When John Mulaney burst onto the standup comedy scene in 2009 with the release of his first special The Top Part (2009), it was clear that comedy had a fresh new voice to listen to; a voice that would carve a unique and distinct niche among the comedians of our era. That being said, it was the release of Mulaney’s sophomore special New In Town (2012) that would take him to new heights and make him a household name.
Mulaney further honed his craft with The Comeback Kid (2015) and Kid Gorgeous (2018). John’s style felt a bit like watching a one-man Broadway show, with over-the-top affectations, unusual levels of energy, and on-stage character portrayals becoming a central part of his brand. Mulaney even released a children’s musical comedy special John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch in 2019, which frankly would’ve seemed more than a little unusual if it had come from someone else, but for Mulaney, it felt very on-brand and was even critically acclaimed at the time of release.
So where has Mulaney been for the past four years? Well, Mulaney’s next big surprise came when the news broke that he had checked into rehab for alcohol and cocaine addiction in December 2020. For fans of Mulaney, this came as a big surprise considering his squeaky-clean reputation. After about three months, Mulaney checked out of rehab and seems to have been doing well since.
The Introduction of a New John Mulaney
Nearly three years later, Mulaney has taken the opportunity in his newest special, Baby J, to confront his demons and talk about his struggle with addiction. As the special opens, it’s instantly clear that this isn’t quite the same John Mulaney we’ve known for over a decade now. He speaks in a lower register, his facial expressions are more serious, his movements more methodical and less sporadic. At the same time, it’s also instantly clear that without stimulants, the John Mulaney we had seen in five specials so far wasn’t actually that silly, spastic person we had come to know.
Despite the gravity of the issues discussed in Baby J, Mulaney masterfully takes those serious moments and turns them into pure comedy gold. From a retelling of his star-studded intervention to the story of how he unknowingly turned a man into a drug dealer and then “broke up” with him, this special presents a sobering and hilarious realization that anyone can go off track, even when they seem to have everything in the world.
Go into this one knowing that the Mulaney you get in Baby J won’t feel quite like the Mulaney you knew before. He’s different. Still funny, but relatable and unafraid to turn a lens to his own shortcomings.
John Mulaney’s stand-up special Baby J is available to stream now on Netflix.