John Mulaney is one of those people who for a long time has epitomized success in comedy and, more broadly, show business. His friendly and upbeat brand of observational comedy delivered by way of incredible storytelling has made him one of the industry’s top artists. Many fans regard him as the first stand-up they ever got into or remember his Emmy-winning writing from his time with Saturday Night Live. Mulaney built a brand on being very likeable while delivering perfect punch lines.
The tide changed around 2020 when stand-up comedy had been on a rise as people sought relief from tumultuous times and Mulaney had reached an all-new high in his stardom. Despite mounting success, that period (a time where, frankly, none of us were at our best) brought the comic a battle with addiction that fueled chaotic life changes that all happened very publicly, abruptly changing Mulaney’s not squeaky-clean but arguably wholesome reputation.
That period of time became a bit of a point of no return for the star. There was no option to continue creating without acknowledging what the public had already known. The experience brought fans Mulaney’s most recent album, 2023’s Baby J, in which he uses his same quick-witted comedy to tell the story of his intervention and rehabilitation in a way that makes light of an era of darkness that drew the comic much public speculation and criticism.
Baby J is a work of art that balances self-reflection and acceptance with lingering feelings of frustration and confusion, without feeling heavy at any given point. Really, it’s a testament to Mulaney’s writing talents. And it’s an album that makes clear we’re getting a daring, less-afraid comic than we once knew. Early in the album, Mulaney describes likability as a prison, and toward the end jokes about how he’s his own worst enemy: “What, are you going to cancel John Mulaney? I’ll kill him.”
Since welcoming a more fearless version of himself, Mulaney has launched himself back into the spotlight with numerous projects like Netflix talk shows John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A. and Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, appearances on FX’s The Bear as Stevie and on the Broadway stage in All In: Comedy About Love. Each project brings the same personality fans have grown to love, but with a sharper edge that keeps Mulaney’s punch lines, well, punchy.
Despite his many successes in scripted and talk show formats, the best window into the comic’s mind will always be his stand-up. Simply speaking his mind into a mic without costumes, props and set pieces, Mulaney excels as an orator. And now, more than ever, is a great time to hear what the comic has to say.
As expected with any show from the seasoned comic, Mulaney’s Oct. 11 stop at Park MGM promises a night of laughter from curtain open to close, but with less regard for what people think of him, the Mister Whatever Tour is also likely to bring some boundary-breaking comedy.
Park MGM, 8 p.m. Oct. 11, starting at $79 plus tax and fee. parkmgm.mgmresorts.com
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