Robby Hoffman has revealed that John Mulaney unexpectedly reached out to her via text with an offer to work with her on a Netflix comedy special. The comedian shared the story during an appearance on a popular podcast, recalling how surreal it was to receive the message from Mulaney.

Hoffman had already developed a following among fellow comedians, although she described her career at the time as still relatively low-key. Mulaney, however, had clearly taken notice of her work and was interested in helping bring her next big project to life.

What happened after that unexpected message was just as remarkable, with Mulaney becoming far more hands-on with the special than Hoffman initially expected.

Robby Hoffman recalled that John Mulaney texted her out of nowhere after getting her number from a mutual comedian. She read the message during the SmartLess interview, revealing just how directly he approached the idea of working together.

“I have been a big fan of your work for a while and really enjoyed you on WTF,” Mulaney wrote before asking Hoffman whether she would consider doing a Netflix special with him. He added that he would be very excited to work with her.

“He threw his weight behind me,” Hoffman said during her appearance on SmartLess, describing the support Mulaney offered after reaching out. She told hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett that making a Netflix special had been her “next dream move,” making the unexpected offer particularly significant.

Mulaney did not simply help Hoffman get the opportunity. He took responsibility for the production itself, allowing her to concentrate on the hour of stand-up she had spent years building.

Robby Hoffman’s Netflix Special: Check Release Date, Cast, and All Details Here

But his hands-on involvement would become even more apparent once the cameras started rolling.

John Mulaney handled the production, stage, directing and camera setup while Robby Hoffman focused entirely on delivering her stand-up. His involvement meant Hoffman could leave the technical side to him and concentrate on the performance itself.

The SmartLess interview revealed just how quickly the recording came together. The special was captured across two shows in a single night, and the first performance was already strong enough for Hoffman and Mulaney to know they had what they needed.

That realization changed the mood of the second show. With the pressure largely gone, Hoffman could approach the rest of the night more freely, knowing the special was already taking shape. The finished Wake Up was later released on Netflix in December 2025, with Mulaney directing the special.

Their collaboration did not end there. Hoffman later appeared on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney, adding another memorable chapter to a creative partnership that began with one unexpected text.

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Mulaney gave Hoffman the freedom to focus almost entirely on her performance. Could that kind of trust be what makes a stand-up special truly work? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!