John Mulaney made comedy history in Chicago on Saturday night, becoming the first comedian to perform at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Chicago-born comedian marked the milestone with a sold-out show as part of his ‘Mister Whatever’ tour. He also brought several famous friends to join the historic night.
“How did this happen?” asked David Letterman as he stepped on stage to loud cheers from the crowd. The legendary host joked, “What, are the Beatles here tonight, ladies and gentlemen? This makes that Taylor Swift wedding look like a student film.”
Letterman was not the only surprise guest. Mulaney invited Chicago blues icon Buddy Guy to open the show. The 89-year-old musician performed a short set as audiences entered the venue.
Richard Kind, Mulaney’s longtime friend and co-star on Netflix’s live variety talk show ‘Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney’, hosted the evening. Wearing a “Mayor” sash, Kind introduced Mulaney’s former Saturday Night Live colleague Fred Armisen, who performed a comedy set featuring musical numbers.
Letterman later returned to welcome Mulaney to the stage. The two recently shared the screen when Mulaney appeared at Letterman’s May show at Hollywood’s Montalban Theatre during the Netflix Is a Joke Festival. Letterman had also appeared on ‘Everybody’s Live’.
Mulaney delivered a lengthy and well-received performance, sharing stories about his life with wife Olivia Munn and their two children, Malcolm and Mei. Critics praised the comedian’s emotional and humorous set.
The comedian had been teasing the Wrigley Field performance for months. During appearances on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show and the ‘Today’ show, he expressed his excitement and joked that the sound from the concert could reach nearby streets if the wind was right. A video shared on TikTok later showed that prediction coming true.
Closing the show, Mulaney appeared overwhelmed by the moment. “Every Chicago thing in me tells me to stop bowing, but I’m going to enjoy the moment,” he told the audience. He thanked fans and praised Armisen, Buddy Guy, Richard Kind and Letterman for being part of the historic night.
Mulaney’s ‘Mister Whatever’ tour will continue through 2027.
