John Mulaney’s Late Night Experiment: Still a Work in Progress

The first episode of John Mulaney’s new show, Everybody’s Live, left me with a big question: What’s the aim here? Late night talk shows could use a fresh look, and Mulaney, with his background in stand-up comedy and SNL, seems like the perfect person to shake things up for streaming TV. It felt like he was trying to flip the script on all the usual talk show routines, from sidekicks to viewer calls, but the randomness of it all in the debut episode felt more like parody than reinvention. The live format added pressure that didn’t quite add excitement.

Last year’s experimental show, Everybody’s in L.A., gave a peek into the vibe of Everybody’s Live with its quirky set and Saymo the delivery drone. But the first episode of the new show felt less focused. The highlight was Mulaney’s monologue, where he got real about battling addiction and his wife’s fight against breast cancer. It was odd and heartfelt, with tales about awkward conversations on sensitive topics that left you chuckling.

The show’s humor sometimes missed the mark, like announcing dead celebrity birthdays, but needing to explain the joke just doesn’t quite land. And while the guest list was impressive, the topics didn’t always hit the mark. Joan Baez’s story about dirty jokes with MLK had potential but fell flat, and Tracy Morgan’s bit as a king lacked strong writing.

Compared to innovators like David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, Mulaney’s show has room to grow. Letterman shook up talk shows with his sharp parodies and odd stunts, while O’Brien developed a smartly silly vibe on Late Night. Everybody’s Live might not have hit its stride yet, but there’s room for surprises down the line.