Mulaney

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 5, 2014
User Score
3.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 53
  3. Negative: 27 out of 53
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  1. alex2542
    Oct 6, 2014
    1
    Grading the pilot alone, because I couldn't finish it. I gave it a chance because I thought New in Town was a hilarious stand up set. Not only is the humor so humorless, Mulaney fits in about 5 or 6 jokes from the New in Town set into the show and struggles to make it as funny in a sitcom setting as it was in the standup. I see no potential here. The best part was his opening standup joke.Grading the pilot alone, because I couldn't finish it. I gave it a chance because I thought New in Town was a hilarious stand up set. Not only is the humor so humorless, Mulaney fits in about 5 or 6 jokes from the New in Town set into the show and struggles to make it as funny in a sitcom setting as it was in the standup. I see no potential here. The best part was his opening standup joke. Everything after that was just putrid.… Expand
  2. lcb
    Oct 6, 2014
    1
    This show was so painfully unfunny and the jokes and characters so lame that my wife and I could not tolerate more than half the show. Like Seinfeld, Mulaney can't act but, unlike Seinfeld, his jokes and delivery in this show are just embarrassingly bad.
  3. jamess
    Oct 6, 2014
    6
    If there was a grade between B- and C+, this pilot episode would fit right there. It's funny at times, but it has some serious growing pains to overcome to become a success. Brooklyn Nine Nine started much in the same way, with a good, but not outstanding pilot, but established itself as a great sitcom (yes I said great sitcom), as the characters became the focus, and some great comedicIf there was a grade between B- and C+, this pilot episode would fit right there. It's funny at times, but it has some serious growing pains to overcome to become a success. Brooklyn Nine Nine started much in the same way, with a good, but not outstanding pilot, but established itself as a great sitcom (yes I said great sitcom), as the characters became the focus, and some great comedic acting across the board. Mulaney, who is a very funny stand up, comes across as a bystander in his own series. Many scenes he stands, with his gangly arms at his side, while the supporting character tries to bring the funny. If it doesn't get better, it's bye bye John.… Expand
  4. FrenchToast
    Oct 14, 2014
    4
    Not a good show. Not one bit. I chuckled here and there but the acting is absolutely awful. Surprisingly, Mulaney isn't even the worst actor on the show. The other people sound like they're in a play. The plot of episodes isn't clever at all. Bad. Very bad.
  5. Jonestastic
    Oct 18, 2014
    0
    Merriam-Webster Defines Comedy as entertainment that is amusing. Sadly this show is not amusing whatsoever. Anyone who can rate this show above a 0 Is only doing the world a disservice. The jokes, or at least the times we heard punch lines were not funny nor anything at anytime leading up to it. The Seinfeld structure is hard to make fail, but somehow he does it. With actors that do notMerriam-Webster Defines Comedy as entertainment that is amusing. Sadly this show is not amusing whatsoever. Anyone who can rate this show above a 0 Is only doing the world a disservice. The jokes, or at least the times we heard punch lines were not funny nor anything at anytime leading up to it. The Seinfeld structure is hard to make fail, but somehow he does it. With actors that do not know how to make the scene feel organic the show is just painful to watch transpire. To make matters worse the show is constantly name dropping in the worst way. Making your mind run in circles. You would think that a standup comedian would be funny like his job depended on it. Maybe loosen up and act a little it may help the show. Whoever pays for this show to be on should be fired. The pilot had to air before the show went on television. If you have a commercial that gets zero laughs why put out the show. You put the best parts of the show in the commercial. The characters are not real people they only rely on stereotypes and not even funny ones. I made it through the first two episodes. To say the least I wished for the sweet release of death when they finally ended. My life will never be the same. John Mulaney is the worst comedian ever to compare him to Jerry Seinfeld is blasphemy. Whoever does this is a trader to humanity and should be thrown in jail. This show needs to be burned at the stake. I thought maybe Nasim Pedrad would redeem the show but it was just to far gone to save anything. So don't compare it to Friends don't compare it to Seinfeld. Just leave those shows alone when you want to share your sick sadistic mind with the world saying this show was anything but awful.… Expand
  6. BBBong
    Oct 13, 2014
    0
    I like John, very funny and Martin Short is hilarious. Just not in this "comedy". I watched the 1st show and I thought I would give them another chance to do better. Sadly, that did not happen. I shut it off after 13-14 minutes in. The jokes were flat and the acting from everybody is terrible. I was wanting this show to fly but it crashed and burned on take-off with no survivors.
  7. TheRyanFlaherty
    Oct 14, 2014
    4
    After watching Fox's new sitcom, Mulaney, your likely takeaway will be, how in the world was John Mulaney given his own television show.
    While there are a few laughs, the Pilot feels like you are watching an initial table read. Much of this feeling comes from the lead's (John Mulaney) lack of any discernible character. Mulaney makes his way through the script with the ability and    After watching Fox's new sitcom, Mulaney, your likely takeaway will be, how in the world was John Mulaney given his own television show.
    While there are a few laughs, the Pilot feels like you are watching an initial table read. Much of this feeling comes from the lead's (John Mulaney) lack of any discernible character. Mulaney makes his way through the script with the ability and enthusiasm of a 4th grader forced to participate in his school play. This could be okay if this was part of a persona, or shtick, but you never get that impression while watching the show.
    This also extends to the rest of the cast, as they seem less like developed characters and more like a device to tell a joke or a means to get from Point A to Point B. The one exception may be Martin Short, who's experience is evident and it helps lift him above those he shares the screen with.
    There are a few laughs to be had, but even those often feel forced, like random jokes cobbled together to resemble a story,
    Mulaney may not be offensively bad, but the lack of polish and bland characters ultimately make the show both disposable and forgettable.    … Expand
  8. dangerfar
    Oct 7, 2014
    3
    John Mulaney is funny, he really is. As a stand-up comedian, and I'm also told as a writer, he's got some serious chops (which is the reason he got he show in the first place). Unfortunately, his new show is at best tired and recycled, and at worst cringe-worthily terrible. It makes you wonder who close to the young comedian is watching this telling him he's on the right track.

