 --> 00:20:20.230 His vision was quite clear, quite nostalgic. 00:20:20.710 --> 00:20:22.950 He said he wanted to do the type of live audience 00:20:22.950 --> 00:20:25.869 multi -camera sitcoms that he grew up on. A direct 00:20:25.869 --> 00:20:27.910 homage to the classics. Right, trying to capture... 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:30.000 that old magic. Unfortunately, the critical reception 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.140 was pretty poor, wasn't it? Yeah, it was rough. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.359 The series got canceled within its first year 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:37.559 by May 2015. Neil Genslinger of the New York 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:40.619 Times wrote a particularly brutal line. He said, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.339 it rips off Seinfeld so aggressively that in 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:45.960 episode two, it even makes fun of its own plagiarism. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:48.559 But one thing it forgot to borrow from Seinfeld 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:52.670 was intelligence. Ouch. That's harsh. And it 00:20:52.670 --> 00:20:54.490 highlights a challenging period in his career, 00:20:55.269 --> 00:20:57.509 an experiment that just didn't quite land with 00:20:57.509 --> 00:20:59.470 critics or audiences. What do you think went 00:20:59.470 --> 00:21:01.970 wrong there for someone so gifted at writing? 00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:04.599 That's a fair question. You know, sometimes the 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:07.460 alchemy of stand -up, it doesn't translate directly 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:10.039 to a sitcom format, especially one so heavily 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:13.640 influenced by a specific era of TV. While his 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:15.920 observations are brilliant, the specific rhythms, 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:18.119 the character development needed for a multi 00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:21.019 -cam sitcom, they're different from the tightly 00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:23.119 controlled, single -perspective narrative of 00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:25.680 stand -up. Maybe the attempt to mimic a classic 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:28.180 style too closely, like Genslinger suggested, 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:31.160 overshadowed the unique voice Mulaney had cultivated. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.819 It was probably a learning experience in the 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:35.960 complexities of translating a comedic persona 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:38.180 across different mediums. That makes a lot of 00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:41.240 sense. But despite that setback, his collaboration 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:43.660 with Nick Kroll led to a very different outcome 00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:48.019 with, oh, hello. Oh, yes. Oh, hello. A cult phenomenon 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:50.660 centered around those characters, George St. 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:54.720 Giglin and Gil Fizon, two elderly men from the 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.559 Upper West Side who host a prank show called 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:59.660 Too Much Tuna. Hilarious character. Truly a comedic 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:02.680 marvel. They embodied this very specific type 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:06.140 of New York curmudgeonly humor. They really gained 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:09.339 popularity on Cruel Show, developed a significant 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:12.119 following. The duo eventually took these characters 00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:15.880 from TV to the stage, toured the US, then brought 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:19.339 Hello to Broadway. It ran from September 2016 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:21.900 to January 2017. And the Broadway production 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:24.380 was even filmed, right? Released on Netflix in 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:28.039 June 2017. Yeah. featured Steve Martin as a celebrity 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:30.619 guest, a bonus clip with Michael J. Fox, even 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:33.359 a cameo by Matthew Broderick. This whole project, 00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:36.000 it beautifully demonstrated Mulaney's versatility 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:39.059 beyond traditional stand -up. Showcase his character 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.799 work, his writing for sketch, his theatrical 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:43.319 chops, in a way that really resonated with audiences. 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:45.700 It showed a willingness to fully commit to an 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:47.920 absurd premise and execute it with incredible 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:50.160 precision, much like a stand -up actually. Good 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:52.539 point. And if we connect this to the bigger picture, 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:55.079 it illustrates how he strategically diversified 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:57.779 his creative output, moved into areas that allowed 00:22:57.779 --> 00:23:00.940 for different kinds of comedic expression, broader 00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:03.799 audience reach. Right. And beyond live action, 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:07.099 Mulaney also revealed this significant hidden 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:10.000 talent for voice acting, a whole other dimension 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:12.460 of performance that really expanded his appeal. 