Bonus 4: John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch

“You know who’s honest? Drunks and children."

John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch (streaming now on Netflix) is billed as a children’s show, but any children’s show that opens with a quote from Erika Jayne of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame is for me.

It’s that bizarre mix—a John Mulaney comedy special in the form of a children’s show like Sesame Street or Electric Company—that makes it a bit of a challenge to grasp what this show is at first. Netflix describes it as “a nostalgic variety special," but it’s really more than that.,

I don’t have kids—and as such am not up on the latest in content for the playground crowd—but I’m guessing this is not your usual fare. Mulaney and his talented pre-teen comedy troupe tackle subjects  like death, fear and what to do when your dad’s drag routine is tired.

I was a little worried that the young cast would come across as pretentious emoters a la Vanessa Bayer’s Laura Parsons character on Saturday Night Live. But I was wrong. These kids are funny, snarky and in on the joke. But I am a little worried about them. Interspersed throughout the special are snippets of the kids talking about what scares them. They have a lot on their minds.

But overall the show is hilarious. One of my favorite segments is a focus group discussing a movie that is now one of the participant’s absolute favorite and will be her top movie for all time. Just like the one she saw last week. There are a number of outstanding musical performances, too, including a spot-on ditty about Grandma having a boyfriend, as well as an adorable number about only wanting to eat noodles with a little bit of butter. I am sure many parents will relate to much of the show.

The show also includes some cameos, such as a great segment called “Girl Talk” with Richard Kind. And there’s nothing I can say to aptly describe Jake Gyllenall as Mr. Music. You just need to watch the show.

Have you seen it? What did you think? Comment below!