John Mulaney's latest comedy special on Netflix was long anticipated and definitely met all of my expectations. If you have enjoyed his past comedy specials; New in Town, and The Comeback Kid, you will definitely enjoy this new one as well. The only other thing I have to say for this show is that at the time it was released on Netflix he had already hosted SNL and used many of the same jokes from the show in his opening monologue. He also notably had already done his 'horse in a hospital' bit in an interview with Stephen Colbert in 2017. This didn't bother me at all, and obviously a large part of being a comedian is recycling jokes for new audiences. Hearing the same jokes a second time did not dampen my enjoyment of the set as a whole. Overall it is very entertaining and I'm sure I will watch it many more times, just as I have with both New in Town and The Comeback Kid.
18 Reviews
Another great special
fischer_patrick1 June 2023
Comedian and Saturday Night Live alum John Mulaney's delivers again with his third Netflix Special. It is a rock solid ride for any stand up comedy fan. John's hilarious takes include musings about manners, relationships, religion, and the state of modern politics. His style is still very much a preppy young man who speaks fast and fits in as many jokes as possible per minute. He doesn't really tell jokes, he tells stories with his own hilarious takes on them. The pace is fast and and nonstop. This special is fantastic and flies by. It's worth watching multiple times. His delivery and stage presence are terrific.
Refined and improved technically, not as fast-paced and fresh in terms of material.
tareqzaghal2 September 2023
Loved the stage design, venue, and lightning. Smooth direction, noticed how it often focused on accompanying the stories John was telling through composition and specific cuts, it helps elevate the jokes when it's done well.
I find Mulaney to be a very likeable entertainer, with his line delivery and vocal tone being his biggest strength as a comedian. He is able to use his known persona and attributes to throw you off when building up certain jokes. However, watching such a special years later, it shows how quickly they can become restricted within their own time period, many of them that chose to heavily focus their comedy at that time on the 2016 Presidential election.
That was my least favourite part honestly, maybe it was a new take on it at the time, but by now every joke has been made a hundred times over and over, it hurts the rewatchbility factor of a lot of comedy specials when they can become so about their own period of time, leaving nothing to come back to at times.
My favourite one was the about the email from his friend in college. Interested to see the next Netflix special after his experience in rehab to see how his work develops. I found this most interesting stories were the personal ones about his family then and now, need more of those. Good all around, nothing insanely different or exciting for me.
I find Mulaney to be a very likeable entertainer, with his line delivery and vocal tone being his biggest strength as a comedian. He is able to use his known persona and attributes to throw you off when building up certain jokes. However, watching such a special years later, it shows how quickly they can become restricted within their own time period, many of them that chose to heavily focus their comedy at that time on the 2016 Presidential election.
That was my least favourite part honestly, maybe it was a new take on it at the time, but by now every joke has been made a hundred times over and over, it hurts the rewatchbility factor of a lot of comedy specials when they can become so about their own period of time, leaving nothing to come back to at times.
My favourite one was the about the email from his friend in college. Interested to see the next Netflix special after his experience in rehab to see how his work develops. I found this most interesting stories were the personal ones about his family then and now, need more of those. Good all around, nothing insanely different or exciting for me.
So funny!
canfield2530 January 2019
We have watched all of his specials so many times and introduced friends and family to them as well. They all love him! I have to have background noise so I put him on a lot of the time because when I do pay attention, I'm guaranteed a laugh no matter what part he's at! Talented guy, no doubt!
The best standup comedy!!!!!
azaamalmasudi21 April 2019
Brilliant. Possibly His Best Work
caseyt-4851119 April 2020
I got to see John Mulaney live during his Kid Gorgeous tour in 2018 and it was probably the funniest live stand up show I've ever been to. Stand Up Comedy is incredibly hit or miss for me. I either love someone's act or I don't. No in between. He's great because he's got an edge but he's not offensive. He's personal but willing to take on the man. And best of all, he's actually funny.
