John Mulaney Claims Netflix Exec Had Concerns About New Late-Night Series: ‘Not the Show We Sold’

John Mulaney knows his new Netflix series, Everybody’s Live, is “not good” — but the streamer apparently had some concerns.

In a Vulture profile published Wednesday, March 19, the 42-year-old comedian recalled a conversation with an unnamed Netflix executive before the show’s premiere. While discussing the episode’s rundown with his writers, Mulaney revealed, “We just had the funniest call with Netflix.”

Guests for the first episode featured Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen and folk music icon Joan Baez, but the exec was allegedly worried those names might not draw enough excitement.

Mulaney said he was told, “This is not the show we sold,” a critique he brushed off. “It was great to see someone kind of apoplectic — like, ‘Oh, honey, do you know what you bought?’ And then they go, ‘We don’t even understand what this rundown means!’” he continued. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, you think you’ll feel better when I explain “telescope murder”? If I walk you through that it’s a Body Double parody, you’ll feel better about the spend?’”

The first episode of Everybody’s Live — which was ordered to two 12-episode seasons following the success of his 2024 live series, Everybody’s in L.A. — included the kind of niche references and self-deprecating humor many fans have come to expect from Mulaney.

“Netflix picked up this show by accident,” he teased in his monologue on March 12. “They thought it was a true-crime documentary because I look like a disappeared boy.”

Mulaney went on to discuss his marriage to Olivia Munn and their family life, playfully calling out his wife’s “cancer brain.” (Munn, 44, has spoken openly about her experience being treated for breast cancer.)

Armisen, Baez and Michael Keaton joined Mulaney and his trusty sidekick, Richard Kind, in answering calls from viewers about money. The premiere also featured Tracy Morgan as “King Latifah,” a sketch that included 11 actors who have played Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman — including Back to the Future‘s Christopher Lloyd — and a performance by hip-hop group Cypress Hill.

Joking with his writers about the Netflix call, Mulaney claimed, “They said, ‘And Jo Ann Baez?’ And I said, ‘It’s Joan.’”

He went on to tease, “The show’s not good, guys. That’s the thing about the show, is it’s not like, ‘Oh, this is awesome!’ It’s great, but it’s not good.”

According to an announcement shared via Instagram, the second episode of Everybody’s Live will feature Ben Stiller, Quinta Brunson and Mulaney’s BFF Nick Kroll, as well as “cruise industry expert” Anne Kalosh. Musicians Kim Gordon and Kim Deal are expected to perform.

Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney airs on Netflix Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.