John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid

Comedian and Saturday Night Live alum John Mulaney's delivers again with his second Netflix Special. It is a rock solid ride for any stand up comedy fan. John's hilarious takes include stories about his dog, his wife, meeting Bill Clinton, and his Dad's beef with Bill Clinton. His style is very much an 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.

I never really realized that part of why the special was named 'The Comeback Kid' is because of what happened to his sitcom. John Mulaney proved that one career setback does not define him as a person and this comedy special serves as the proof of it. His jokes are absolutely brilliant and his delivery is entertaining as always.

I don't really get the appeal of John Mulaney. Physically and comedically. I found this special unspecial. I laughed once.

My lonesome laugh was at the real estate bit. I love the way he says "aren't" And I think the back to the future bit was genuinely terrible.

Many comics, like a Steven Wright or Mitch Hedberg, thrive on sets of one-liners. Others, like a Mike Birbiglia or Patton Oswalt, are storytellers. They tend to build to a climax, often inserting callbacks to earlier jokes for continuity. That creates more of a connection between the audience and the experience.

In this case, Mulaney sprinkles tidbits about his parents - especially his father - throughout a mostly biographical routine. All of those insights come together in his final anecdote about meeting Bill Clinton, maximizing its payoff. Superbly structured.

I watch this monologue at least once every month and I still laugh. *chef kiss* 10/10