In ‘Baby J’, John Mulaney Keeps His Guard Up: TV Review
Alison Herman TV Critic Late in his newest special “Baby J,” John Mulaney spins a yarn about a desperate quest for cocaine. In the summer of 2020, the comedian bought a brand-new Rolex, then pawned it at a steep discount to get some hands on some quick cash. “As you process and digest how obnoxious, wasteful, and unlikeable that story is,” Mulaney concludes, “Just remember: that’s one I’m willing to tell you.” There’s a lot Mulaney isn’t willing to tell us — at least, not yet. The stand-up has never been particularly personal in his work, instead favoring Seinfeld-style observation and sketches (“Saturday Night Live,” “The Sack Lunch Bunch”) that stand on their own. When Mulaney did discuss his own life, it was either a childhood memory recalled from a healthy distance or an anecdote about his then-stable, long-term partnership with his girlfriend-turned-wife. Even these details were jumping-off points for broader bits about buying real estate or dads’ obsession with World War II, not occasions for deeper disclosure.