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Nonsense Is the Apparent Method to John Mulaney's Madness
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Nonsense Is the Apparent Method to John Mulaney's Madness

By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 20, 2025

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Header Image Source: Netflix

The second episode of Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney premiered last night (and, like I did in my write-up last week, Mulaney also got the title of his own show wrong, initially calling it Everyone’s Live). After a brief monologue in which he revealed what he’s looking at on his clipboard (a child’s drawing from … Richard Kind), made an observation about how Ken Jennings first appeared on Jeopardy! 25 years ago (it was actually 21, but that’s insane either way), and did a bit about cheeking two Zyns and a Celsius, Mulaney kicked it over to a performance from the musical guest, Kim Gordon.

Yes, the musical guest — who typically appears at the end of the show—pops up nine minutes into the episode. After a spectacularly grunge-y number from the Sonic Youth bassist, Mulaney and Kind did a bit about how Kind got an early preview of tomorrow’s edition of The New York Times, like that show Early Edition. Kind’s big revelation about the future? “24 Easy Pastas to Welcome Spring.”

And then Mulaney kicked it to a second musical guest: Kim Deal from The Breeders, performing a song from her debut solo album. What?! The whole thing felt like a bit in and of itself — two musical guests named Kim to kick off the show. And then, at the end of the show, where the musical performance should be, both Kims returned to perform Sonic Youth’s 1995 song “Little Trouble Girl,” on which Kim Deal originally sang backing vocals. It was the first time the two Kims had ever performed together.

Format madness! But in between the musical performances, Mulaney did bring out an expert on cruises, as well as Ben Stiller, to talk about cruises. Stiller, never having been on one, had little to contribute except that his parents appeared several times on Love Boat. Also, thanks to this episode, we now know that the Titanic was not a cruise ship but an ocean liner—the difference being “purpose.” Then Mulaney took some live calls.

One was from a man who worked as a chef on a cruise ship where they contemplated storing a dead body in the kitchen refrigerator but ultimately opted to put it in his cabin and crank the A/C. Another was from a guy who went on a KISS cruise (KISS, being the band). A third was from a woman who lives full-time on a cruise ship. And then there was a another call from a guy who may have had the best story of all time — but we’ll never know, because Mulaney cut him off for taking too long. Mulaney felt very bad about it, but it’s a live show. Keep your stories short, folks.

Did Ben Stiller mention Severance? Not to my recollection. Nor did later guest Quinta Brunson talk about Abbott Elementary. Mulaney’s old friend Nick Kroll also showed up. The celebrities—who were more famous than in the premiere episode—weren’t there to promote their projects. They were there to talk about cruise ships. On a late-night talk show. And also to drink greeked-up beverages delivered by a robot.

But the best part of the episode — aside from the frequent references to The Poseidon Adventure (both the original and the Kurt Russell remake) — was when an old rabbi described the plot of Crimson Tide. I don’t know why the clip isn’t already on YouTube. It would go insanely viral. Who doesn’t want to hear an old rabbi recount the plot of a Gene Hackman submarine movie? It’s gold.

It’s all completely unhinged, and yet, somehow, it works. The chaotic structure, the absurdity of the segments, and the sheer randomness of it all feel equal parts deliberate and accidental. Mulaney knows exactly what he’s doing. The nonsense isn’t a bug; it’s the feature. It’s the method to the magic.