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:15.240 He became quite prolific in that space. He voiced 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.779 Andrew Globerman in the Netflix animated series, 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:20.779 Big Mouth. Oh, yeah. Great show. From 2017 to 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:23.900 2025, continuing his strong collaboration with 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:26.019 Nick Kroll, who co -created the show. Right. 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:29.279 This long running role further solidified their 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:31.599 creative partnership, demonstrated Mulaney's 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:34.220 ability to inhabit animated characters effectively, 00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:36.920 lending his distinct vocal patterns and comedic 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:40.259 timing to that very relatable, awkward adolescent. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.819 He also lent his voice to the beloved Peter Porker, 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.880 Spider -Hand. Yes, in Spider. Into the Spider 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:48.500 -Verse in 2018 and its subsequent shorts and 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:50.980 sequels. Looks like a future appearance in Spider 00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:53.819 -Man. Beyond the Spider -Verse in 2027 too. That 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:56.039 character became a massive fan favorite. His 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.819 performance was a standout in that film, brought 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.559 such unexpected humor. Absolutely iconic. And 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:02.779 he didn't stop there either. He voiced Chip in 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:05.660 Chip and Dale, Rescue Rangers in 2022. OK. And 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:08.900 the villainous Big Jack Horner in Puss in Boots, 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:12.210 The Last Wish. also in 2022. Oh, he was great 00:24:12.210 --> 00:24:15.210 as Jack Horner. So over the top. Yeah. These 00:24:15.210 --> 00:24:17.509 roles really showcase his impressive range and 00:24:17.509 --> 00:24:20.410 appeal beyond his typical standup persona, allows 00:24:20.410 --> 00:24:22.670 him to explore different facets of comedy, even 00:24:22.670 --> 00:24:25.119 play against type. His work in Puss in Boots 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:27.579 as Big Jack Horner was particularly impressive, 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:29.980 wasn't it? Demonstrating his range by playing 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:33.460 this genuinely menacing and absurd villain, a 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:35.960 real departure from his usual clean cut persona. 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:38.119 Definitely. It showed he could bring his comedic 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:40.440 intelligence to a darker, more theatrical role. 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:42.980 And another incredibly well received project 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:45.299 that showcases unique blend of intelligence and 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:49.900 humor was Documentary Now. Documentary Now, a 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:52.740 true master class in parody. He served as a writer 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:56.119 and co -executive producer for the IFC mockumentary 00:24:56.119 --> 00:25:00.319 series from 2015 to 2022. It brilliantly satirizes 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:04.359 acclaimed documentary films. What makes his contribution 00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:06.640 to that show so special, do you think? I think 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.000 it's his meticulous attention to detail and his 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:11.619 deep understanding of the documentary genre itself. 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:14.680 He truly contributed to the series, Comedic Genius. 00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:17.599 wrote five episodes, including The Eye Doesn't 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:20.480 Lie, which perfectly parodied Errol Morris's 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:23.400 The Thin Blue Line with Bill Hader in 2015. Incredible 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:25.779 episode. And Soldier of Illusion Parts 1 and 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:28.420 2, a brilliant parody of Werner Herzog's films 00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:31.579 in 2022. His writing here is incredibly sharp, 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.900 capturing not just the superficial stuff, but 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:36.259 the underlying narrative structures, the emotional 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:38.119 nuances of the original works, and turning them 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:40.539 into comedic gold. And here's a pivotal moment. 00:25:40.970 --> 00:25:43.089 His first acting role on the show was in the 00:25:43.089 --> 00:25:46.390 2019 episode, original cast album, Co -op, where 00:25:46.390 --> 00:25:48.589 he played Simon Sawyer, a character based on 00:25:48.589 --> 00:25:50.690 none other than Stephen Sondheim. Yes, and he 00:25:50.690 --> 00:25:52.670 co -wrote the episode and the songs with Seth 00:25:52.670 --> 00:25:55.930 Meyers. Wow. This sounds like it perfectly merged 00:25:55.930 --> 00:25:58.470 so many of his interests. Theater, writing, music, 00:25:58.549 --> 00:26:01.329 niche humor. It absolutely did. This episode 00:26:01.329 --> 00:26:04.609 brilliantly spoofing D .A. Pennebaker's 1970 00:26:04.609 --> 00:26:08.309 original cast album, Company Documentary. It 00:26:08.309 --> 00:26:10.670 featured Renee Elise Goldsberry, Richard Kind, 00:26:10.849 --> 00:26:14.049 Alex Breitman, received widespread critical acclaim. 