What Happened to John Mulaney? John Mulaney GQ Interview December 2020
by Janani | Updated Jun 02, 2023
Who is John Mulaney?
John Edmund Mulaney, born on August 26, 1982, is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He gained recognition for his work as a writer on the popular NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 2008 to 2013. During his time on SNL, Mulaney contributed to various sketches and characters, including the creation of the beloved character Stefon alongside Bill Hader. After leaving the show, Mulaney returned as a host on multiple occasions, earning him a spot in the esteemed SNL Five Timers Club in 2022.
Apart from his television work, Mulaney is highly regarded as a stand-up comedian. He has released several successful stand-up specials, including "The Top Part" in 2009, "New in Town" in 2012, "The Comeback Kid" in 2015, and "Kid Gorgeous" in 2018, which won him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. In 2023, he released another stand-up special titled "Baby J." Additionally, Mulaney gained acclaim for his Netflix children's musical comedy special, "John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch," released in 2019.
What Happened to John Mulaney?
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, John Mulaney, a well-known comedian, unfortunately, relapsed into his drug addiction. In December 2020, a group of his comedy friends, including Bill Hader, Nick Kroll, Seth Meyers, and Fred Armisen, organized an intervention to help him. Mulaney shared this experience during his comedy special called "Baby J."
The intervention was a significant event in Mulaney's journey toward recovery. His friends came together to advise him to seek professional help and go to rehab. The support and presence of fellow comedians highlighted the strong bonds within the comedy community and their genuine concern for Mulaney's well-being.
Recognizing the need for treatment, Mulaney made the decision to check into rehab shortly after the intervention. This choice was a relief to his wife and family, who had been worried about his well-being. According to a source mentioned in Us Weekly at the time, Mulaney's decision to seek help was entirely his own. The source explained that the challenging circumstances of the pandemic, including the extended periods of downtime and isolation, had played a role in Mulaney's relapse. With limited external distractions, he had spent a considerable amount of time in his own thoughts, contributing to his struggle with addiction.
By voluntarily entering rehab, Mulaney took an important step towards addressing his addiction and regaining control over his life. This demonstrates his commitment to his own well-being and recovery. The support of his loved ones and the intervention staged by his comedy friends likely played a crucial role in encouraging him to seek the help he needed.
While this period was undoubtedly challenging for Mulaney and those close to him, it also serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength required to confront addiction. Mulaney's openness about his experiences can help raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding addiction, while also inspiring others who may be facing similar struggles to seek the support they need.
John Mulaney Gq Interview December 2020
In an interview, John Mulaney was asked about the possibility of trying his hand at another sitcom after his previous attempt didn't succeed. The interviewer noted that networks and streaming services now seem to be more open to concepts and creators, allowing them more freedom to create the shows they envision. Mulaney's response provided insight into his thoughts on the matter.
Regarding a multi-cam, live-audience sitcom like the one he had done before, Mulaney expressed that he wouldn't necessarily pursue the same format. He acknowledged that there were aspects of his previous show that he could have adjusted to convey his intended vision better. Mulaney believed that he didn't effectively communicate to the audience how he personally viewed the show, as it was often perceived at face value. He acknowledged that his editing choices and the way scenes played out on the studio floor sometimes caused him to lose focus. However, he reiterated his intentions to create a multi-cam, live-audience sitcom that embraced silliness and deviated from typical sitcom topics like dating.
Mulaney had a clear vision for his show, with a list of things he didn't want to cover and a desire to approach storytelling differently. He aimed to explore subjects such as haunted houses, the loss of a three-legged dog, and the decision-making process of replacing it with either a four-legged dog or a three-legged gerbil. He even envisioned using forced perspective to construct a miniature version of the apartment to deceive someone. Mulaney wanted his sitcom to stand out from the norm.
