There’s nothing like nostalgia for the kids TV we grew up with. John Mulaney, the stand-up comic and former Saturday Night Live writer, understands this very well. With his co-writer, Marika Sayer (also from SNL) and songwriter Eli Bolen, he has created his own special on Netflix that skewers these classic TV shows. For one thing, Mulaney realized how weird and scary some of these shows were, and that oddness is in full effect on The Sack Lunch Bunch.
He has a cast of super talented (Broadway-level talented) children to pull this one off. And pull it off he, and the kids, do. I don’t want to provide many spoilers, but the songs are amazing, especially the one about Grandma’s new boyfriend, and the special guests sublime, including Broadway vets Andre De Shields, Annaleigh Ashford, and Richard Kind(!) Music is brought by David Byrne, yes, the David Byrne, and Jake Gyllenhall has the big ending.
One of the best moments in the special, however, is when they talk to the kids about their fears. It’s honest, uncomfortable, and funny all at the same time. Mulaney has a great way with these kids, and this is a spectacular Netflix special. Join the Sack Lunch Bunch and get your year started right: the honest, uncomfortable, and funny way!
----Steve McGowan