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

John Mulaney’s outstanding guest appearance in Poker Face season 2, episode 3, “Whack-a-Mole”, proves that he should be doing more work as a scripted actor. Mulaney has enjoyed a successful career as a stand-up comedian and comedy writer, particularly as a writer on Saturday Night Live from 2008 to 2013, but has only recently started to showcase his talents as both a dramatic and comedic actor. Before guest-starring as Poker Face’s FBI mole Maverick / Danny Clyde-Otis, Mulaney also guest-starred in a handful of episodes of the Emmy-winning FX series The Bear as a member of the extended Berzatto family tree.

Throughout Poker Face season 2, episode 3, Mulaney’s Danny must disguise his secret arrangement with Rhea Perlman’s Beatrix Hasp, one of the leaders of the Five Families crime organization. Danny doesn’t have a clear motive in helping Beatrix outside of cold hard cash, which Beatrix has given Danny for years before he is finally exposed in the episode. Poker Face season 2 is a truly old-fashioned murder-of-the-week series with a new cast and setting for each episode, meaning that Mulaney likely won’t be returning to the celebrated Rian Johnson project. That said, it should lead to more scripted opportunities for the current Netflix variety show host.

John Mulaney’s Performance In Poker Face Season 2 Further Proves That He Needs To Be In More Scripted TV Shows

His Role As A Corrupt FBI Agent Shows He’s Got Natural Talent For Scripted Acting

John Mulaney has been one of the funniest stand-up comedians in the game for some time now. Following his success on SNL, Mulaney has released a total of seven comedy specials, two of which on Comedy Central and the rest on Netflix. While his talents as a comedian and comedy writer are firmly established, his acting career is arguably less developed, considering what he brings to the table in Poker Face season 2, episode 3. Not only does Mulaney have a natural knack for on-screen performance, but he also proves with his Poker Face appearance that he can do more than just play the funny guy.

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

Perhaps the greatest achievement of Poker Face season 2 is that, despite its obvious and steadfast algorithmic structure, there’s never a dull moment.

While his stand-up comedy shows are great, including his recent Everything Live with John Mulaney variety show currently streaming on Netflix, seeing him in Poker Face is a clear indication that he needs to do more character performances. He was also refreshingly great as the supporting character Stevie on The Bear, who chimes in for a few funny beats in season 2’s acclaimed episode “Fishes” and season 3’s “Tomorrow.” Apart from Poker Face and The Bear, Mulaney has mostly only appeared on sketch comedy series over the years or as a voice actor on animated series.

Aside From The Bear, John Mulaney Has Mostly Done Voice Roles In Recent Years

He Voiced Andrew On The Emmy-Winning Animated Series Big Mouth

The last time that Mulaney played an onscreen character before Poker Face or The Bear was in a few episodes of the Hailee Steinfeld-led Apple series Dickinson as transcendalist writer Henry David Thoreau. The show ran for three seasons between 2019 and 2021, and Mulaney appeared in just two episodes of season 1 nearly six years ago.

Between all of his various writing, hosting, and voice-acting gigs, it’s understandable that Mulaney wouldn’t have the time or energy to commit to a full-season-length TV character. That said, he should certainly consider it, especially now that Netflix’s Big Mouth, in which he voiced Andrew from 2017 to 2025, is coming to an end after eight seasons.

Mulaney also offered his voice work as Spider-Ham in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which he will reprise in 2027’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. He will also play Trip Hawkins in David O. Russell’s upcoming John Madden biopic, which will also star Christian Bale and Nicolas Cage as the titular protagonist. Hopefully, Mulaney will continue this recent TV streak after The Bear and Poker Face and continue to take on more scripted work as an actor.

Poker Face

9/10

Release Date

January 26, 2023

Network

Peacock

Directors

Lucky McKee, Natasha Lyonne, Janicza Bravo, Ben Sinclair

Writers

Wyatt Cain, Alice Ju

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  Natasha Lyonne

  Charlie Cale

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  Benjamin Bratt

  Cliff Legrand