However, despite his intentions, the audience didn't connect with the show as he had hoped. Reflecting on the landscape of television and the abundance of excellent shows like "I May Destroy You," "Pen15," and others, Mulaney questioned what he could bring to the medium that would be interesting or necessary at this point. He admitted uncertainty about having something compelling to say through a sitcom. Mulaney found comfort in occupying a space where he wasn't always relevant but also never irrelevant, aligning with his comedic style. He appreciated comedy's ability to exist in that realm. Considering the current state of the world, he questioned whether people truly needed sketches about LaGuardia Airport or similar subjects. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that audiences would still find joy in such content.
Who was at John Mulaneys Intervention?
John Mulaney opened up about a star-studded intervention he experienced during his latest comedy special, "Baby J," which premiered on Netflix on April 25, 2023. Mulaney voluntarily admitted himself to a rehab facility in Pennsylvania in December 2020 to seek treatment for cocaine and alcohol addiction. He shared the details of the intervention during the special, adding a humorous touch to the serious situation.
According to John Mulaney, he was on his way to a friend's apartment for dinner when he realized that an intervention was about to take place. Upon opening the door and seeing a group of people gathered, including Seth Meyers, his suspicion was confirmed. Mulaney jokingly highlighted the caliber of the attendees, referring to it as a "We Are the World of alternative comedians over the age of 40." Despite the comedic nature of the gathering, no one indulged in humor as they had agreed beforehand not to do any bits.
Throughout the special, Mulaney mentioned some of the famous faces present at the intervention. He expressed gratitude towards them and included their names in the credits of the special: Fred, Berk, Mike, Bill, Erica, Nick, Natasha, Joe, Cara, David, Seth, Kevin, and Marika. Mulaney expressed his appreciation, stating that they saved his life.
During his first interview after rehab on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" in September 2021, Mulaney expressed his gratitude to Meyers and everyone involved in staging the intervention. He acknowledged their role in saving his life and credited his recovery to the support of his wife, Olivia Munn, and their baby.
In "Baby J," Mulaney humorously addressed the gratitude he felt towards the intervention participants, joking about the number of people involved in saving his life. He playfully mentioned that he now has to acknowledge 12 separate individuals whenever he encounters them, reminding them of their crucial role in his recovery, even if it was done remotely over Zoom.
John Mulaney Olivia Dunne Split?
After a short-lived romance, social media was abuzz with claims that comedian John Mulaney and actress Olivia Munn had called it quits. Mulaney had recently divorced his wife, artist Anna Marie Tendler, earlier that year, ending their marriage that lasted from 2014 to 2021. During a recent interview on "Late Night With Seth Meyer" last month, Mulaney, who was 39 at the time, detailed the timeline of his new relationship, which involved a stint in rehab and the pregnancy of his new girlfriend.
Mulaney explained, "I went to rehab in September, got out in October, and moved out of my home with my ex-wife. Then, in the spring, I went to Los Angeles where I met and started dating a wonderful woman named Olivia." He went on to say, "I entered into this beautiful relationship with an incredible person, and we are expecting a baby together. I was quite nervous to share this news! I'm going to be a dad. We are both really, really happy."
What Happened to John Mulaney? - FAQ
John Edmund Mulaney is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He gained recognition for his work as a writer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and has released several successful stand-up specials. He is known for his comedic style and contributions to the comedy industry.
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, John Mulaney, unfortunately, relapsed into his drug addiction. However, with the support of his comedy friends, he underwent an intervention and made the decision to seek professional help and check into rehab. This marked an important step towards addressing his addiction and regaining control over his life.
John Mulaney's intervention involved a group of his comedy friends, including Bill Hader, Nick Kroll, Seth Meyers, and Fred Armisen, among others. They came together to advise him to seek professional help and supported him in his journey towards recovery.
John Mulaney acknowledged that aspects of his previous sitcom could have been adjusted to better convey his intended vision. He expressed his desire to create a multi-cam, live audience sitcom that embraced silliness and deviated from typical sitcom topics like dating. He had a clear vision for his show but reflected on the audience's lack of connection with it and questioned what he could bring to the medium that would be interesting or necessary at this point.
After his divorce from Anna Marie Tendler, John Mulaney began dating actress Olivia Munn. However, social media claims suggest that their relationship has ended. Mulaney had previously shared that he and Olivia Munn were expecting a baby together and expressed happiness about their relationship.