Nicholas James Mullen (born December 13, 1988)[2] is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, producer, actor and comedy writer.[3] Active since 2005, he is best known as the creator and co-host of the comedy podcast Cum Town (2016–2022) and its successor The Adam Friedland Show (2022–present). He released his first comedy special, The Year of the Dragon, in December 2023.[4] His comedy often focuses on internet culture and is ironic, observational and self-deprecating.
A nationally touring stand-up, he was an opener for acts including Dana Gould, Jim Norton, Patrice O'Neal, and Hannibal Buress.[8] In 2010, he was named "Best of Fest" at the Laugh Detroit festival.[8] In 2012, he performed at SXSW as part of the Made in Austin and Weekend Spotlight comedy showcases.[10][12] That same year, he was named one of the New Faces Unrepped by Montreal's Just for Laughs festival.[9][13] Other festivals include the 2014 Bentzen Ball in Washington, D.C.[14]
His stand-up special Nick Mullen: The Year of the Dragon was released on December 3, 2023, reaching one million views after its first week of release.[20]
Personal life
Mullen lives in Brooklyn, New York. He previously lived in Manhattan's Chinatown; some of his comedic anecdotes draw from his experience living there in a windowless tenement.[21]
Political beliefs
Mullen has been a vocal supporter of many socially democratic political positions on podcasts and interviews throughout his career including universal health care. In his 2023 stand-up special Nick Mullen: The Year of the Dragon he stated "I believe that health care is a human right. I think everybody should have it: free, easy access."[22] Mullen stated in 2024 on an episode of The Adam Friedland Show Podcast that "I'm not a communist, I want to make that clear." While being pressed by colleague Ari Shaffir on his politics he clarified "If you really had to put me in a box I'm nothing more than just a run-of-the-mill social democrat."[23]
^Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank (April 26, 2015). #216: Tenement (Nick Mullen) (podcast). Apple Podcasts. Event occurs at around 1:30:00. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022. It'll be ten years in October [2015] that I'll be doing comedy
^"Straight Outta D.C."do512. February 2009. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2021. ...a ridiculous reunion of D.C.'s finest comedy exports: ...and Nick Mullen!
^Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank (April 26, 2015). #216: Tenement (Nick Mullen) (podcast). Apple Podcasts. 1:25:00–1:28:15 minutes in. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
^Ari Shaffir's Skeptic Tank (April 26, 2015). #216: Tenement (Nick Mullen) (podcast). Apple Podcasts. 25:30–45:00, 58:00–60:00 minutes in. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.