Why Is Everyone Talking About The New Bo Burnham Special? We Break It Down

Who is this Bo Burnham guy anyway?

Bo Burnham is a musical stand-up comedian who got his start playing silly little songs on YouTube back in the day. Since then, he’s taken the world of comedy by storm: playing sold-out tours around the world, directing a special for Chris Rock, and even landing the role of the romantic lead in last year’s hit film Promising Young Woman. He’s a big deal (literally - the guy is like 2 metres tall).

Not ringing a bell - what else has he done?

A bunch! Besides his other Netflix specials What and Make Happy, he directed the critically acclaimed coming of age dramedy Eighth Grade, has been on Conan a bunch, and even popped up in Parks & Recreation playing spoiled country singer Chipp McCapp. Trust us, you’ll have seen him somewhere.

OK, but why is everyone talking about him?

It’s all to do with his newest special: Inside. With COVID-19 and the lockdown hitting the entertainment world especially hard, Burnham got a camera, some lights and his instruments to put together a one and a half hour long special chronicling a year of being trapped indoors unable to perform, and slowing losing his sense of self along the way. His hair grows out, he looks more and more tired throughout the piece - it’s an incredibly raw and quasi-voyeuristic glimpse into the personal disintegration of one man.

Been there done that! Why would I want to watch someone else going through all that again?

OK, wow, good question. The special deals with some heavy topics and Burnham goes deep with the introspection, pulling out some stuff that is pretty tough to swallow. Stuff that most people went through during their own lockdowns: overanalysing every single thought they have, the fragility of life, that sort of thing. But in that is something incredibly beautiful, and for Burnham to broadcast his own difficulties to the world is a signal beam to all those out there having the same problems. To tell them that their feelings are totally valid and that we can get through this.

So, it’s about being in lockdown?

Not exclusively. There’s heaps in there that isn’t related to COVID-19 and seems to have been written for stage prior to the world collapsing in on itself. Take the brilliant White Woman’s Instagram, which parodies the vapid emptiness of social media posting and the sadness it may truly convey - it's pure Burnham magic; that perfect balance of silly subject matter and deeper meaning, that could slot in with any of his other specials. It’s a lot (especially considering most comedy specials rarely sneak past the 60 minute line, let alone going up to 90), but there’s plenty to like. Plus, if you need a break, Burnham pops an intermission in for you around halfway so you can take a breather and come back.

I don’t want to be reminded of how much the last year sucked. What else have you got for me?

Fair enough! If you want stuff made in lockdown that doesn’t make you want to sit alone for a while after, plenty of comics made content in that time and put it out there for your enjoyment. Check out David O’Doherty’s online album, the self-explanatory Live In His Own Car During A Pandemic. For something more local, you can go for Stan’s Australian Lockdown Comedy Festival featuring the likes of Wil Anderson, Geraldine Hickey, Tom Ballard and stacks more. Check out the trailer below.

Bo Burnham's Inside is streaming now via Netflix.