John Mulaney’s Poker Face Role Confirms Something I’ve Been Thinking Since His First Appearance In This Comedy With 96% On RT

WARNING: SPOILERS forward for Poker Face season 2, episode 3.

John Mulaney’s excellent visitor look in Poker Face season 2, episode 3, “Whack-a-Mole”, proves that he ought to be doing extra work as a scripted actor. Mulaney has loved a profitable profession as a slapstick comedian and comedy author, notably as a author on Saturday Evening Dwell from 2008 to 2013, however has solely not too long ago began to showcase his abilities as each a dramatic and comedic actor. Earlier than guest-starring as Poker Face’s FBI mole Maverick / Danny Clyde-Otis, Mulaney additionally guest-starred in a handful of episodes of the Emmy-winning FX series The Bear as a member of the extended Berzatto family tree.

All through Poker Face season 2, episode 3, Mulaney’s Danny should disguise his secret association with Rhea Perlman’s Beatrix Hasp, one of many leaders of the 5 Households crime group. Danny would not have a transparent motive in serving to Beatrix exterior of chilly exhausting money, which Beatrix has given Danny for years earlier than he’s lastly uncovered within the episode. Poker Face season 2 is a really old style murder-of-the-week sequence with a brand new solid and setting for every episode, which means that Mulaney probably will not be returning to the celebrated Rian Johnson undertaking. That mentioned, it ought to result in extra scripted alternatives for the present Netflix selection present host.

John Mulaney’s Efficiency In Poker Face Season 2 Additional Proves That He Wants To Be In Extra Scripted TV Exhibits

His Function As A Corrupt FBI Agent Exhibits He is Received Pure Expertise For Scripted Performing

John Mulaney has been one of many funniest stand-up comedians within the recreation for a while now. Following his success on SNL, Mulaney has launched a complete of seven comedy specials, two of which on Comedy Central and the remainder on Netflix. Whereas his abilities as a comic and comedy author are firmly established, his appearing profession is arguably much less developed, contemplating what he brings to the desk in Poker Face season 2, episode 3. Not solely does Mulaney have a pure knack for on-screen efficiency, however he additionally proves along with his Poker Face look that he can do extra than simply play the humorous man.

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Poker face season 2

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Poker Face Season 2 Review: Rian Johnson Has Cleverly Mastered His Addictive & Old School Murder-Of-The-Week Series

Maybe the best achievement of Poker Face season 2 is that, regardless of its apparent and steadfast algorithmic construction, there’s by no means a boring second.

Whereas his stand-up comedy reveals are nice, together with his current All the things Dwell with John Mulaney selection present at the moment streaming on Netflix, seeing him in Poker Face is a transparent indication that he must do extra character performances. He was additionally refreshingly nice because the supporting character Stevie on The Bear, who chimes in for a couple of humorous beats in season 2’s acclaimed episode “Fishes” and season 3’s “Tomorrow.” Other than Poker Face and The Bear, Mulaney has principally solely appeared on sketch comedy sequence over time or as a voice actor on animated sequence.

Apart From The Bear, John Mulaney Has Largely Completed Voice Roles In Current Years

He Voiced Andrew On The Emmy-Successful Animated Sequence Massive Mouth

The final time that Mulaney performed an onscreen character earlier than Poker Face or The Bear was in a couple of episodes of the Hailee Steinfeld-led Apple sequence Dickinson as transcendalist author Henry David Thoreau. The present ran for 3 seasons between 2019 and 2021, and Mulaney appeared in simply two episodes of season 1 almost six years in the past.

Between all of his numerous writing, internet hosting, and voice-acting gigs, it is comprehensible that Mulaney would not have the time or vitality to decide to a full-season-length TV character.

Between all of his numerous writing, internet hosting, and voice-acting gigs, it is comprehensible that Mulaney would not have the time or vitality to decide to a full-season-length TV character. That mentioned, he ought to actually think about it, particularly now that Netflix’s Massive Mouth, by which he voiced Andrew from 2017 to 2025, is coming to an finish after eight seasons.

Mulaney additionally supplied his voice work as Spider-Ham in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which he’ll reprise in 2027’s Spider-Man: Past the Spider-Verse. He can even play Journey Hawkins in David O. Russell’s upcoming John Madden biopic, which can even star Christian Bale and Nicolas Cage because the titular protagonist. Hopefully, Mulaney will proceed this current TV streak after The Bear and Poker Face and proceed to tackle extra scripted work as an actor.