Source: www.TheComeback.com
By Mallory McGovern
Scandal and heartbreak are common features of the Hollywood gossip landscape, but nothing brings out equal collective heartbreak and outrage as the fall from grace of a previously wholesome star brings. No current story exemplifies this more than the John Mulaney, Annamarie Tendler, and Olivia Munn saga. While the Internet has been stormed with opinions on who the villain is, a strong undercurrent has begged the question of whether we should even get to be outraged about the situation at all. After all, this is between a guy I mainly know through Netflix comedy specials, his wife who I probably wouldn’t recognize on the street (sorry Annamarie!), and an actress who I still routinely confuse with the other famous Olivia that’s currently dating Harry Styles. While these are all valid questions, what’s missing from the conversation is the reality of the pressures of a lifestyle in standup comedy. Beyond this week’s tabloid headlines, a larger conversation needs to be had about the rampant addiction and mental health issues that plague those we entrust with the high task of making us laugh.
My comedy experience is far from Mulaney–a comedian with several Netflix specials, four SNL hosting gigs, several voice acting credits, and a Broadway show. Nonetheless, we both started out doing college comedy gigs. While I’ll forever be thankful for the friends I made and the experiences I had doing standup comedy, I had to ask myself: can I do this forever?
Beyond the hardships that plague all new artists, comedy, in particular, presents a challenging lifestyle if you want to fit in with the other “upstanding” members of society. Frequent appearances at bars, clubs and house shows are crucial not only to finding community in the comedian scene but for identifying future creative partners and coming up with new ideas. Like most gatherings after 9 p.m., these environments also tend to involve alcohol and drugs. Spending my Friday nights as an undergraduate shooting the s*** and eating some fries in a dive bar was no problem. But at some point, financial aid runs out and life begins. For me, I decided that at least for now, I wouldn’t be putting my all into comedy. The late nights and the many fun and creative people I met were great, but as an ultra-rational person, I worry about its sustainability.
John Mulaney has been very honest about his eventful last year, and stories about his alcohol and drug addiction have always held a paradoxical role to his straight-laced comedy persona. Unfortunately, addiction and mental health struggles are nothing new to comedians. Combined with the demanding schedule at all levels of the industry–whether it be constant touring or writing into the early hours of the morning–there’s an argument to be made for a health crisis among comedians. To put it simply, just maintaining the lifestyle of a comedian is a hard-fought battle. So where does that leave us with the loveable, yet flawed John Mulaney? Fans and critics alike can analyze what this means for his career or tell us whose side to take. However, the deeper story here is understanding what happens to comedians when they’ve finished their tight five and step off the stage. Robin Williams once said, “Comedy is acting out optimism.” To my fellow comedians, writers, and creatives, I encourage you to make sure positivity and happiness are not just a performance, but a part of your daily life–even if this means handing the mic over to another act for now.
