John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid

I had already seen Kid (I think I watched them out of order) so my expectations were high.

I loved this just as much as his other show.

Again, the jokes translate across to a U. K audience and they were funny and clever.

John is not afraid to make fun of himself (very important for a British audience) and there is a great warmth about him.

He is a great performer using his physicality and voice to his advantage without becoming a clown.

A lot of the jokes are based on his family and are about quite mundane situations - like his dad buying a drink.

But he injects so much life and passion into them you can't help but get caught up.

Some U. S comics are too loud and brash for the UK - John hits the sweet spot for me.

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

I've seen this at least 5 times. John Mulaney's delivery is genius. I really think you can see this echoed in a lot of skits online nowadays- the way he frames his jokes and his intonation have spread into mainstream comedy. He can spin a very mundane topic into cry laughter. In particular, his commentary on the Catholic Church is very funny- he knows how to poke fun at his own upbringing and personality in a way that doesn't come off as attention seeking.

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.