Why Kyle Mooney insists his ‘real’ musical persona isn’t comedy

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Kyle Mooney, known for his comedic sketches, was recently playing around with his two-year-old daughter – something he does often as both a performer and a father – when she unexpectedly told him to stop.

He explains that he often tries to be playful and entertaining – what he calls acting like a “lion” – but his wife would tell him to just be himself. He admits this stung a bit, because he realized he was falling back into old patterns of trying to be a clown and she wasn’t fooled by it.

The musician Kyle Mooney, releasing music as “Kyle M,” presents a surprisingly genuine side of himself on his new album. He plays a character reminiscent of Andy Kaufman, claiming to be the *true* Kyle – a heartfelt songwriter who sings about personal experiences like his old car, being picked on as a kid, and the problems with modern technology.

The album is called “The Real Me,” and the whole thing is a charade — and very Kyle Mooney.

During a recent interview at Walt’s Bar near his home, 41-year-old Mooney remained genuinely himself – kind, slightly shy, and unpretentious. Over hot dogs and beers, he maintained this natural demeanor for an hour. However, when I pointed out his apparent amusement with microphone-related mishaps – like breathing directly into it or fumbling with it – he paused and gave me a questioning look.

He explained the album wasn’t meant to be funny. He hadn’t noticed the microphone sounds during recording, and admitted he’s still learning the process – especially since the album was actually recorded in his bedroom, something he suspects many people aren’t aware of.

This summer, he’s been performing songs by the original Kyle, and the tour finishes Wednesday at the Lodge Room. His show also features some of his popular characters, like Todd, a laid-back San Diegan who hosts a show about Southern California, and Chris, a pop-punk musician who dresses in black and, as Mooney describes, thinks of himself as tough. For this last show in his hometown, he’ll be performing with his former sketch comedy group, Good Neighbor.

The “Kyle M” situation is a bit puzzling because, in person, Mooney is genuinely kind, sincere, and earnest.

Vanessa Bayer, a friend and former “Saturday Night Live” colleague, explains that Mooney is great at playfully portraying awkward people, but it’s not mean-spirited. Instead, she sees it as a celebration of them. He has a remarkably accurate and funny understanding of human behavior, and his genuine sincerity is what she finds particularly hilarious-especially when he’s playing the character of Kyle M.

I’ve been watching Brian Mooney’s stuff since his early web videos, and he’s got this amazing knack for capturing that super awkward energy of being a teenager in the late ’90s. You know, that kid – maybe it was *me* – who’d try way too hard to impress someone with a rambling, half-formed idea, or bravely butcher a power ballad they wrote themselves? His characters always feel a little lost – unsure where to look or what to do with their hands. They’re usually filming these ridiculously earnest music videos with their friends, either at the skate park or, hilariously, in their mom’s kitchen. It’s so relatable and cringey in the best way.

He became known for these characters on “SNL,” and recently reprised one – a laid-back character working at a video store – in the A24 film “Y2K,” which he also co-wrote and directed.

Mooney explains that each character feels like a part of herself. She believes people connect with her work because they recognize those traits within themselves, even if they’re amplified. She often draws from her own awkward moments and experiences, figuring out how to use them to create relatable and humorous characters. Essentially, she takes real life and exaggerates it for comedic effect.

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Rachel Zegler, who starred in “Y2K,” remembers director Stephen Mooney often giving odd direction to the young actors. He’d offer guidance, then abruptly add, “Or not. I guess,” before walking away, leaving the cast unsure if he was joking. He also frequently thanked them for being there while giving notes, which they found unusual.

Rachel Zegler and Brett Mooney became friends while filming, which is common for those who work with Mooney-he’s just that likable. Zegler explains that the line between Mooney’s on-screen persona and his true self became indistinct. She realized who he really was only after spending time with him outside of work, saying, “That’s just him!”

Mooney gets his sense of humor from his family. His mom, Linda, was known for being outgoing and playful. But it was watching his older brothers, Sean and Ryan, create funny skits and videos as kids that really sparked his passion for making people laugh.

He began making videos in eighth grade, primarily parodies of the show “Cops.” He really honed his style when he started collaborating with his childhood friend, Dave McCary, who filmed and edited their early work. Those videos heavily shaped Mooney’s comedic approach – a retro, 90s vibe with intentionally rough editing and quirky music. This aesthetic grounds his characters – often awkward skaters and outsiders – in a specific time and place, making his comedy both funny and sweetly nostalgic.

He still owns his Oberheim DX, a drum machine from 1982 that he famously used in videos, including his popular street interviews with the band Good Neighbor. He started Good Neighbor in 2007 with McCary and two friends he met at USC film school – Beck Bennett and Nick Rutherford.

I recently learned about a hilarious bit comedian Jim McCary cooked up with his friend, John Mooney. Basically, McCary dared Mooney to approach random people at the 2010 Lakers parade and play a character – a super awkward, shy sports fan. Mooney described it as something he’d do at home with his friend Dave, pretending to be knowledgeable about sports. The bit involved Mooney trying to ask questions, but he’d completely fumble the words and trail off, leaving the people he approached totally confused and, honestly, really amused. Mooney ended up performing this character at several conventions, and it consistently got a great reaction.

Mooney admits he was always afraid, but they always wished the situation didn’t come across as hostile. They hoped it was clear the other person was genuinely trying their best and acted out of kindness.

Both Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett were hired by “Saturday Night Live” in 2013 after impressing producers with their work on the “Good Neighbor” sketches. Comedian and actor Carmen Christopher, known for “The Bear,” recalls being excited by Mooney’s hiring. “He was really funny and brought a unique style,” Christopher says. “It was encouraging to see SNL embracing that kind of quirky, original humor.”

Bennett departed the show in 2021, and Mooney followed a year later. The pair recently launched a podcast called “What’s Our Podcast?” which allows them to reconnect and chat with celebrity comedians.

Christopher is currently the opening act for Mooney’s “Real Me / Fake Me” tour. He and Mooney have been friends for ten years, but Christopher was surprised by how dedicated Mooney is to creating his funny characters and music.

A lot of it seems surprisingly simple and even a little rough around the edges, which is especially notable when you consider its overall appeal.

Christopher believes the creator’s appeal comes from their authenticity. He explains that the videos don’t feel overly polished or showy, instead feeling like they were made by a friend next door. This relatable quality makes them genuinely funny.

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2025-09-25 00:24