He has such an amazing way with words and humor. His best material is when he's talking about his personal life and his bizarre encounters with wacky, almost literally like, characters. He doesn't talk down to people and he's a master of self deprecating humor. It's incredible how far this man has come in recent years after only 4 specials. Kid Gorgeous is hilarious, heartfelt and smart. His stories about his parents and childhood are great and his brilliant metaphor for the current "presidential" administration is the best I have heard and likely ever will. It's smart but not obvious and mean spirited. He's just being honest with himself and how he feels (I happened to agree). I'd rather a comedian be honest about how they feel then just try to shock and offend people for the sake of it. That's why Mulaney and others like Carlin and Pryor are so great. They were honest with their feelings. They laid it all out for us to see. And I feel that if Mulaney keeps this up, he will one day be among the greats, if he isn't already.
It's a toss up for me as to which of his specials is the best. I'm pretty partial to The Comeback Kid Myself, But this may be a very close second. He's one of the few stand up comedians I feel is worth watching. I can't wait to see what he does next.
I love his material and delivery
babygold-312606 August 2019
Most comedians make me cringe. I rarely laugh at the jokes they deliver. That is not the case with Mulaney. He genuinely makes me laugh, and that's why I have bought two of his specials on iTunes. Radio City was my first purchase, and my enjoyment prompted me to buy his prior material. I hope he tours, again, in Portland, Oregon. I want to see him, live.
"I thought I was going to get murdered my entire childhood."
classicsoncall10 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
As it turns out, I'm seeing John Mulaney tonight, appearing live at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival in Bethel, New York. In preparation, I've watched his three available stand up routines currently playing on Netflix. I think he's a funny guy at times but I don't understand his mass appeal; tonight's pavillion show has only a few seats left unsold out of six thousand available. That would be more than Harry Connick Jr. Or the band Chicago drew when they appeared earlier this season. For this Radio City Music Hall show, Mulaney riffed on the horrors of elementary school assemblies, how his college experience was like a four year game show, and how he's feeling gross at the age of thirty five. It's interesting he focused on that age, because if you catch some movies form the Forties and Fifties, like Gregory Peck's "The Gunfighter", you'll sometimes hear a character lament about being over the hill at thirty five. His 'horse in a hospital' bit was kind of clever, lampooning the former President without mentioning him by name. If you want to know which one, you'll just have to watch the program.
An absolute gem!
thekarmicnomad8 September 2023
As a Brit' I find U. S stand-up hit and miss.
A lot of the time the references are very U. S-centric with a lot of repetition and shouting.
When John walked on stage, with is shiny clean chat show host look, I was all set to dislike him.
I was so wrong.
This guy is hilarious.
His delivery is high energy without being over whelming and nothing was so niche it didn't translate across the ocean.
His material is not only funny but clever and doesn't get too mean.
A lot of humour regarding Trump tends to be crude character assassination with less wit behind it than a bad mum-joke.
But John's take on Trump was cutting without being mean and very, very funny.
This is one of those comedies I am sure to wheel out whenever I am blue - I expect to watch this many more times in the future.
A lot of the time the references are very U. S-centric with a lot of repetition and shouting.
When John walked on stage, with is shiny clean chat show host look, I was all set to dislike him.
I was so wrong.
This guy is hilarious.
His delivery is high energy without being over whelming and nothing was so niche it didn't translate across the ocean.
His material is not only funny but clever and doesn't get too mean.
A lot of humour regarding Trump tends to be crude character assassination with less wit behind it than a bad mum-joke.
But John's take on Trump was cutting without being mean and very, very funny.
This is one of those comedies I am sure to wheel out whenever I am blue - I expect to watch this many more times in the future.
Perhaps his best yet
helgagyarfas21 November 2020
I have seen all of Mulaneys specials, and found them all hilarious, just like this one. His jokes are relatable, his comedic timing is perfect as always and he just kept surprising me. I've never laughed harder than this in my life, my personal favourite being the Street Smarts bit, I was crying at that part. In conclusion if you enjoyed Kid Gorgeous, New in Town you'll definitely enjoy this as well.
