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Oct 03, 2014 By Scott Dransfield Issue #51 - September/October 2014 - alt-J

John Mulaney is an incredibly funny comedian and former SNL writer whose stand-up usually involves clever twists on common tropes and a self-aware usage of the standard storytelling formula. Now, he’s brought this reputation to his own TV show, and instead of attaching his name to a single-camera day-in-the-life format like Louie or Maron, he’s opted for the classic multi-camera sitcom, a style that grows increasingly unfashionable each year. The obvious reference point is Seinfeld—like that show, Mulaney opens with a short stand-up set to the audience—and Mulaney’s supporting characters don’t do much to differentiate the two. Martin Short, a surprising get for a sitcom, is particularly funny and shows greater potential as Mulaney’s boss.

Mulaney often feels inauthentic and forced. However, one gets the feeling that like his smart stand-up material, Mulaney is aware of the awkwardness of his chosen format and is using it to his advantage. (www.fox.com/mulaney)

Author rating: 6.5/10