Review: Kid Stuff: John Mulaney’s Netflix special “Kid Gorgeous” sets the tone for lackluster comedy

Comedians are not pushing the envelope when it comes to political comedy or comedy in general. Maybe it is this age of political correctness. Maybe it is the onslaught of a young “woke” audience, or the current administration that finds a way to make any and all things unfunny. The results stay the same: comedy is stale right now.

I stayed up to watch John Mulaney’s “Kid Gorgeous” currently streaming on Netflix. It was funny. I laughed. I am a fan.

However, there is a sequence where Mulaney is comparing President Donald Trump to a horse in a hospital. The comparison is funny but not apt. I found myself enjoying the bit but was ultimately dissatisfied. Comedians stand firm to this mantra of saying what everyone else is too scared to say.

The barrier of the Trump administration is that hating and critiquing the White House is not new or compelling. It has become commonplace. After all the think pieces and blog entries filled with indignation by each and every step President Trump makes, it seems it is hard to sound original when everyone is going there.

Mulaney did not present anything new. No provoking thoughts or idealisms. It was just simple observational comedy. Very funny, but the reason I watch comedy and honor it so immensely is because I consider comedy to be the mecca of new philosophy.

Stand up is the most classic form of expression; a prophet-like soap box style meant to entertain but ultimately provide a nuanced point that has gone undiscussed or unrecognized. What makes a great comedian is that they present novel ideas that are sophisticated or even downright trashy but they are inspiring and audacious.

Mulaney has a singular voice. His call backs induce nostalgia. He has a knack for relating a personal experience and widening it to his audience in such a way that we somehow all experienced it which is beautiful and connective in its tenderness.

Yet again, this is nothing new compared to his previous Netflix specials “New In Town” or “Comeback Kid”. Nothing was said that demanded I sit and digest what I had heard.  He did his job, which was to entertain. Mulaney, though a great joke writer, has revealed his weakness: he is basic. It is the same observational comedy he has performed before. I never had to think. I never had to process a premise or hold my breath because I was so excited about what he would say next.

I do not mean to reprimand him for not being a political comedian, and in this special he admits to that himself. However I waited and yearned for his take on our current political climate because he was one of the few comedians that did not have a #MeToo allegation against him.

I wanted to hear from a major voice in the comedy industry that actually had something to say, really anything to say, about what this country is experiencing right now. The transformation we are undergoing and the process of healing it will take to rid our country of fascism and bigotry is worthy of attention and in desperate need of humor.

I did not need words of comfort. I just needed a new way to look at something we have all looked at, delved deeply into and ended up asking the same questions.

Comedians like Dave Chappelle, Mike Birbiglia, Julio Torres and more recently Michelle Wolfe are some of the current stand-ups that are provoking and speaking truth to power, but all of these comedians are lacking in current high levels of commercial success. Some are just beginning their comedy careers. Others are still ‘just writers’ or have already had the success and walked away from it.

This moderate performance heralds a new age for comedy. Audiences do not want to hear provocative statements.  No one is really willing to hear anyone out, and because of this we are going to get a lot of lackluster comedy. This comedy will sate expectations but never exceed them.

This is why the Mulaney performance was so devastating. He is one of the biggest names in the industry right now and has set the tone for what is considered a commercially successful stand up special. And it wasn’t even special.