This week we're obsessed with...John Mulaney

I am a comedy elitist. I usually find a way to turn any conversation into a monologue about how Knocked Up should have won an Oscar. Sadly, most references I throw out end with the other person giving me a half-mortified/half-curious look. Usually, I have to pause the conversation, open YouTube and wait in silence until a clip that proves my point ends. Then, my rant is warranted.

This is one of those rants: I love John Mulaney, and you should too.

Mulaney is a comedian and "Saturday Night Live" writer (watch his segment "I Love It") who just starred in a new one-hour comedy special, "New in Town."  With the perfect mix of silly and suggestive, Mulaney has been one of my favorite comedians since I came across him on "Best Week Ever" reruns. His commentary was one of my favorites, so naturally, I was excited when a friend gave me a copy of The Top Part, Mulaney's first "Comedy Central Presents" special. Listening to that was like going to church for a comedy nerd.

Here are my top 10 reasons for loving John Mulaney:

1. He co-writes "Stefon," Bill Hader's club-loving New York City correspondent on "SNL's "Weekend Update."

2. He loves "Law & Order" more than my grandpa. On The Top Part, he jokes about Jerry Orbach donating his eyes and the potential resulting rom-com. In "New in Town" he laments Ice-T's confusion regarding all things sex crime while working in the sex crimes unit.

3. Actually, he might be my grandpa. He has the insight of a 70-year-old man who spends all of dinner trying to write a joke about something his wife said.  

4. He's from Chicago! Instead of a thick "Da Bears" accent, he has the voice of an old-time radio host, which might be a result of listening to Jack Benny-type shows as a child.

5. His Twitter feed (@mulaney) exemplifies memorable comedy in 140 characters or less. One of his best reads: "People who ‘operate machinery' don't need Lunesta because they probably have put in an honest days work and can sleep."

6. He attended Georgetown University with Mike Birbiglia and Nick Kroll. Mulaney and Kroll have a hilarious YouTube sketch where they play two Jewish New Yorkers, Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland. Mulaney also toured with Birbiglia on his "My Secret Public Journal Live" tour.

7. He is completely secure with being an ultra-feminine male. It makes up about half of his material, and he even refers to himself as being a gay man as a young child.

8. At age 29, he's a recovered alcoholic and can joke about it.

9. He's not afraid to try some absurdist humor on his audience. In "New in Town," he completely misguides his audience in a joke about his experience with Delta Air Lines.

10. He's the type of guy who sat in the back of your high school English class avoiding girls. But if you ran into him at Target, he'd have no trouble talking to your mother like an old lady on her front porch.

Now that you know a little about why I think he's the only reason anyone is still watching "SNL," go watch his special, read his tweets and tell your friends to jump on the bandwagon. I want this kid to blow up! Metaphorically, of course.

-Liz Steelman