    One of    John Mulaney is funny, he really is. As a stand-up comedian, and I'm also told as a writer, he's got some serious chops (which is the reason he got he show in the first place). Unfortunately, his new show is at best tired and recycled, and at worst cringe-worthily terrible. It makes you wonder who close to the young comedian is watching this telling him he's on the right track.

    One of the best attributes of Mulaney the stand-up is his ability to draw you into a story about his immature and often hilarious psyche and keep you interested and laughing the whole way through. One of the worst parts about Mulaney the show is it's absolutely awful attempt at re-creating those stories in a traditional sitcom manner. For instance, the opening scene where he gets a prostate exam is straight out of his act, only it is by orders of magnitude better there. His acting is basically just him doing his stand-up, and the bad supporting cast and production makes it all feel very forced. Even the actual stand-up interludes, where he tells jokes that can be seen in his specials are compressed and rushed versions of the real thing, adding to the tension and skipping over the evolution the story typically gets to make the tale so funny.

    For instance in his stand-up when he slowly tells us how he accidentally chased a woman in a subway station, it is a riotous tale evolves slowly and escalates dramatically, like a friend regaling you and feeding off of your laughs on each sentence. Here it's like that same friend is late for a meeting and is just rushing through to tell you the punch-lines as quickly as possible.

    There's nothing funny here, nothing original, nothing that seems to be of any value at all. Again I wonder who is watching this telling those involved they've got something good....    … Expand
  9. tvnewsguido
    Oct 11, 2014
    6
    The biggest complaint against this show seems to be that it is, in style and pacing, a throwback to the 1990's. I agree but unlike its detractors, I find this to be the show's biggest strength.

