Mulligan

Netflix’s Mulligan Serves Up Post-Apocalyptic Comedy with Star Power

Netflix’s animated series Mulligan (2023) offers a fresh take on the apocalypse—one where humanity gets a do-over, and the jokes come fast. Created by 30 Rock alums Robert Carlock and Sam Means, the show blends political satire with broad humor, all voiced by a stacked cast including Tina Fey, Dana Carvey, and Nat Faxon. But behind the scenes, latestnetflix.com contends, the series’ rapid release and star-studded lineup raise questions about its ambitions and staying power.

A Second Chance for Humanity (and the Writers)

Mulligan drops viewers into a world where Earth has been obliterated by aliens, leaving a ragtag group of survivors to rebuild society from scratch. The premise is a goldmine for satire, and the show’s creators—best known for their work on 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt—seem eager to mine it. The series’ mix of sharp political commentary and slapstick humor suggests a deliberate throwback to the rapid-fire wit of their past collaborations .

What’s notable is the show’s structure: Netflix released Mulligan in two parts, with the first dropping on May 12, 2023, and the second following over a year later on May 24, 2024 . The gap might hint at production delays or a strategic rollout, but the evidence doesn’t clarify whether this was planned or a response to early reception. Either way, the delay didn’t stop the show from leaning into its strengths—namely, its voice cast.

The Cast: A Who’s Who of Comedy Veterans

The series boasts an ensemble that reads like a who’s who of comedy royalty. Tina Fey, a frequent collaborator with Carlock and Means, leads the charge, while Dana Carvey—best known for Saturday Night Live—brings his signature vocal chops to the mix. Nat Faxon (Ben and Kate, Disjointed) and Sam Richardson (Veep, Ted Lasso) round out the core cast, with Chrissy Teigen and Phil LaMarr adding star power .

The casting suggests a deliberate effort to balance big names with comedic chops, but the evidence doesn’t reveal how the roles were divvied up or whether any actors improvised their lines. Given Fey and Carvey’s SNL roots, it’s easy to imagine the show’s humor benefiting from their improv skills, but without behind-the-scenes details, that remains speculation.

Political Satire or Just Broad Comedy?

Early reviews (or at least the snippets available) suggest Mulligan walks a fine line between pointed political humor and broader, more accessible jokes. A snippet from KGET 17 describes the series as a mix of “political and broad humor,” implying the show doesn’t shy away from skewering real-world issues . But how deep that satire goes—or whether it lands—isn’t clear from the evidence.

The show’s premise—a post-apocalyptic reboot of society—lends itself to commentary on leadership, power, and human folly. If Mulligan follows the 30 Rock playbook, it likely balances absurdity with sharp observations about modern life. But without more concrete examples or reviews, it’s hard to say whether the satire cuts deep or just skims the surface.

The Verdict: A Promising but Unproven Comedy

Mulligan arrives with a lot going for it: a killer cast, a proven creative team, and a premise ripe for laughs. But the evidence leaves key questions unanswered. Was the year-long gap between parts a sign of production struggles or a calculated move? How much of the humor comes from improv versus scripted lines? And most importantly, does the show’s satire resonate, or does it get lost in the chaos of its post-apocalyptic setting?

For now, Mulligan feels like a high-stakes gamble—a chance for Carlock and Means to prove they can still deliver the same sharp, fast-paced comedy that made 30 Rock a classic. Whether it sticks the landing remains to be seen, but with this cast and premise, it’s at least worth a watch.