John Mulaney Reveals Parenting Hack for Teaching Son to Ride a Bike
John Mulaney Reveals His Hilarious Hack for Teaching His Son to Ride a Bike
Learning to ride a bike is no laughing matter.
John Mulaney shared his unorthodox method for teaching his and wife Olivia Munn’s 4-year-old son Malcolm to ride a bike.
"I'm teaching him to ride a bike currently," he exclusively told E! News' Will Marfuggi at the Nov. 5 premiere of Prime Video's Madden, which is in select theaters Nov. 18, "and it is funny, because I can ride one for sure. I don't do it often, but I can ride one. But I have no idea how to communicate to him."
"Like, 'I don't know, man,'" Mulaney continued. "'You just you kind of just stop moving your arms around.'"
So the 44-year-old, also dad to Méi, 2, with the Newsroom alum, leaned on a "hack" to get through to Malcolm, though he made sure to emphasize that he "can't pretend" he came up with it.
"I put a pair of sweatpants," he explained, "I hold the legs, and then the crotch of the sweatpants is around his chest into his armpits, he rides, and I'm back kind of holding him up in case he goes from side to side. But he's actually riding it himself, so no training wheels—right to sweatpants."
And after nearly five years as a dad under his belt, the training weeks are certainly off when it comes to parenthood—especially around the holidays. In fact, the Everybody's Live with John Mulaney host is really looking forward" to the upcoming holiday season, which is also when his son will celebrate his birthday.
"He's gonna be 5," he shared. "My son has his demands, but he's very good at communicating them. If I say, 'You seem really frustrated about this,' he can kinda collect himself and say, 'I just want you to leave, because Mama will let me watch more TV.' And I go, 'OK, so you don't hate me, I just won't let you watch Duggee,' or whatever the hell."
Instagram / Olivia Munn
Mulaney also shared why he took on the role of Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins in Madden, which tells the story of John Madden and the eponymous video game empire he spawned.
"What's funny about the game itself—and this is touched on in the movie, but this was really true in the way they looked at it," he said. "This sounds like wishful thinking, but they kind of they realized the game would make kids want to play football and go outside."
"Hard to predict when you're designing a video game that this will bring people outside again," Mulaney added, "but they really did want to design a game that got people so involved in football and young people in football that they go, 'This is great! I want to take these plays outside.'"
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Keep reading for more on Mulaney and Munn's family life...
Olivia Munn/Instagram
Christmas Chaos
John Mulaney and Olivia Munn had their hands full with their son Malcolm and daughter Méi in this Christmas 2025 family portrait.
Olivia Munn/Instagram
Baby Bao
Munn dressed her daughter up as a steamed dumpling on Halloween 2026.
Olivia Munn/Instagram
Birthday Girl
The family celebrated Méi's first birthday in 2025 with a cake that referenced her name. As Munn wrote on Instagram, "Just like her Chinese zodiac and the translation of her name, she’s the perfect mix of a dragon and a plum."
Olivia Munn/Instagram
Beary Cute
"Don’t worry she’s not a real bear," Munn quipped in a January 2025 Instagram post. "Happy 4 months Méi Méi!!"
Olivia Munn/Instagram
Grumpy Face
Mulaney made a face with Méi in this November 2024 Instagram photo.
Olivia Munn/Instagram
Big Brother
Malcolm gave his sister a sweet kiss in this Instagram photo Munn shared in November 2024.
Instagram / John Mulaney
Welcome Méi
On Sept. 22, 2024, the couple announced they had welcomed their second child, daughter Méi June Mulaney, via surrogate one week prior. Méi was born on Sept. 14, 2024.
Instagram / John Mulaney
Baby Girl
Munn and Mulaney shares several pics in their birth announcement for their baby girl, including this sweet photo of the three in the hospital.
Instagram / Olivia Munn
Mother of Two
As part of her birth announcement for baby Méi, Munn shared this pic of the two enjoying a sweet moment.
Instagram / John Mulaney
Family of Four
Méi joined big brother Malcolm, who was born in 2021. After her birth, Munn and Mulaney shared pics of one of their first outings as a foursome.
Instagram / Olivia Munn
Baby Bliss
Munn also shared this pic of newborn Méi catching some zzz's.
Instagram/Olivia Munn
Time to Celebrate
Mulaney and Munncelebrated Malcolm's second birthday in November 2023.
Instagram/Olivia Munn
Way to Go, Idaho
The parents took Malcolm to the Gem State in June 2023.
Instagram/Olivia Munn
Little Moments
Munn shared this photo of her family of three on Father's Day 2023.
Instagram/Olivia Munn
Life's a Beach
Mulaney and Munn hit the beach with Malcolm in March 2023.
Let Them Eat Cake
The couple rang in Malcolm's first birthday in November 2022, with Munn joking that her mom Kim Munn was getting "impatient" with the cake-cutting.
Making Memories
Mulaney celebrated his 40th birthday with Munn and Malcolm in August 2022.
Doting Dad
Munn snapped a sweet moment between Mulaney and their son on stage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in April 2022.
New Parent Pals
The family of three posed alongside fellow parents Dan Levy and Rachel Specter with their daughter Penny.
4 Months
Munn and Mulaney celebrated Malcolm turning 4 months old on March 24, 2022.
Birthday Boy
"Daddy" Mulaney cuddled with Malcolm on his 4-month birthdate before heading out to Texas.
Mommy & Malcolm
The actress shared, "It's been 4 months since the happiest, chillest baby came into my world."
Love at First Sight
Mulaney peered over at his baby boy in this throwback photo from his birth. The comedian wrote in March 2022, "Four months ago I met a 6 lb boy who changed my life forever."
Boys Reunited
Munn captioned this adorable embrace with a teddy bear emoji.
In the Family
Munn shared a pic of Malcolm with his grandma a.k.a. the "retired tiger mom."
Instagram / Olivia Munn
"Buttered Biscuit"
Munn gushed over her baby boy.
Baby Playdate
Mulaney and Munn introduced Malcolm to friends Henry Golding and Liv Lo Golding, as well as the couple's daughter Lyla, in January 2022.
Dads on Duty
Mulaney and Golding were seen laughing as they held up their tiny tots.
New Moms
The friends snapped a selfie while introducing their babies.
First Friends
As Munn wrote, "Malcolm met Lyla today."
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