John Mulaneyhas an itch for performing live, and he’s been scratching it well. The comedian first debuted his quirky take on a live talk show withEverybody’s in L.A.,which ran for six episodes as part of the 2024 Netflix Is a Joke festival. The project was successful enough that it was adapted into the new Netflix seriesEverybody’s Live With John Mulaney,which began dropping live on the streaming platform on Wednesday nights beginning July 05, 2025.
Mulaney got his start as a sketch writer and occasional performer onSaturday Night Livealongside his Emmy Award-winning stand-up comedy career. Following hishigh-profile divorce and time in rehab, Mulaney made his foray back into the public sphere with several stand-up performances, but his 2023 comedy specialBaby Jwas his first big televised project after overcoming those obstacles. Now, he’s committed to a full return to TV with his own late-night show.
‘Everybody’s Live’ Is Shaking Up Late Night
Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney
Like its predecessor,Everybody’s Liveincludes typical late-night features, like an announcer and quirky sidekicks (Richard Kind and Saymo the robot), the host opening the show with a monologue, interviews with celebrities, and a musical guest. However, it separates itself from traditional late-night shows by infusing surrealist aspects like unusual sketches and pre-taped performances.
Rather than bringing on celebs to promote their various projects or relying on breaking news, each episode is given a specific theme and theA-list guests chat with Mulaneyand a non-famous expert in a related field (the first three episodes feature a personal finance journalist, licensed funeral director, and supreme court leader). It’s impossible to predict where exactly the conversation between the guests will go; Mulaney also takes live calls from viewers, all of which creates a spontaneous atmosphere of anticipation which leaves viewers feeling both on the edge of their seat and entertained.
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John Mulaney Is Defiantly Irrelevant
It seems Mulaney is defiantly leaning into the peculiarities of his show, unafraid to alienate his audience by stepping too far outside the box. While discussingEverybody’s In L.A.at a Next on Netflix event,the comedian teased the future ofEverybody’s Liveto the audience:
“We will be live globally with no delay. We will never be relevant. We will never be your source for news. We will always be reckless. Netflix will always provide us with data we will ignore. This is the one place where you can see Arnold Schwarzenegger sitting next to Nikki Glaser, sitting next to a family therapist with music by Mannequin Pussy. … This is a really fun experiment. Not since Harry and Meghan has Netflix given more money to someone without a specific plan.”
Mulaney acknowledges that this new journey into the live late-night space might not be everyone’s cup of tea, which has been proven true through divisive reviews from industry critics. Upon the premiere ofEverybody’s In L.A.,Rolling Stonewrote, “There is no real reason for [the show] to exist, but, like its host, it is unpredictable and charming.“Varietyseconded that opinion, calling it Mulaney’s “throwback vehicle for exploring highly personal hobby horses, casting himself as a self-effacing but still smoothly composed master of ceremonies.” On the other hand,The A.V. Clubcast judgment on the “random chaos” of the show and described it as “both manic and sluggish.”
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Mulaney’s Zany Talk Show Has Promise
However,Everybody’s Live with John Mulaneywas deemed a good investment forNetflix, which seems to be banking its future on live programming. The platform gave the series a stamp of approval with a two-season order, anticipating that the experiment would prove successful. While the talk show might take some time to find its groove, it has a solid foundation of tried-and-true late-night elements and a seasoned comedian at the helm who has both been put through his live TV paces and already faced intense media scrutiny.
Anyone who hosts their own show is subject to public flogging and Mulaney has already proven he can take his lashes — and with the bizarre vibe ofEverybody’s Live, he’s bound to get some. “I can protect myself by acting like we just think it’s weird, and that way you can’t criticize it in the same way,” Mulaney toldVulture. “Whether something’s good or people like it is so ephemeral. If they could possibly predict it with data, they’d have more hits.”
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All in all, in the few episodes ofEverybody’s Livewith John Mulaney that have aired, public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Certain sketches, interviews, and memorable moments are already gaining traction: Mulaney hanging up on a caller because their story was too boring, Joan Baez dancing to Cypress Hill’s “Hits From the Bong,” and Tracy Morgan appearing as “King Latifah” come to mind. If nothing else, John Mulaney’s reliably dry humor, improvisation skills, self-effacing charm, and the show’s surreal escapism give audiences a reason to stick with it as the series works out its kinks. In all likelihood, it will be a rousing success — who knows, this new iteration might just reshape late-night television for good. You can watch it on Netflix through the link below:
