Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has made quite a few TV appearances in his life, but something like Everybody’s in LA he has never experienced before. “This is the weirdest show I’ve ever been a guest on,” he tells host John Mulaney. In contrast to other American talk shows, there is a chaotic and spontaneous atmosphere in the studio that can be summarized as follows: we have no idea what exactly we are doing, but we are here because Netflix thought it would be a fun idea to create an absurdist, worldwide live broadcast talk show.
The streaming service is organizing a major festival in Los Angeles under the banner Netflix Is a Joke and is using that event to further experiment with live television, something the streaming service previously did with the tennis event. The Netflix Slam. There will be more of these types of broadcasts in the near future: in July the streamer will organize a boxing match between former world champion Mike Tyson and influencer Jake Paul. And from 2025, Netflix will broadcast show wrestling from WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) every week.
But first Everybody’s in LA Everyone who matters in the American comedy world is in town and that’s why Mulaney, a successful stand-up comedian himself, can host a whole load of comedians in the studio to talk about topics related to Los Angeles. Each episode deliberately has a boring theme: episode 2 focuses on palm trees.
Addiction
Why did the well-dressed and boyish forty-something Mulaney say ‘yes’ to the program? “I have no idea, but this way I have something to do. And structure is essential to me,” he says at the beginning of the first episode. The comedian struggled for a while with a serious drug addiction. He dedicated the sharp stand-up special to an intervention by his friends and the painful road to sobriety Baby J (2023, also on Netflix).
Everybody’s in LA is currently no more than a one-week experiment, with a total of six episodes until Saturday, May 11. However, the first episodes broadcast by Netflix (at 4 a.m. Dutch time, can also be watched) provide a strong argument for giving Mulaney a regular talk show as soon as possible.
The comedian thrives in the hectic setting of live TV and improvises happily while technical problems pile up. To prove that the broadcast is really live, viewers can call in and he speaks via video connection to viewers in different parts of the world. If something doesn’t work, he switches quickly. “Thank you, this was not what I wanted,” he concludes when the connection with a few bewildered Parisians does not immediately yield anything. Typical Mulaney, who combines playful charisma and blunt (played) arrogance. Other elements, such as pre-filmed skits and musical performances, feel less fresh.
In episode 2, reactions to the first broadcast are discussed. People are charmed by the impulsive and random nature of the program. Mulaney: “Traits that almost killed me a few years ago.”
John Mulaney: Everybody’s in LA. Netflix, daily through Saturday.
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