00:26:14.589 --> 00:26:16.730 Esquire even called it the best episode of the 00:26:16.730 --> 00:26:19.670 faux documentary TV series yet. This project 00:26:19.670 --> 00:26:21.630 just perfectly blended his love for theater, 00:26:22.089 --> 00:26:24.829 his meticulous writing, his music. talents and 00:26:24.829 --> 00:26:27.029 his knack for that niche, intelligent humor. 00:26:27.309 --> 00:26:30.390 It wasn't just parody, it was this loving, intelligent 00:26:30.390 --> 00:26:33.430 homage that showcased his unique erudition and 00:26:33.430 --> 00:26:35.450 comedic voice. Now, let's talk about what many 00:26:35.450 --> 00:26:37.829 consider his peak stardom and creative expansion 00:26:37.829 --> 00:26:40.150 in stand -up. His critically acclaimed special, 00:26:40.309 --> 00:26:42.769 The Comeback Kid, in 2015, released on Netflix, 00:26:43.269 --> 00:26:45.609 that truly cemented his status as a major force 00:26:45.609 --> 00:26:47.789 in comedy, didn't it? Oh, absolutely. The Comeback 00:26:47.789 --> 00:26:50.069 Kid was huge. David Sims of the Atlantic called 00:26:50.069 --> 00:26:52.250 it a reminder of everything that makes Mulaney 00:26:52.250 --> 00:26:54.990 so singular. storytelling rich with well -observed 00:26:54.990 --> 00:26:57.130 details, delivered with the confidence of someone 00:26:57.130 --> 00:27:00.150 decades older than 33. And it got nominated for 00:27:00.150 --> 00:27:02.970 a Primetime Emmy for outstanding writing for 00:27:02.970 --> 00:27:06.269 a variety special in 2016. Yeah, this special... 00:27:06.029 --> 00:27:09.089 truly showcased his masterful command of storytelling, 00:27:09.950 --> 00:27:12.130 moving seamlessly from childhood anecdotes to 00:27:12.130 --> 00:27:14.809 observations about adulting, all delivered with 00:27:14.809 --> 00:27:18.109 that characteristic precision. But Kid, gorgeous 00:27:18.109 --> 00:27:21.089 at Radio City in 2018, filmed during his tour. 00:27:21.470 --> 00:27:23.930 That was another monumental success that arguably 00:27:23.930 --> 00:27:26.609 surpassed it. Really? Steve Green of IndieWire 00:27:26.609 --> 00:27:29.410 lauded it as one of the year's best pieces of 00:27:29.410 --> 00:27:31.509 writing, emphasizing the intricate construction 00:27:31.509 --> 00:27:33.630 of his jokes and narratives, which often built 00:27:33.630 --> 00:27:36.500 over the entire special. and the Atlantic's David 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:39.200 Sins again highlighted his enduring appeal, noting, 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:41.779 Malaney is proving he can endure in a field that 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:43.799 even the most successful in calendar comics could 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:46.220 struggle to stay afloat in. Malaney then won 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:48.259 his second Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:51.099 for a variety special for Kid Gorgeous. Truly 00:27:51.099 --> 00:27:53.119 marking it as a career high, it felt like a real 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:55.720 validation of his unique comedic vision. Yeah, 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:58.259 that win was significant recognition from his 00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:00.700 peers, the industry, not just for his performance, 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:03.119 but specifically for his meticulous craftsmanship 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:05.420 in writing. Right. Fascinating here, too, is 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:07.440 the endorsement he received from Comedy Legends. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:10.980 In 2017, he was invited to honor David Letterman, 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:13.559 who was accepting the Mark Twain Prize for American 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:16.380 Humor at the Kennedy Center. Wow. And Letterman 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:20.660 himself said, John Mulaney, this is the future 00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:23.160 of comedy, ladies and gentlemen. That's incredible 00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:26.099 praise. From Letterman especially, whose own 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:29.099 brand of humor was so distinct, often anti -establishment, 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:32.859 to Crown Mulaney, the future. really speaks volumes. 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:35.740 What do you think millennium bodies that bridge 00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:38.319 those comedic generations so effectively? That's 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:40.420 an excellent point. Letterman always championed 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:42.460 authenticity, right? A unique point of view. 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.880 I think Mulaney, despite his clean -cut appearance, 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:47.559 brought a similar level of intellectual rigor, 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:50.500 and often a subtle subversion to his observations. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:53.240 He wasn't overtly rebellious, but he was incredibly 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:55.240 smart about the absurdities he pointed out. Put 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:57.960 him in a lineage of thoughtful, intelligent comedians. 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:00.740 Yeah, that makes sense. He was also invited to 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:03.079 perform stand -up at John Stewart's charity event, 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:07.119 Night of Too Many Stars in 2017, and Seth Rogen's... 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:10.380 Hilarity for Charity in 2018, further solidifying 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:12.740 his place among comedy's elite for good causes. 