This was a
different type of show that aired live via Netflix for six consecutive nights
in May of 2024. It had the feel of a late-night show, even though it was on at
7:00 pm pacific/10:00 pm eastern time. The host was comedian John Mulaney (SNL
writer from 2008-2022, and voice actor on animated show “Big Mouth”). The
announcer/sidekick was comedic actor Richard Kind (best known for Mad About You
and various animated projects). I did not like this show at first, but it grew
on me. This was a show that took chances and did something different. We don’t
see that enough on today’s TV shows. The title refers to the fact that the week
it aired was the week of the “Netflix is a Joke” comedy festival. Therefore, at
that point it seemed like everyone, especially in the world of comedy, was in
L.A. at the same time. The theme song was “To Live and Die in L.A.” by the
group Wang Chung (1985). That song has probably seen a resurgence in popularity
since this program aired. It was a mix of serious topics with comedians chiming
in with their thoughts too. Each show had a serious topic that is of interest
to those in L.A., such as earthquakes, coyotes, palm trees or the future of Los
Angeles. Each show featured a highly educated expert on the topic, joined by
funny people who provided comic relief. Comedians that appeared on the show
included: David Letterman (note: Mulaney appeared on Letterman’s Netflix show “My
Next Guest Needs No Introduction”), Nikki Glaser, Bill Hader, Cedric the
Entertainer, George Wallace, Sarah Silverman and more. Musical guests appeared
on the show such as: Los Lobos, Weezer, Beck and St. Vincent. The shows had
remote segments where they would check in on what was going on in the L.A. area
with everyday residents. A taped segment had several comedians looking at a
home for sale in Los Angeles and making humorous observations. The show felt
disjointed at times, but that is the nature of live shows, which can be
refreshing. Sometimes it felt like the host and guests were flying by the seat
of their pants. With a live show, they were able to take phone calls, which was
a nice touch. One segment had them sending two people in limos on a hunt around
L.A. looking for Red Hot Chili Peppers member “Flea.” I was looking at Reddit
comments regarding this show and someone said this… “Netflix, don’t let John
leave the building without giving him a weekly talk show.” Mulaney would make a
great late night talk show host, with his quirky sense of humor. His show was a
bit like Conan’s in the NBC days, with that crazy, unpredictable vibe. Someone
on Reddit commented that he needs to be the new Daily Show host. He did well
with the interviews too, considering many people were on the set at the same
time. One of the “stars” of the show was Saymo, a delivery robot, which is
apparently a common sight around L.A. It would randomly appear, and people
would open its lid to reveal drinks. An article said that the set for this show
was patterned after Johnny Carson’s Malibu home. USA Today called the show “So
weird, but also wonderful.” The review said…” It does not make sense. It does
not follow regular formats. It is so strange. And yet it is also pretty funny.”
Who knows what the numbers were for this show, but hopefully we will see more.
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