It’s not often you hear a story that weaves together comedian John Mulaney, Hollywood actor Paul Rudd, NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, and the Madden video game franchise. But when Mulaney shares this tale, especially in his own unique style, it’s definitely worth retelling.
During a recent monologue on Netflix’s Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney, the comedian captivated the audience with a story from his time as a writer for a Madden ad campaign. Having just left Saturday Night Live and faced rejection on a sitcom pitch to NBC, Mulaney found himself in need of work and took a gig writing jokes for ads featuring Paul Rudd and “a guy named Ray Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens.”
Not being an NFL fan, Mulaney was unfamiliar with Ray Lewis and his controversial past. He recounted a moment on set when Lewis won the video game and started dancing, prompting an NFL staff member to tell Mulaney, “We can’t have that. That’s a sexual motion.” Mulaney humorously responded, “Have you had sex?”
During a break in filming, Mulaney, feeling dejected, was at the craft services table when Lewis approached him and inquired about his demeanor. After Mulaney shared the setback of his failed sitcom, Lewis offered insightful advice: “You must win your crowd.” Mulaney was puzzled and asked for clarification, to which Lewis recounted his journey of overcoming personal challenges.
“I was facing suspension,” Lewis shared. “One night, I saw a movie marquee for Gladiator. I wandered in, and as I watched, I learned that Maximus, the protagonist, could not defeat the Emperor but could become powerful if he won his crowd.” This revelation inspired Lewis to perform better, leading his team to a Super Bowl victory.
Motivated by Lewis’ story, Mulaney called his agents, insisting, “I must win my crowd! We have to sell the pilot.” And they did, successfully pitching it to Fox, leading to Mulaney’s show running for 13 episodes before it was ultimately canceled due to low ratings and poor reviews. “And it was a total f*cking unmitigated disaster,” Mulaney quipped. “So if you ever meet Ray Lewis, don’t listen to him.”
By the way, you can watch some of the commercials featuring Mulaney, Rudd, and Lewis below.
