For a certain generation, Martin Mull is known for his TV appearances in shows like Roseanne, Arrested Development and The Larry Sanders Show. However, as much gravitas as he seems to have in the comedy community, it barely scratches the surface. Netflix has now released the trailer to Who is Martin Mull?, which aims to reveal his true legacy. Check it out in the embed above.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“Musician, cult comedian, unlikely TV fixture, acclaimed painter — Martin Mull spent his life becoming someone new, and no version was ever what anyone expected. This candid, star-studded documentary, directed by Bob Saget and Neil Berkeley, traces his restless reinvention from smoky folk clubs to primetime sitcoms to gallery walls, told in his own words and by the friends who watched it happen, including Steve Martin, Tom Waits, David Alan Grier and others. Witty, honest and life-affirming, it’s the story of a comedy icon who, as he put it, ‘had a hell of a ride.'”
The late Bob Saget and Neil Berkeley co-direct the documentary, with Saget sitting down for a face-to-face interview with his subject. The doc is produced by Sean Bradley, Tara Billik and Berkeley and executive produced by Kevin S. Bright, Saget, Morgan Neville and Caitrin Rogers.
Who is Martin Mull? starts streaming on October 7.
Netflix is releasing three additional documentaries on comedy figures next month. Judd Apatow’s film, Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald, will be streaming on October 16. The documentary will be looking at Macdonald’s life intimately, as it is composed of archival footage, personal photos and rare home videos. Apatow had even solicited “unique photos and videos of Norm” from fans on Instagram last year. The documentary is produced by Apatow, Amanda Rohlke and Ross M. Dinerstein. EPs are Josh Church, Marc Gurvitz, Jon Liebman, Zoe Rogovin, Mark McCune and Ross Girard. According to the logline, the doc will chronicle “his rise as the deadpan anchor of Weekend Update to his enduring legacy as a comedian’s comedian — a master of the absurd, the dry, and the unexpected.”
On October 23, Apatow and Berkeley will also be presenting a Maria Bamford documentary called Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story. This doc takes a look at the comedian who is known for “turning radical honesty into radical comedy — often blurring the line between performance and personal crisis.” Producing alongside Apatow and Berkeley are Amanda Rohlke and David Heiman. Meanwhile, Josh Church, Wayne Federman and Olivia Rosenbloom executive produce.
And on October 30, Jason Hehir, the director of the Michael Jordan doc The Last Dance, will be giving us a documentary on SCTV, called SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of. The sketch show that boosted the careers of John Candy, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Rick Moranis and more will be explored with rare, never-before-seen footage and untold stories. The description says, “Through intimate interviews with surviving members of its legendary cast and an emotional reunion in Toronto, the film explores the creative partnership that transformed a small Canadian television production into a cultural phenomenon that launched some of comedy’s most celebrated icons.” Chapman Downes, Whitney Johnson, Andrew Hafnor, Molly Montgomery and Kelly Meinhardt are producers. EPs are Jimmy Kimmel, Scott Lonker and Hehir.