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:15.380 These invitations reflect not just his talent, 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:17.759 but also his respected standing within the comedy 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.569 community. A sign he was seen as a go -to for 00:29:20.569 --> 00:29:23.329 significant events, both for his comedic prowess 00:29:23.329 --> 00:29:26.670 and his reliability. Then came John Mulaney and 00:29:26.670 --> 00:29:29.609 the Sack Lunch Bunch in 2019. Oh, I love this. 00:29:29.849 --> 00:29:32.210 This Netflix Children's musical comedy special 00:29:32.210 --> 00:29:34.990 was truly unique and I think really unexpected 00:29:34.990 --> 00:29:37.349 for many people. It was inspired by classic shows 00:29:37.349 --> 00:29:39.809 like Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, 00:29:40.009 --> 00:29:42.430 The Electric Company. It was such a delightful 00:29:42.430 --> 00:29:44.950 surprise, wasn't it? Yeah. Showcasing a completely 00:29:44.950 --> 00:29:47.049 different side of his creative genius. It featured 00:29:47.049 --> 00:29:50.099 Mulaney with 50 child actors and singers, aged 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:52.920 8 to 13. Right. And had incredible celebrity 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:56.000 cameos from André de Shields, David Byrne, Richard 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:58.819 Kine, Natasha Lyonne, Ashley Ashford, and Jake 00:29:58.819 --> 00:30:01.740 Gyllenhaal as Mr. Music. Jake Gyllenhaal as Mr. 00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:04.980 Music was just perfect testing somehow. It was 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:08.440 a fantastic blend of innocence and sophisticated 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:11.200 meta humor. And critically, it was universally 00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:14.240 praised for its cleverness and charm. Alan Sepinwall 00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:17.059 of Rolling Stone compared it favorably to things 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:20.170 like like Galaxy Quest, The Princess Bride, Jane 00:30:20.170 --> 00:30:22.750 the Virgin, as one of those gems that manages 00:30:22.750 --> 00:30:26.069 to simultaneously parody a genre and be an excellent 00:30:26.069 --> 00:30:29.170 recreation of it. This project truly showcased 00:30:29.170 --> 00:30:31.829 a unique, unexpected side of his creativity, 00:30:32.529 --> 00:30:34.869 showed his ability to excel in diverse, complex 00:30:34.869 --> 00:30:37.430 formats, honoring the past while creating something 00:30:37.430 --> 00:30:39.650 utterly fresh. And it garnered nominations for 00:30:39.650 --> 00:30:42.400 two Emmy Awards. outstanding variety special, 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:44.859 pre -recorded, and outstanding writing for a 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:47.299 variety special. He continued his collaborations 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:50.099 too, co -hosting the Independent Spirit Awards 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:52.660 ceremonies with Nick Kroll in 2017 and 2018, 00:30:53.380 --> 00:30:55.119 further cementing their comedic partnership. 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:57.460 Yeah, this demonstrates their strong ongoing 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:59.920 partnership across different platforms, shows 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:02.059 their chemistry translates seamlessly to hosting 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:05.200 duties. In November 2020, he even joined Late 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:07.279 Night with Seth Meyers as a staff writer. Oh, 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:09.500 I remember that. That was interesting. Yeah, 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:11.680 a return to the writing room that many found 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:14.099 interesting, especially given his history with 00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:16.660 Myers at SNL and his established standup fame. 00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:19.319 It showed his continued dedication to the craft 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:21.920 of writing itself. He also appeared in that Netflix 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:24.539 and YouTube collaboration series hosted by Tan 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:28.299 France Dressing Funny in June 2019, showcasing 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:30.940 his willingness to engage in more casual experimental 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:33.259 content. Right. And he toured with Pete Davidson 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:36.440 for Sundays with Pete and John in 2019, highlighting 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:38.349 another significant comedic pairing that that 00:31:38.349 --> 00:31:41.509 many fans enjoyed, bringing together two pretty 00:31:41.509 --> 00:31:44.150 distinct voices from SNL. Yeah, that was a hot 00:31:44.150 --> 00:31:46.450 ticket. And a poignant role, actually, in the 00:31:46.450 --> 00:31:49.190 Hall, honoring the greats of standup in 2022, 00:31:49.390 --> 00:31:52.029 where he honored Robin Williams, alongside Jon 00:31:52.029 --> 00:31:54.450 Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Chelsea 00:31:54.450 --> 00:31:56.910 Handler. It felt like a moment of reflection, 00:31:57.410 --> 00:32:00.089 respect for comedic heritage, recognizing the 00:32:00.089 --> 00:32:02.829 giants on whose shoulders he stood. Okay, let's 00:32:02.829 --> 00:32:05.109 shift gears now to a section of his life that 00:32:05.109 --> 00:32:08.329 became very public. deeply personal, and profoundly 00:32:08.329 --> 00:32:11.589 shaped his art and public persona. His marriages 00:32:11.589 --> 00:32:13.690 and relationships marked significant shifts in 00:32:13.690 --> 00:32:16.269 his personal narrative. He married multimedia 00:32:16.269 --> 00:32:20.250 artist Anna Marie Tendler on July 5, 2014. Friend 00:32:20.250 --> 00:32:22.490 Dan Levy performed the ceremony. Right. Their 00:32:22.490 --> 00:32:25.509 separation was then announced in May 2021, and 00:32:25.509 --> 00:32:27.990 they finalized their divorce in January 2022. 