Not for me
jochemunlimited14 January 2022
Lately there are a lot of stand up / comedians on netflix here in Holland, or I just discoverd them, any I see a lot of new people, it is nice. But I also see many that I think like, it is boring, but ok I keep listening because I can focus more on my computer game ;).
But sometimes I think like: this is really not for me and this show is. I tried 2 times and after 12 minutes I turned it off. It is not funny, it is annoying, it looks like a doll that is performing (I mean his face looks expressionless), he is loud, it looks fake... I don't know, it is not for me. It is like those late night shows where everything is rehearsed till it is 'perfect' and the crowd is being crazy on command. But here you have an emotionless person who just rattles and the crowd is laughing on que.
Did I tell you it is nothing for me ;). So better I stop typing.
But sometimes I think like: this is really not for me and this show is. I tried 2 times and after 12 minutes I turned it off. It is not funny, it is annoying, it looks like a doll that is performing (I mean his face looks expressionless), he is loud, it looks fake... I don't know, it is not for me. It is like those late night shows where everything is rehearsed till it is 'perfect' and the crowd is being crazy on command. But here you have an emotionless person who just rattles and the crowd is laughing on que.
Did I tell you it is nothing for me ;). So better I stop typing.
An hour an a half rant
shanphil14 May 2018
This special simply isn't as good as his first two. It's like listening to your crazy uncle rant about everything under the sun for an hour and and a half. He occasionally hits the mark, but more often swings and misses.
What Happened?
monaghan-291-9109336 May 2018
I'm just 30 minutes in, and haven't laughed yet. Very disappointing. I loved his last stand-up specials, but this one is just trying too hard and not working (reminds me of his horrible attempt at a sitcom).
New in Town 9/10
This garbage 2/10.
New in Town 9/10
This garbage 2/10.
People actually paid money to go and see this live?
arwhit-6974127 January 2022
I couldn't get it off my screen fast enough. I would honestly ask for a refund if I went to his show but I'm also not stupid enough to spend money on that garbage. Poor guy was funny for one act like a million years ago and when he tried to turn that one act into a sitcom containing only his stand up jokes, I had a feeling he was done for.
Funny, but why does he punch down?
candicesinarie17 July 2018
SOmetimes I just don't get John Mulaney. I know he has had struggles in his life, but he seems to think that entitles him to make fun of others'. He's always going on about addicts and trans people and midgets and I just...why? His personal material is so much better, I wish he would stick with that instead of tired old punches down. No one cares what you think about trans people, John Mulaney! You're a rich white boy from the suburbs. Talk about that!
Another reason to cancel Netflix: Mulaney sells his soul
M0vieL0ver3 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Are you tired of Trump bashing?
Are you tired of Trump bashing by people who sell their souls to get the tribals clapping and hooting like the primitive intolerant "thinkers" that they are?
Well, Mulaney's your guy then.
Another reason to cancel Netflix.
Sadly, a reason to stop watching Mulaney.
Selling your soul is just not funny.
Oh yes, I used to like this guy, and oh yes I turned on this show to get some laughs. How disappointing.
Yes, yes, continue to divide the country. Sell out.
Yes, yes, continue to divide the country. Sell out.
Horrible
dustinfan-1479921 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I thought I would give this a chance and about 2 minutes in I was extremely disappointed with the lack of humor! The first couple of minutes Mulaney comes out and starts repeatedly thanking for everyone for coming out, then as the show rolls along he starts making fun of gay and trans people, the one joke that I thought was somewhat funny is when he was talking about Nazi Germany and a boy named Tyler being left out on the teeter totter where he was watching from a bench at the park but even that was not something special especially since he repeated that joke and tried too hard to make it funny instead of moving on to another joke. Lost complete interest about 13 minutes in and couldn't watch the rest. This is more of a stupid and weird rant then actually humorous in my opinion no jokes seem funny to me but some people think it's funny for some reason. All I'll say is try not to go in with high expectations like I did you might also be disappointed!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
