Charles EstherJohn Mulaney has always had a knack for turning personal experiences into comedic gold.
And in his new Netflix special, John Mulaney: Everybody’s in L.A., the comedian dives into one of the most chaotic yet endearing roles of his life—being a dad.
His latest routine hilariously compares parenting a toddler to working on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and honestly, the analogy is spot on.
Welcome to the Toddler Show
Mulaney, now a father to three-year-old Malcolm, opens up about the wild unpredictability of raising a toddler.
He jokes that life with a 3-year-old is “what I imagine working on Ellen was like,” referencing the high-energy, somewhat stressful behind-the-scenes culture once rumored on the daytime talk show.
“There’s lots of dancing and games,” he says.
“But if the 3-year-old stops dancing, you better stop dancing too—immediately.”
It’s funny because it’s true: toddlers are cute tyrants, and their moods set the tone for everything.
‘We Had a Deal!’
Mulaney doesn’t stop there.
He dives into a real parenting moment that many parents will relate to—trying to get a toddler dressed for an event.
In his case, it was a school concert.
He describes chasing his son around the house, waving a pair of light-wash jeans in the air and shouting, “We had a deal!”
The situation is pure chaos, yet undeniably real—and hilariously Mulaney.
When the Show Doesn’t Go On
Once they finally made it to the concert, Malcolm froze.
Stage fright hit, and the toddler who was supposed to perform clung to his dad instead.
Rather than push him, Mulaney knelt down and gently said, “Hey, this doesn’t matter at all.
Nothing matters.
So if you want to sit on my lap and watch the show, that’d be fun.”
Cue the collective “awww.”
But the story didn’t end there.
When a teacher told Mulaney she was disappointed Malcolm didn’t participate, the comedian deadpanned: “Oh, Ms. Inez—you have no idea how much you can disappoint an audience and still bounce back in this business.”
Classic.
A Supportive Partner and Hands-On Dad
Mulaney shares his son with actress Olivia Munn, and the couple recently welcomed their second child, a daughter named Méi June.
They quietly tied the knot in July 2024, and their partnership has become a source of strength, especially during Munn’s recent battle with breast cancer.
She’s spoken publicly about Mulaney’s love and support, calling him a rock during a tough time.
Beyond the comedy, it’s clear he takes his family seriously—even if he’s still going to crack jokes about it.
Finding the Funny in Fatherhood
Mulaney’s style of comedy has always revolved around vulnerability, honesty, and finding humour in life’s messiest moments.
By comparing toddler tantrums to behind-the-scenes drama on a daytime TV set, he doesn’t just make us laugh—he makes parenting feel a little more relatable, a little less lonely, and a lot more fun.
Conclusion
John Mulaney may be an Emmy-winning comedian, but at home, he’s just a dad trying to catch a runaway toddler and survive preschool concerts.
His Ellen comparison is more than just a clever joke—it’s a reminder that parenthood is unpredictable, exhausting, and full of hilarious plot twists.
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