It’s wonderful to be in a place that’s always emphasized sobriety and mental health.

John Mulaney

I'm a very straightforward person. But that's fine for a comedian. Because a lot of times you're talking about everyone else.

fine comedian talking

In every case, I find pre-planning noble, but not always that useful in comedy. You know comedy once you're doing it.

planning comedy noble

There are a lot of great jokes you can sit down and write, but that's just a written joke, versus the comedy of the situation. Ideally, you're pulling as much comedy out of the situation as you can.

down-and comedy writing

I wish I could go tell 12-year-old me like I don't worry that you just fainted in front of all the girls, one day you'll be able to make this into an episode of TV.

girl worry years

It's important to remember that life is a joke and that outlook grants a lot of perspective, but I don't think comedy should change and become political due to other things. It should just laugh at that cosmic joke that life is all the time.

perspective laughing thinking

There's [John Mulaney Show] jokes that I have in stand up that I wouldn't try to put in, I would try to have someone just speak extemporaneously in the middle of a scene about an episode of "Law and Order" or something.

law trying order

I like that idea that what I do might be mainstream. Might be. by John Mulaney

I like that idea that what I do might be mainstream. Might be.

mainstream might ideas

I've done festivals in the past where I'd be a guest, it was like, Wow, maybe someday I could play Town Hall - but that'll be a long way off. So it's very exciting.

I do longer runs on things, a lot stories. I really like one-liners, I like a lot of different kinds of standup but I've always been long-winded.

different running long

I never turn on the crowd. Sometimes, you think it's a terrible show, and then afterward, sometimes people say they really liked it. So turning on the crowd is only going to alienate the few people who might like it.

crowds people thinking

Having done stand-up on television and in stand-up specials for like Comedy Central, you learn quickly that for that type of performance you're playing to the camera.

cameras done television

An episode that is near and dear to my heart is the entire cast in one room for the night because we get bed bugs in our apartment building so we have to stay with Martin Short.

bed heart night

Everyone's very relaxed about brand names in television.

brands names television

Part of standup is being loose and having a good time yourself an... by John Mulaney

Part of standup is being loose and having a good time yourself and that translates to the audience.

having-a-good-time translate good-times

I have tons of jokes with moments in them over the years in stand-up that don't get a laugh but I love them so they stay.

moments laughing years

I was just trying to blend the standup that I do almost with like the visual sketch stuff that I did on "Saturday Night Live." And so in terms of how elastic in the world is, we'll see what we can get away with [in John Mulaney show].

trying night world

Going on the road for long stretches can seem daunting, and I certainly miss being home sometimes, but the chance to see so many different cities, let alone perform in them, is something I am really grateful for.

grateful cities home

That was an interesting thing I learned I think the first time I did a late night show or something. It was like, "Oh, this is for the camera and a performance that you're giving to the people at home."

home night thinking

I had a lot of fun writing things that died during dress rehearsal. Sometimes I remember the crazy ones that died even more fondly than the ones that did really well.

crazy writing fun

As I got into high school and after puberty, I was a little more inward. I was a real extrovert when I was little, but I don't know, I just got quieter With my friends, I was still an extrovert.

inward real school