John Mulaney’s ‘Everybody’s in LA’ Proves the Comedian Should Get a Blank Check for Whatever’s Next
Erin Strecker
I’ll never think about coyotes the same way again.
That was a big takeaway from the silly, weird first night of John Mulaney’s multi-night Netflix special, “Everybody’s in LA.” The week-long residency/miniseries/experiment was ostensibly created as additional promo for Netflix’s own Netflix Is a Joke comedy festival in Los Angeles, which is going on right now. Thirty+ comedians are in town with something to promote — why not take advantage of it by giving Mulaney an hour to chat up his friends, the thinking goes, while Netflix continues to play around with live programming?
Based on the first episode, which aired May 1 (additional episodes will air May 6 through 10), the program has the feel of a late-night public access show (complimentary). After kicking things off with an opening monologue full of great LA jokes — “The city was officially founded in 1842 as a place for improv students to go hiking” — Mulaney explained that each night would center on a theme.
Friday’s was coyotes.
For the coyote chat, Mulaney brought out Jerry Seinfeld (doing his baffled boomer shtick) as well as co-founder of the Citizens for LA Wildlife, Tony Tucci. Tucci was a great foil for Mulaney because, with all due respect, a lot of what he was saying was insane: “You need to remind the coyote you’re much bigger and a scary item,” he noted about what to do if you run into one. (Seinfeld also appeared to think this was nuts.) Tucci then gave a bewildered audience tips about what to do if you were attacked, in a way that many would argue is “pro-coyotes.”
Subsequent calls in from viewers about their deranged coyote interactions gave Mulaney additional weirdness to play with — special shout-out to the woman Instagramming her way through a coyote showing up in her bedroom. It was all just so goofy and random and not at all what you’re getting on any current show; it felt very public access in the ’90s, in the best way.
Taped sketches embodied that same quirky spirit, most memorably an HGTV spoof that found two competing groups of comedians attempting to buy a Van Nuys fixer upper. (Real ones will recall Mulaney’s longtime obsession with HGTV programming.) Cutaways to an over-the-top Will Ferrell — portraying Lou Adler in studio — worked less well at home, while Mulaney’s quick wit and pacing awareness really soared while interviewing a nervous-seeming Ray J, a perfect unexpected LA guest.
In both the actual special as well as press for it, Mulaney noted this show was a one-off that wasn’t getting renewed. Still, the comedian has been open about how, post-rehab, he fares better with a heavy working schedule, and it seems only a matter of time before Mulaney tackles some sort of entertainment project beyond continuing stand-up dates.
“Everybody’s in LA” makes the case that he should get a blank check to figure out whatever he wants to create next. Much like with his delightful Sack Lunch Bunch kids’ special, also on Netflix, Mulaney showed control as a host as unfolding zaniness was going on around him. And, also like that special, there was never any doubt that the comedian was fully in the driver’s seat.
Far be it for me to advocate for another white male comic to get his very own late-night show but … I am. Or, more precisely, I’m advocating for whatever Mulaney wants to do next. “Everbody’s in LA” reaffirms whatever it is will be worth watching.
“John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s In LA” will air live nightly through Friday, May 10 on Netflix.
