John Mulaney
Comedian John Mulaney recently shed light on why he turned down the chance to host the 2024 Oscars. During a candid conversation on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, Mulaney opened up about the timing and pressures that influenced his decision. The episode also marked Maron’s announcement that his long-running podcast would conclude after an impressive 16-year streak.
“Honestly, I was extremely honored,” Mulaney said. “They approached me last summer when it was clear that Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t returning. They made the offer, but I had a packed schedule. Hosting the Oscars is a massive commitment that spans multiple months.”
Though Jimmy Kimmel had been the Academy’s go-to emcee, hosting four previous ceremonies, he declined to return in 2024, mirroring his decision to skip the 2023 Emmys as well. With Kimmel out, producers approached Mulaney, but ultimately Conan O’Brien was tapped to host the 97th Academy Awards.
Mulaney had nothing but praise for O’Brien’s performance. “He was not just hilarious; he elevated the show to the point that I almost believed I was well-acquainted with the movies, even though I hadn’t watched any,” he joked. Maron agreed, applauding O’Brien’s confident stage presence. “He owned it,” Maron said, highlighting how O’Brien seemed more secure than in earlier years when he often deconstructed his own jokes.
Beyond the Oscars, Mulaney has been focused on his Netflix talk show Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney, which premiered earlier this year. Although the format has been well-received, the comedian admitted that producing 12 consecutive weekly episodes took a toll. “We’d have to scale back if it was a daily thing,” he noted.
Mulaney described the show as an “evergreen, peculiar, timeless talk show aiming to double up as a variety show.” The series gives him the freedom to experiment with various formats, ranging from traditional setups to highly produced comedy sketches.
At the Next on Netflix showcase in January, Mulaney teased the series as a “joyful experiment.” Notable guests have included Pete Davidson, Bill Hader, Henry Winkler, Natasha Lyonne, and David Letterman.
Reflecting on the unconventional nature of the show, Mulaney remarked, “It felt like a venture neither Netflix nor I particularly needed. I never aspired to be a talk show host, and Netflix was phasing out that genre. It felt like the perfect timing for us.”