00:32:28.730 --> 00:32:31.769 This period of personal upheaval coincided with 00:32:31.769 --> 00:32:33.910 other significant life changes. Yeah, in September 00:32:33.910 --> 00:32:36.930 2021, Mulaney announced that he and actress Olivia 00:32:36.930 --> 00:32:39.359 Munn were expecting a child. Their son was born 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:42.779 on November 24th, 2021. Mulaney and Munn then 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:46.359 married in July 2024 in New York. And their second 00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:48.839 child, a daughter, was born via surrogate on 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:52.900 September 14th, 2024. So these events mark these 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:55.920 profound shifts in his personal life. Fatherhood, 00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:58.880 a new marriage, all while navigating really intense 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:01.039 public scrutiny. Absolutely. And what's truly 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:02.960 fascinating here and profoundly impactful on 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:05.259 his recent work are his struggles with substance 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:07.500 use and his very public journey to recovery. 00:33:07.660 --> 00:33:09.559 Mm -hmm, Mulaney has openly discussed this. In 00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:11.900 a 2014 interview, he had stated he'd been sober 00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:14.740 since September 22, 2005. Right, a long time. 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:17.539 Nearly a decade and a half, this long period 00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:19.980 of sobriety made his later struggles particularly 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:22.960 surprising to many, I think, because he had become 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:26.019 almost the symbol of a clean -cut, sharp comedian, 00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:28.700 someone who always seemed totally in control. 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:31.640 Here's where his narratives took that incredibly 00:33:31.640 --> 00:33:35.130 raw turn. disrupting that image entirely. In 00:33:35.130 --> 00:33:37.930 September 2020, he checked into a rehabilitation 00:33:37.930 --> 00:33:41.809 facility. He left, hosted SNL in October, and 00:33:41.809 --> 00:33:44.190 then tragically relapsed after the show. This 00:33:44.190 --> 00:33:46.589 was a critical turning point, wasn't it? A moment 00:33:46.589 --> 00:33:49.630 of profound vulnerability that, for many, maybe 00:33:49.630 --> 00:33:51.829 shattered the carefully constructed persona he 00:33:51.829 --> 00:33:54.430 had built. A truly pivotal and I imagine a heartbreaking 00:33:54.430 --> 00:33:57.140 moment in his life and career. In December 2020, 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:59.180 a group of his closest friends, Seth Meyers, 00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:01.640 Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Nick Kroll, Natasha 00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:04.380 Lyonne, others, staged an intervention for Malini. 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:07.319 Wow. That's quite a list of friends. It is. He 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:09.460 then checked into a drug rehabilitation center 00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:12.239 for alcoholism, cocaine dependence, and prescription 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:15.280 drug addiction. This collective effort from his 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:17.360 close friends, it really highlights the depth 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:19.860 of his struggles and the immense community concern 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:22.340 for his well -being, shows how deeply he was 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:24.719 valued by his peers. He then moved into outpatient 00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:27.920 care in February 2021, slowly taking steps toward 00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:30.679 recovery. His courageous return to stand -up 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:34.260 comedy came in May 2021 with new material titled 00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:38.079 John Mulaney from scratch Performing sold -out 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:40.360 shows a large tour that ran from March to June 00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:44.119 2022 This tour was a brave very public step back 00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:46.619 into the spotlight directly addressing his very 00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:49.320 recent experiences Using his art as a means of 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:51.380 processing and sharing his journey. Yeah turning 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:53.949 it into material This period also brought some 00:34:53.949 --> 00:34:56.170 public scrutiny, challenging Raharafali -maintained 00:34:56.170 --> 00:34:59.690 image. During his From Scratch tour in May 2022, 00:34:59.949 --> 00:35:01.949 Mulaney invited Dave Chappelle to open his show. 00:35:02.130 --> 00:35:04.300 Right. I remember this. Which drew criticism 00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:07.360 due to transphobic jokes Chappelle had made previously. 00:35:08.320 --> 00:35:10.579 This incident highlights the complexities, the 00:35:10.579 --> 00:35:12.800 public scrutiny that can come with evolving comedic 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:16.400 voices, personal choices, especially in a rapidly 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:19.059 changing social landscape. It's an example of 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:21.820 how comedians' decisions offstage or in their 00:35:21.820 --> 00:35:24.039 choice of collaborators can intersect with public 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:26.900 perception, ethical considerations, even when 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:29.239 not directly related to their own material. And 00:35:29.239 --> 00:35:32.000 all of this, this whole period. It led to his 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:35.320 2023 Netflix special, Baby Jay, filmed in Boston. 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:38.260 This special dealt primarily with his visit to 00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:41.039 drug rehabilitation, his efforts towards sobriety. 