John Mulaney is a household name in the world of comedy, and his latest Netflix special, “John Mulaney: Baby J,” solidifies his place as one of the greatest storytellers in the game. Mulaney is known for his sharp wit and comedic timing, but in “Baby J,” he showcases his candidness with addiction and his ability to turn his personal struggles into humorous lessons for his audience.
Mulaney humorously recounts his 2020-2021 journey through drug addiction, rehab, and recovery, with almost every joke at his expense. The special is a departure from Mulaney’s previous work, which included a broader range of topics, but his ability to find humor in his flaws and mistakes remains. Mulaney’s storytelling balances intimacy and distance, and he’s both inside and outside the narrative. The special is raw and risky, given its recent timeframe, but it avoids being self-indulgent or glamorizing his experiences. Instead, it offers a compelling and authentic glimpse into the world of addiction and rehab, finding humor in the most unlikely of places. Baby J is a must-watch for fans of Mulaney’s work and anyone interested in the complexities of addiction and recovery.
Mulaney’s approach in “Baby J” is to use his personal experiences as a source of comedy, and he does this masterfully. He doesn’t shy away from discussing his struggles with addiction, but instead uses them to poke fun at himself and the absurdity of the rehab experience. For example, he jokes about how he had to share a room with a 19-year-old meth addict who kept him up all night, and how he was assigned to do janitorial work as part of his treatment. He also talks about the strange dynamics of rehab, like the way patients form cliques based on the drugs they were addicted to, and how people in rehab constantly talk about their “bottom” (i.e. the point at which they hit rock bottom and realized they needed help).
One of the most striking things about “Baby J” is how raw and honest it feels. Mulaney doesn’t hold back in discussing his darkest moments, like the time he stole money from his wife or the fact that he considered suicide at one point. But even in these moments, he manages to find humor, like when he jokes about the ridiculousness of trying to kill himself by overdosing on Advil. This honesty and vulnerability makes the special feel more like a confessional than a comedy routine, and it’s what makes it so compelling.
Overall, “Baby J” is a testament to Mulaney’s skill as a comedian and storyteller. He takes an incredibly heavy subject and turns it into something funny, relatable, and even cathartic. It’s a deeply personal special that shows just how far Mulaney has come in his recovery journey, and it’s a must-watch for fans of his work.