    The 1990s was the last time a respectable number of people actually tuned into television comedy. It was the decade of "Seinfeld" and "Friends." Face it, were it not for Chuck Lorre - the    The biggest complaint against this show seems to be that it is, in style and pacing, a throwback to the 1990's. I agree but unlike its detractors, I find this to be the show's biggest strength.

    The 1990s was the last time a respectable number of people actually tuned into television comedy. It was the decade of "Seinfeld" and "Friends."

    Face it, were it not for Chuck Lorre - the audience for all "modern sitcoms" during the past 15 years would fit in a thimble.

    Mulaney isn't new. Mulaney isn't relevant. Mulaney isn't art.

    Mulaney is pretty funny.    … Expand
  10. MFB
    Oct 10, 2014
    7
    John Mulaney is one of the funniest comedians out there. Hands down. He does so without relying on writing material that isn't based on shock value (i.e. racism, sexism, anti-semitism) The rest of the show will catch up with him soon because he is THAT good. In the mean time, it is a bit rough. Everyone compares the show to Seinfeld because of the format, but go back to the first seasonJohn Mulaney is one of the funniest comedians out there. Hands down. He does so without relying on writing material that isn't based on shock value (i.e. racism, sexism, anti-semitism) The rest of the show will catch up with him soon because he is THAT good. In the mean time, it is a bit rough. Everyone compares the show to Seinfeld because of the format, but go back to the first season of Seinfeld--it took awhile. Given the chance, it will be better than Seinfeld. Mulaney is a better comedian.… Expand
  11. chattobox
    Nov 19, 2014
    10
    John Mulaney is one of the best comedians to grace the halls of SNL. Scratch that, John Mulaney is one of the best comedians to grace the halls of comedyness. Mulaney has had some bad ratings, but I feel this is because of the first reviews and then all following copied this trend.

    Mulaney is a really great show, it's only new and you should give it some time. The first episodes of    John Mulaney is one of the best comedians to grace the halls of SNL. Scratch that, John Mulaney is one of the best comedians to grace the halls of comedyness. Mulaney has had some bad ratings, but I feel this is because of the first reviews and then all following copied this trend.

    Mulaney is a really great show, it's only new and you should give it some time. The first episodes of Seinfeld took a while to click, and Mulaney takes a little time to get used to. The Pilot's plot was based on John Mulaney's stand up, but he was making a pilot - of course he was going to use his best stuff.

    I hope John Mulaney keeps doing his stuff and I will consume whatever he makes.    … Expand
  12. Rogerdob
    Oct 12, 2014
    5
    This show is trying to copy the formula that was successful for Seinfeld...four quirky characters...one is a comedian ( a writer)...one is a black Kramer (including the funny hair), a Elaine character, and a rotund loser ((unfortunately he is a drug dealer). They all gather at the New york apartment to talk. The humor is observational and sarcastic. The show is mildly clever and needsThis show is trying to copy the formula that was successful for Seinfeld...four quirky characters...one is a comedian ( a writer)...one is a black Kramer (including the funny hair), a Elaine character, and a rotund loser ((unfortunately he is a drug dealer). They all gather at the New york apartment to talk. The humor is observational and sarcastic. The show is mildly clever and needs to find its way. I laughed several times and I see potential.… Expand
  13. SwarleyStinson
    Oct 8, 2014
    1
    Mulaney is bad in every way. He says all his lines in the same way, none of the jokes are funny. The other characters are weird but not in a funny way, just in a 'seriously stop, your embarrassing yourself' way.
  14. genericusename
    Oct 24, 2014
    3
    I like John Mulaney, and I think he's a funny stand-up. I really wanted to like this show, but I don't think I can stomach anything past the pilot. It has the pieces of a decent sitcom, but it couldn't put those pieces together into anything coherent. It tries too hard to be Seinfeld, and really only had a few genuinely funny moments. If I hear that it turns around I might give itI like John Mulaney, and I think he's a funny stand-up. I really wanted to like this show, but I don't think I can stomach anything past the pilot. It has the pieces of a decent sitcom, but it couldn't put those pieces together into anything coherent. It tries too hard to be Seinfeld, and really only had a few genuinely funny moments. If I hear that it turns around I might give it another shot, but as of now I'm just not feeling it.… Expand
  15. reellm
    Oct 9, 2014
    1
    1/5★ Stiff, unfunny and I hate background laughing. There were two moments that were genuinely funny but they were memorable only in their rareness. The inevitable Seinfeld comparisons are surface only and completely wrong: maybe the setup is the same but Seinfeld had something while Mulaney is the real nothing.
    Verdict: Skip. Cancelation ahoy.
  16. nevaddypbb
    Oct 16, 2014
    3
    Crude, mean-spirited and rarely funny, this Seinfeld knockoff reminds us how truly funny and innovatove was the original contasted with this copy. The cast is able and I have scored points for giving Martin Short and Eliot Gould prominent roles. And copying the Seinfeld format is neither a crime nor a sin. Rather, the weak writing, the cheap humor, the unpleasant characters made theCrude, mean-spirited and rarely funny, this Seinfeld knockoff reminds us how truly funny and innovatove was the original contasted with this copy. The cast is able and I have scored points for giving Martin Short and Eliot Gould prominent roles. And copying the Seinfeld format is neither a crime nor a sin. Rather, the weak writing, the cheap humor, the unpleasant characters made the first two episodes grueling.

