Netflix has announced that comedian and writer John Mulaney will host a live variety talk show, with production set to begin soon. The new series may draw inspiration from Mulaney’s recent live talk show Everybody’s in LA, which premiered on the platform in May 2024 and ran for six episodes.
Mulaney’s production company will produce the show, with him at the helm as showrunner. However, specific details about the new series have not been disclosed.
In an interview, Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria praised Mulaney’s previous show, saying it showed the potential for a weekly live talk and variety format on the platform. “It was just so bold and original and fresh and then unpredictable,” Bajaria said, adding that working with Mulaney on a live show would be “really fun.” The success of Everybody’s in LA was seen as a trial run for the type of show Netflix could produce, and Bajaria believes it paves the way for more live content.
Netflix has historically been criticized for not giving shows enough time to develop an audience, with the recent cancellation of Kaos being a prime example. However, the platform’s willingness to stick with comedians, even when they generate controversy, suggests a different approach. The company’s long-term relationship with Dave Chappelle is a case in point. One reason for this may be the relatively low production costs of comedy specials and talk shows compared to scripted series.
