Mulaney was cancelled by FOX earlier this year, but the cancellation did not force comedian John Mulaney into retirement. He is back with a new comedy special on Netflix, and he is opening up about the cancellation of his comedy series.
He spoke about the end of Mulaney with Vulture, and he knew the show would be cancelled after only a few weeks on the air. The final episode of the series aired on the same night that Saturday Night Live aired its 40th anniversary special, and he wrote the Seinfied Q&A for the broadcast. This gave him some time with comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
He revealed what he talked to Seinfeld about during the night.
“No one knows this, but the last episode of that show aired the same night as the 40th. The 40th did better. But, of all the weird timing, I was talking to Seinfeld that weekend about it all. That was a very, very nice conversation to have. I remember thinking, Well, that’s the end of a tale. Like, I met him and he had some very encouraging, very kind things to say. It was so exciting and kind of — in my own small world — poignant.”
It was about the mechanics of running a show. It was really nice to talk to him a little about how that can be a real grind. To be able to talk to him, with both of us going, “It’s the worst,” was very cathartic. He was like, “You starred in and wrote and produced your own network show. Well, it’s me and you and only a few other people who have done that.” He was saying, be happy with that accomplishment — or that is an accomplishment. He knew it wasn’t going well.”
In addition to the conversation, he talked about how the cancellation made him feel. It was a mix of emotions, according to the comedian.
“There’s momentary relief in not having to run a network show seven days a week. Momentary. But not really. It was very frustrating and disappointing not being able to go back to work with everyone. It was like on a Friday. I had a table-read Monday with some guest roles I was so excited about, and a script another writer and I had worked on all week. The tea leaves were pointing there for sure, but the moment it happened, it was more frustration that I wasn’t going to be able to go back and do it.”
Mulaney admitted that he learned a few things from the experience, and he is moving forward with his comedic career.
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