Ever watched a tall, gangly cartoon kid scream about his "changing body" and thought, I know that voice? You’re not alone. The frantic, cracking, and often deeply distressed voice of Andrew Glouberman in Netflix’s Big Mouth belongs to none other than John Mulaney. It’s a perfect match. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else capturing that specific brand of suburban Jewish anxiety quite like he does.
Mulaney brings a certain "polite boy in a panic" energy to the role. It’s a stark contrast to his best friend Nick Birch, who is voiced by series co-creator Nick Kroll. While the show is based on Kroll’s real-life childhood, Andrew Glouberman is actually based on the show's other co-creator, Andrew Goldberg.
So, why didn't the real Andrew Goldberg voice his own character?
The Voice Behind the Neurosis
Basically, Goldberg isn't an actor. He’s a writer and producer. While Nick Kroll has spent years honing a thousand different voices—playing everyone from Maury the Hormone Monster to Lola Skumpy—Goldberg stays behind the scenes.
John Mulaney stepped in because he and Kroll have been friends and collaborators for decades. If you’ve seen their Oh, Hello sketches or their Broadway show, you know their chemistry is telepathic. Mulaney’s voice for Andrew isn't just "funny." It’s a tool for emotional devastation. He can swing from a nerdy whisper about jazz to a guttural roar of hormone-induced rage in about three seconds.
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Why Mulaney’s Performance Hits Different
Most people know Mulaney from his stand-up specials like New in Town or Kid Gorgeous. He usually plays a version of himself: the sharply dressed, slightly confused "adult" who feels like a child in a suit.
In Big Mouth, he flips that. He plays a child who is desperately trying to be an adult but keeps getting tripped up by his own biology.
Mulaney doesn't just "do a voice." He leans into the physical discomfort of puberty. When Andrew gets caught in a "shame spiral" or starts obsessing over something incredibly niche—like a tomato shaped like a butt—Mulaney’s delivery is what makes it relatable instead of just gross.
Is Andrew Glouberman the True Main Character?
There is a huge debate among fans about who the show is really about. Nick’s name is on the title cards (sorta), and he’s the "late bloomer" we’re supposed to pity. But Andrew? Andrew is the one in the trenches.
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- He’s further along in puberty: Andrew starts the series with a mustache and a direct line to Maury.
- The stakes are higher: While Nick is worried about not growing, Andrew is worried about the consequences of growing too fast.
- The range of emotion: Mulaney gets to play Andrew through breakups with Missy, falling outs with Nick, and some truly dark "villain arcs" where he treats people like garbage.
Think about the episode "Am I Gay?" in Season 1. That’s a career-best for Mulaney’s voice work. He captures that specific, frantic internal monologue of a thirteen-year-old trying to figure out his identity while his brain is melting. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s John Mulaney at his most unhinged.
More Than Just Andrew
While Andrew is his main gig, Mulaney pops up elsewhere in the Big Mouth universe. He’s voiced:
- Babe the Blue Ox (in the Paul Bunyan segments).
- Mint (the cool, disinterested teen).
- Grandpa Andrew (showing that the neurosis is genetic).
- Detective Florez.
It’s a testament to his range. Even when he’s playing a giant blue ox, you can hear that signature Mulaney cadence—the way he stresses certain vowels to make a sentence sound twice as judgmental as it actually is.
The Evolution of the Voice
As the show has progressed into its later seasons (reaching Season 8 by 2025/2026), Andrew’s voice hasn't really "matured" in the traditional sense. He’s still high-pitched. He still cracks.
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This is a deliberate choice. Puberty doesn't just end one day with a deep baritone and a clear complexion. It’s a lingering, awkward transition. Mulaney keeps Andrew stuck in that vocal "middle ground" where he sounds like he’s perpetually on the verge of either crying or sneezing.
What to Watch Next if You Love Andrew
If you’ve binged every episode of Big Mouth and need more of that Mulaney/Kroll energy, you have to look at their history. They aren't just co-workers; they are a comedy duo in the purest sense.
- Oh, Hello on Broadway: This is essentially Nick and Andrew if they grew up to be two eccentric, tuna-obsessed old men in the Upper West Side. It’s on Netflix. Watch it.
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Mulaney plays Peter Porker (Spider-Ham), and you can definitely hear shades of Andrew’s frantic energy in the pig.
- The Bear: If you want to see Mulaney do live-action drama (with a side of comedy), his guest spots here are incredible and show a completely different side of his "voice."
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Follow the Creators: If you want to understand why Andrew acts the way he does, follow Andrew Goldberg on social media. The character’s weirdest traits are often pulled directly from Goldberg’s real childhood journals.
- Listen for the Improv: A lot of the best lines between Andrew and Nick are improvised in the booth. Pay attention to the "dead air" or the stuttering; those are often real reactions between Kroll and Mulaney.
- Check out Human Resources: The spin-off series gives more background on the creatures, but Andrew still makes appearances that help round out his arc.
Ultimately, Andrew Glouberman voiced by John Mulaney is one of the most accurate depictions of male adolescence ever put to screen. It’s uncomfortable, it’s loud, and it’s deeply, deeply Jewish. It works because Mulaney isn't afraid to make the character—and by extension, himself—look absolutely ridiculous.
Next time you hear that high-pitched "NICK!" echoing from your TV, remember the decades of friendship and the very real awkwardness of a writer named Andrew Goldberg that made it all possible.