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:44.619 It was a stark, courageous, deeply personal departure 00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:47.139 from his previous work. Before we dive into its 00:35:47.139 --> 00:35:49.559 critical reception, what does it mean for a comedian, 00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:52.260 especially one as meticulous and image conscious 00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:55.739 as Mulaney had been, to lay bare such raw, painful 00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:58.349 experiences on stage? That's the pivotal question, 00:35:58.510 --> 00:36:00.530 isn't it? And it really defines this period of 00:36:00.530 --> 00:36:02.869 his career. For years, Mulaney was the clean 00:36:02.869 --> 00:36:05.269 -cut comedian in the suit. Almost a comedic safe 00:36:05.269 --> 00:36:07.469 space, known for his observational hair that 00:36:07.469 --> 00:36:10.130 kept a certain distance. Baby J shattered that. 00:36:10.219 --> 00:36:12.460 It wasn't just about detailing his relapse. It 00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:14.360 was about grappling with the public's perception 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:17.480 of him, the maybe perceived betrayal of an image 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:20.500 he'd meticulously built, and the profound vulnerability 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:22.980 of admitting that pristine facade was crumbling. 00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:25.960 Right. It forces both him and the audience to 00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:28.380 confront that chasm between the persona and the 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:31.440 man. And in doing so, paradoxically, he deepened 00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:33.179 his connection with many, I think, because he 00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:36.280 revealed a fundamental human truth about struggle. 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:38.900 It's almost an act of comedic deconstruction 00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:41.789 where he's tearing down his own mythology. That 00:36:41.789 --> 00:36:44.150 makes sense. It's almost like a recalibration 00:36:44.150 --> 00:36:46.849 of the contract he had with his audience. Moving 00:36:46.849 --> 00:36:50.190 from observer to participant in his own life's 00:36:50.190 --> 00:36:53.530 chaos, how did critics, and maybe more importantly 00:36:53.530 --> 00:36:56.809 audiences, respond to this radical shift? The 00:36:56.809 --> 00:36:59.690 response was complex, but largely positive, I'd 00:36:59.690 --> 00:37:02.369 say, for its honesty. While it was widely praised 00:37:02.369 --> 00:37:05.289 for its frankness, its courage, Variety notably 00:37:05.289 --> 00:37:07.769 pointed out that it never tamed with a comprehensive 00:37:07.769 --> 00:37:10.329 account of when Mulaney relapsed, or why, or 00:37:10.329 --> 00:37:12.269 how his fame and fortune affected his addiction, 00:37:12.590 --> 00:37:14.469 or what it felt like to watch everything play 00:37:14.469 --> 00:37:17.369 out in the press. Ah, okay. So not a full tell 00:37:17.369 --> 00:37:19.949 -all. Right. Which raises an important question 00:37:19.949 --> 00:37:22.409 about how much a public figure owes their audience 00:37:22.409 --> 00:37:25.909 in terms of detailed personal disclosure. That 00:37:25.909 --> 00:37:28.730 delicate balance between catharsis and complete 00:37:28.730 --> 00:37:31.699 revelation. It wasn't a tell -all in the traditional 00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:34.639 sense, but rather a carefully crafted comedic 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:37.039 narrative about the experience. That distinction 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:40.440 is important. Despite that nuance, multiple reviews, 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:42.980 including Esquire, compared its honesty about 00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:46.039 addiction to Richard Pryor's 1982 special, Live 00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:49.099 on the Sunset Strip. Wow. That's a huge comparison, 00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:52.300 right? Elevating Baby J to a significant moment 00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:54.840 in confessional comedy, placing him in a lineage 00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:57.360 of groundbreaking vulnerability. It undeniably 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:59.619 places Baby J in that lineage of groundbreaking 00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:02.300 vulnerable specials, acknowledges its place in 00:38:02.300 --> 00:38:04.960 comedy history. Mulaney concluded a special by 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:07.079 reading and commenting on sections of a wide 00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:09.599 -ranging interview he gave with GQ while under 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:11.880 the influence of cocaine. I remember that part. 00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:15.320 Stating he didn't remember his answers. The interviewer, 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:17.800 Frazier Tharp, even wrote a follow -up piece 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:19.820 released the same day as the special, adding 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:22.840 another layer to the story. A meta -commentary 00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:25.400 on the entire public narrative, intertwining 00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:27.780 journalism and performance in this very modern 00:38:27.780 --> 00:38:30.780 way. Right. It was Mulaney, once again, using 00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:33.280 his meticulous eye to dissect his own public 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:36.320 image and the media's role in it. Exactly. So 00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:38.360 what has he been up to beyond the stage and his 00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:40.760 most recent special? He's continued his acting 00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:43.030 work. appeared as himself in the episode board 00:38:43.030 --> 00:38:46.449 nine of the p davidson series bookies in 2023 00:38:46.449 --> 00:38:49.349 showcasing a willingness to lean into his own 00:38:49.349 --> 00:38:52.380 celebrity for comedic effect Right. And he had 00:38:52.380 --> 00:38:55.179 that notable guest role as Stevie, partner to 00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:57.440 Michelle Brazado, in three episodes of The Bear. 00:38:57.579 --> 00:38:59.480 Oh, yeah. He was great in The Bear. Unexpectedly 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:02.900 sweet. From 2023 to 2025, he also guest starred 00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:05.380 as Daniel Clyde Otis in the Peacock crime series 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:08.559 Poker Face in 2025. These roles show a continued 00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:11.139 engagement with scripted drama and comedy, often 00:39:11.139 --> 00:39:13.980 in supporting but impactful capacities, demonstrating 00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:16.619 his versatility as a performer beyond just stand 00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:19.860 up. He also hosted John Mulaney Presents Everybody's 00:39:19.860 --> 00:39:24.300 in LA in 2024. That six part live streamed Netflix 00:39:24.300 --> 00:39:27.440 talk show during Netflix is a joke festival. 