    Granted, the occupants of Seinfeld's world were self-indulgent, shallow and often unpleasant. Yet, the characters had depth and a certain pathos that made them interesting, humorous and occasionally likeable.

    It took Seinfeld some time to find its voice, but I do not recall being so off put by early episodes as I have with Mulaney. Perhaps it too will find a tone higher than crude and cheap laughs.    … Expand
  17. SNLFanatic333
    Nov 3, 2014
    9
    Mulaney is brilliant! If Friends and Seinfeld got drunk one night (and I'm sure that they have), this comedy would be their beautiful child. It hasn't gotten such great reviews, but I am confident that this new series will find its footing. Lorne Michaels is producing, after all!
  18. MediaCritic2014
    Dec 1, 2014
    2
    At first I was pretty excited to watch the new comedy "Mulaney". And then I watched the first episode it was not hilarious most of the jokes I couldn't make sense of and the others were not funny at all. The only funny part , was the problem B***** guy when he got on the boat to do a gig. And the other one was the ex-girlfriend that's basically it and all I can say about Mulaney. :(
  19. Kalvar
    Dec 31, 2014
    9
    Mulaney is an incredible comedian and his show certainly follows this trend. The show got off to a bad start on the reviews, in the first episode or two the some of the supporting characters were not written as well as Mulaney himself, but this was quickly mended as the show went on and the writing was improved. More people should give this wonderful show a shot as it is quickly becomingMulaney is an incredible comedian and his show certainly follows this trend. The show got off to a bad start on the reviews, in the first episode or two the some of the supporting characters were not written as well as Mulaney himself, but this was quickly mended as the show went on and the writing was improved. More people should give this wonderful show a shot as it is quickly becoming one of my personal favorites.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
38

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 27
  3. Negative: 12 out of 27
  1. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    Oct 6, 2014
    40
    We don’t dislike the characters. We just don’t feel compelled to watch them, because they often don’t feel much more real than the animated characters they’re replacing on Fox Sunday night.
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  2. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Jethro Nededog
    Oct 6, 2014
    30
    The live studio audience is just in your face laughing at the most unfunny, hit the ground with a thud, jokes being thrown left and right by a cast that should know how to deliver their lines better.... It doesn't really get funny until the third episode
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Oct 6, 2014
    30
    There are also the Seinfeldean coinages and obsessions, but pushed forward and highlighted in a way that feels both self-aware and inept.
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