John Mulaney’s Unexpected Travel Secret Revealed

If you think you know what acclaimed comedian John Mulaney’s must-have travel item is, think again. And while it’s common for touring artists to pack particular, even peculiar items—think Carrie Brownstein’s Aeropress—Mulaney’s is a little bit fishier. 

Forget about sentimental keepsakes or childhood security blankets. In the new Netflix episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, after discussing his career, scandals, and latest endeavors, Mulaney reveals something he loves to pack while traveling.

Ladies and gentlemen, the man likes to travel with fish. That’s right. And not just any fish, but King Oscar sardines, to be precise. 

“Here’s the real secret about touring,” he says in a clip toward the end of the episode while he rustles through his luggage. “I’ve got three cans of King Oscar sardines. You don’t know what you’re gonna encounter out there.”

Letterman agrees. “Not a bad idea,” he chimes in. Mulaney clarifies that he doesn’t like any King Oscar sardines. “These are in olive oil—skinless and boneless,” he says. “I just do olive oil or salt water. It’s a nice life.”

On Reddit, people quickly agreed with Mulaney’s choices. On a thread about this exact clip, Redditors promptly showed their support and appreciation. “You’ll notice an obvious correlation between intelligent, well-read people and frequently eating sardines,” reads the top comment. “Don’t forget good-looking,” adds another user.