00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:30.900 It was well received as a pop up talk show and 00:39:30.900 --> 00:39:33.699 a throwback vehicle for exploring highly personal 00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:35.719 hobby horses. That sounds like another interesting 00:39:35.719 --> 00:39:37.679 evolution of his hosting and interview skills. 00:39:38.260 --> 00:39:40.619 A bit looser maybe. Yeah. This venture allowed 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:42.800 him to flex his hosting and interviewing muscles 00:39:42.800 --> 00:39:45.900 in a new less structured format. It resonated 00:39:45.900 --> 00:39:48.099 with audiences who appreciated his unique blend 00:39:48.099 --> 00:39:50.719 of intelligence and quirky humor. He followed 00:39:50.719 --> 00:39:52.800 up with a spinoff, Everybody's Live with John 00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:56.739 Mulaney, in 2025, suggests the success and potential 00:39:56.739 --> 00:39:59.559 for expansion of that experimental format, blending 00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:01.639 his love for talk shows with the modern live 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:03.559 streamed approach. And he remains deeply connected 00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:06.320 to SNL, which is truly a testament to his enduring 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:08.929 legacy there. He served as a writer and co -host 00:40:08.929 --> 00:40:10.869 for the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary 00:40:10.869 --> 00:40:14.429 special in 2025, alongside Steve Martin, performing 00:40:14.429 --> 00:40:17.070 in sketches. Mm -hmm. He also presented for Conan 00:40:17.070 --> 00:40:19.449 O 'Brien, the Mark Twain Prize for American humor 00:40:19.449 --> 00:40:22.889 in 2025, honoring his early mentor, kind of bringing 00:40:22.889 --> 00:40:24.869 his career full circle there. That's lovely. 00:40:25.039 --> 00:40:27.760 These continued high -profile appearances, they 00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:30.519 underscore his enduring relevance, his respected 00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:33.039 place in the industry, shows he's not just a 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:35.380 passing trend, but really a comedic institution. 00:40:35.960 --> 00:40:39.340 He also announced his Mr. Whatever tour for 2025 00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:42.320 with dates across the U .S. and Canada. Right. 00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:44.739 What's particularly compelling about this tour 00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:47.139 is that he's occasionally joined by guests like 00:40:47.139 --> 00:40:50.340 Nick Kroll, Fred Armisen, Mike Berbilia, Pete 00:40:50.340 --> 00:40:52.900 Davidson, John Stewart, Martin Short. Wow, that's 00:40:52.900 --> 00:40:56.230 a lineup. continued collaborative spirit, that 00:40:56.230 --> 00:40:59.130 strong community within comedy. It's a testament 00:40:59.130 --> 00:41:01.289 to the respect and camaraderie he shares with 00:41:01.289 --> 00:41:03.489 his peers. And he even returned to Broadway acting 00:41:03.489 --> 00:41:07.000 in Simon Rich's all -in comedy about love. in 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:09.860 2024 at the Hudson Theater, acting opposite Fred 00:41:09.860 --> 00:41:12.420 Armisen, Richard Kind, Renee Elise Goldsberry, 00:41:12.639 --> 00:41:15.079 Chloe Feinman. Right. This really highlights 00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:17.679 his continued engagement with live theater, another 00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:20.219 facet of his diverse career, proves his commitment 00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:22.980 to the stage in all its forms. Beyond his professional 00:41:22.980 --> 00:41:25.239 life, his personal views have also evolved and 00:41:25.239 --> 00:41:27.960 become public, offering another layer of insight 00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:32.289 into the man behind the jokes. In 2014, he indicated 00:41:32.289 --> 00:41:34.510 his religious views aligned more with Judaism 00:41:34.510 --> 00:41:38.389 than his Catholic upbringing. By 2020, he described 00:41:38.389 --> 00:41:41.590 himself as an atheist. This evolution in his 00:41:41.590 --> 00:41:43.989 spiritual perspective is noteworthy, reflects 00:41:43.989 --> 00:41:46.349 a personal journey of belief and self -discovery 00:41:46.349 --> 00:41:48.829 that many people can probably relate to. He's 00:41:48.829 --> 00:41:51.389 also engaged in public events beyond comedy stages, 00:41:51.969 --> 00:41:54.269 showing a broader civic awareness. He appeared 00:41:54.269 --> 00:41:57.309 at a USO celebration of service event in 2016, 00:41:57.769 --> 00:42:00.030 performing for military families alongside John 00:42:00.030 --> 00:42:02.429 Stewart, David Letterman, attended by President 00:42:02.429 --> 00:42:05.030 Obama and Vice President Biden. Right. And his 00:42:05.030 --> 00:42:07.170 political humor has even led to consequences, 00:42:07.329 --> 00:42:09.550 illustrating that tightrope comedians walk in 00:42:09.550 --> 00:42:12.630 public discourse, a joke made while hosting SNL 00:42:12.630 --> 00:42:15.989 on February 29th, 2020. Oh, the leap day joke. 00:42:16.210 --> 00:42:18.949 Exactly. About Julius Caesar being stabbed for 00:42:18.949 --> 00:42:21.630 being a maniac with a reference to Donald Trump. 