John Mulaney reflects on his SNL journey and complex relationship with Lorne Michaels
Aux Features great job internet
As part of Saturday Night Live’s new “Stories From The Show” series on YouTube, comedian John Mulaney sat down recently to reflect on his time spent as a writer and very occasional performer on the late night institution. Beginning with his audition alongside future comedy stars Donald Glover, Ellie Kemper, and Bobby Moynihan, Mulaney traces his trajectory from nervous freshman writer to returning veteran and host in April of 2018. It’s a ride with many ups and downs that would undoubtedly be envied by any aspiring comedian.
Like many talented people who have spent time in the halls of 30 Rockefeller Center, Mulaney has also had an important and complicated relationship with producer Lorne Michaels. Throughout his SNL story, Michaels looms large both as an intimidating authority figure and a nurturing influence. After spending countless sleepless nights trying to write the funniest show possible and occasionally butting heads with the notoriously prickly showrunner, one can only imagine the surreal relief Mulaney felt when Michaels asked him to return to the show as a host.
“It’s very comforting being here and there’s great comfort in working for someone who you respect,” says Mulaney, who, since leaving the show, has gone on to great success as a stand-up and recently released a critically acclaimed children’s special on Netflix. “This has been an extraordinary thing to be a part of.”
Send Great Job, Internet tips to [email protected]
10 Comments
Unless conditions were really terrible, it would take a lot for me to quit SNL. It’s not every day you get to be part of an institution like that. I’d be like Kenan Thompson and just stay until they called security on me.
While I understand that and I agree somewhat with you, I know myself, and I know that it would take very little to quit SNL, from the stories I’ve heard and read…not saying I’m right or that I have a surplus of integrity, I just know what I’m like. Hell, my wife is already talking seperation when all this shit is done, and I can’t blame her….
Yeah, we talked about it last night. Don’t worry, we’ll go easy on you.
I imagine being trapped in 30 Rock with all of those people is sometimes like quarantine
Good for him. Personally, I find him hit or miss. His stuff can be laugh out loud and then other stuff, I wonder what he was going for. He is a solid performer so I look forward to when he joins the “Five Timers” host club because you know it will be good. Especially if most of the other “Five Timers” show up.
Agreen on hit or miss. Good writer, but as a performer he has the charisma of a lox.
So…he’s drunk for this whole video right?
Gotta admit, when I first read this headline I thought for a minute Lorne died
John’s marvelous storytelling skills are on good display here. It’s John who drew me back into SNL, I think because I feel like he, like me, is drawn to SNL in spite of seeing and struggling with its various flaws. I especially loved his anecdote about Lorne essentially threatening them with that Johnny Carson story (I’m surprised that made it through the edit). I wasn’t that thrilled with John’s last episode but I still see him as such an integral part of modern SNL and I hope he continues to be for a long time to come.
My introduction to him was The Sack Lunch bunch, which is one of the greatest comedy concepts I’ve ever seen. I’ve been trying to intake as much as I can ever since.