00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:24.099 It led to an investigation by the United States 00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:26.699 Secret Service. Yeah. The file was closed without 00:42:26.699 --> 00:42:29.300 action, but this incident clearly underscores 00:42:29.300 --> 00:42:31.699 the boundaries the sensitivities comedians face, 00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:34.039 especially when commenting on political figures, 00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:36.820 even indirectly. It definitely highlights the 00:42:36.820 --> 00:42:39.579 intense scrutiny. Public figures, particularly 00:42:39.579 --> 00:42:42.000 comedians, are under in the current climate. 00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:44.179 Yeah. In terms of political affiliations, he 00:42:44.179 --> 00:42:46.719 donated to Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential 00:42:46.719 --> 00:42:49.760 campaign and was seen at a Black Lives Matter 00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:54.309 protest in Washington, D .C. in June 2020. These 00:42:54.309 --> 00:42:56.650 actions, for a comedian often seen as somewhat 00:42:56.650 --> 00:42:59.309 apolitical in his stand -up, they hint at a deeper 00:42:59.309 --> 00:43:01.750 personal engagement with social issues. He also 00:43:01.750 --> 00:43:04.110 appeared alongside Alexandria Ocasio -Cortez 00:43:04.110 --> 00:43:06.869 as openers for a concert featuring The Strokes. 00:43:06.949 --> 00:43:09.530 That was a fundraiser for NYC mayoral candidate 00:43:09.530 --> 00:43:13.250 Maya Wiley in June 2021. And he powerfully supported 00:43:13.250 --> 00:43:15.570 the Writers Guild of America's strike in 2023 00:43:15.570 --> 00:43:18.329 by canceling a Baby J, FYC screening and panel, 00:43:18.829 --> 00:43:20.710 showed solidarity with his fellow writers during 00:43:20.710 --> 00:43:23.260 a critical time for the industry. These actions 00:43:23.260 --> 00:43:25.780 show his willingness to engage with contemporary 00:43:25.780 --> 00:43:28.940 political and social issues, aligning his public 00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:32.099 persona with his values, even if his comedy itself 00:43:32.099 --> 00:43:35.039 isn't always explicitly political. What a journey. 00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:37.340 We've truly journeyed through the remarkable 00:43:37.340 --> 00:43:39.699 life of John Mulaney, haven't we? From those 00:43:39.699 --> 00:43:42.179 precocious childhood aspirations in Chicago, 00:43:42.659 --> 00:43:44.840 nurtured by that intellectually rigorous background, 00:43:45.159 --> 00:43:48.300 his unique comedic influences, to his groundbreaking 00:43:48.300 --> 00:43:51.360 work on SNL, his diverse ventures in film and 00:43:51.360 --> 00:43:53.619 television, and his courageous public sharing 00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:56.300 of personal struggles and triumphs. His stories 00:43:56.300 --> 00:43:58.420 really attest him to the power of meticulous 00:43:58.420 --> 00:44:01.840 observation, profound collaboration, and an astonishing 00:44:01.840 --> 00:44:04.380 vulnerability in creating truly impactful art. 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:06.880 So what stands out to you from Mulaney's journey, 00:44:06.980 --> 00:44:08.820 especially after peeling back all these layers, 00:44:09.320 --> 00:44:11.820 is it his ability to craft compelling narratives 00:44:11.820 --> 00:44:14.500 from everyday life with such precision or his 00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:16.679 unwavering dedication to the craft of comedy, 00:44:16.900 --> 00:44:18.920 constantly seeking new outlets for his voice? 00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:22.280 Or maybe it's his brave decision to lay bare 00:44:22.280 --> 00:44:25.059 his personal battles for his audience, transforming 00:44:25.059 --> 00:44:28.579 that pain into this new resonant form of authenticity. 00:44:29.159 --> 00:44:30.860 There's a powerful lesson here, I think, about 00:44:30.860 --> 00:44:33.420 how genuine authenticity, even when difficult 00:44:33.420 --> 00:44:36.480 and painful can deeply resonate and connect with 00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:38.860 people on a profound level. It truly is, isn't 00:44:38.860 --> 00:44:41.659 it? That shift from the meticulously curated 00:44:41.659 --> 00:44:45.780 persona to raw, honest self -revelation is such 00:44:45.780 --> 00:44:48.119 a defining characteristic of his recent work. 00:44:48.880 --> 00:44:51.579 And as Mulaney continues to evolve, using his 00:44:51.579 --> 00:44:53.599 experiences to shape new material, exploring 00:44:53.599 --> 00:44:56.280 different creator outlets, what does his ongoing 00:44:56.280 --> 00:44:58.159 career tell us about the future of celebrity, 00:44:58.739 --> 00:45:00.960 personal storytelling, and the ever -shifting 00:45:00.960 --> 00:45:03.320 expectations placed on public figures in this 00:45:03.320 --> 00:45:05.800 digital age? Yeah, that's a great question. What 00:45:05.800 --> 00:45:08.400 role do you think vulnerability plays in a comedian's 00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:10.900 ability to connect with an audience today? And 00:45:10.900 --> 00:45:12.780 how might that influence the next generation 00:45:12.780 --> 00:45:15.380 of comedic voices, especially as those lines 00:45:15.380 --> 00:45:17.619 between public and private just keep blurring 00:45:17.619 --> 00:45:20.619 even further? Those are profound questions that 00:45:20.619 --> 00:45:23.019 Mulaney's trajectory really brings to the forefront, 00:45:23.239 --> 00:45:25.380 don't they? His journey challenges us to consider 00:45:25.380 --> 00:45:27.619 the evolving contract between public figures 00:45:27.619 --> 00:45:30.260 and their audiences, especially in an era where 00:45:30.260 --> 00:45:32.579 personal narratives are increasingly entwined 00:45:32.579 --> 00:45:35.199 with artistic expression. It highlights that 00:45:35.199 --> 00:45:38.199 vulnerability, once may be seen as a risk, can 00:45:38.199 --> 00:45:40.840 now be a powerful catalyst for deeper connection, 00:45:41.360 --> 00:45:43.659 potentially setting a new standard for authenticity 00:45:43.659 --> 00:45:46.840 in an often performative world. Absolutely. Well, 00:45:46.900 --> 00:45:48.679 thank you for joining us on this deep dive. We 00:45:48.679 --> 00:45:50.420 hope it gave you some compelling new insights 00:45:50.420 --> 00:45:53.000 and perspectives on one of comedy's most fascinating 00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:54.480 voices. We'll see you next time.