The Netflix Comedy Special tackles loneliness unlike anything else you’ve seen

According to Robert Scucci
| Published 1 second ago

I was first exposed to Bo Burnham’s comedy when I came across his 2013 stand-up Netflix special, what.and after watching it for the first time I had mixed feelings about it. I distinctly remember turning to my wife and saying, “This kid has a lot of talent and he’s funny, but he’s not going to put out anything really deep until life beats him down a bit.” I was pleasantly surprised when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world into lockdown tired and isolated Bo Burnham to self-produce what I consider to be his best work at the time of writing: 2021. Bo Burnham: Inside.

Although I have always approached Burnham’s comedy (even his early YouTube content) with cautious enthusiasm due to the level of immaturity you’d expect from a young artist trying to come to terms with his meteoric rise to fame, I watched his career from a safe distance, knowing he was destined for greatness. I felt in my gut that Bo Burnham was a raw nerve waiting for the right cues (or lack thereof) to push him into darker territory. Inside claustrophobically investigates and it turns out I was right.

I also felt a great deal of guilt about being happy that my prophecy had come true because it meant that a real person had to put his personal demons to the ground in order to painstakingly create his magnum opus.

Internal settings

Bo Burnham has always had a complicated relationship with the Internet, his audience, his parasocial relationships, his creative process, and most of all, himself. Bo Burnham: Inside he fearlessly tackles all of these insecurities while making viewers feel the same level of discomfort that ultimately led him to abandon his comedy altogether in 2016 upon its release. Gratify special.

Pickup anywhere Gratify interrupted Bo Burnham: Inside brings us back to the guesthouse where he sought refuge at the end of his penultimate special, but this time he’s ready to start performing again. The only problem is that there is no way out because it is trapped, as the name suggests, inside.

Low brow but high concept

It all takes place in a guest house full of cameras, laptops, light fixtures and an unimaginable amount of existential dread, Bo Burnham: Inside not traditional comedy specialbut rather an unbridled exploration of the creative process, perfectionism, the dark side of fame, self-inflicted (and government-mandated) isolation, and sarcastic synth-pop rants about Jeff Bezos that make you clap between sobs.

Just below the intimidating catchy tunes Bo Burnham: Insidethe inner workings of a madman are revealed in Burnham’s colorful songs about FaceTiming with his mom, sex with his girlfriend as our communication devices replace physical relationships, massive media conglomerates profiting from our internet addiction and the notion that as a society we are more connected than ever but also the most isolated , as we ever were.

It goes full circle

Between every scene, song and existential exploration found in InsideBo Burnham pulls back the curtain by showing us his behind-the-scenes process. After achieving what you think is a perfect performance, there are several jarring transitions that lead to Burnham sitting alone in front of a computer, reviewing his own work, before saying “one more” and preparing to start the entire piece from scratch . . As the weeks turn into months, Burnham’s hair and beard grow to an unmanageable length, which he addresses by telling the audience that he had a haircut reservation that was canceled.

Any Bo Burnham fan will tell you they are familiar with the story that led to his creation Insidebut that doesn’t stop the then-30-year-old comedian from breaking into his most confessional track yet, “All Eyes On Me.”

Lowering his voice a few octaves to capture the full extent of his melancholy as he sings over a brooding synth dirge, Burnham reveals through canned laughter and applause that he stopped performing because he had severe panic attacks on stage during his last tour. Revealing that he’s been working on his mental health during his five-year absence from performing, he looks into the camera and declares that just as he was about to stand up again, “the funniest thing happened…”

It’s a little bit of everything

To fully enjoy Bo Burnham: Inside, you have to admit that the entire special is scripted and carefully planned down to the smallest detail. While there’s no doubt that Burnham spent more alone time than he probably should have put together this special, which surely came from the dark recesses of his imagination, he still plays a fictional, hyperbolic version of his persona on stage.

If you want an intimate look at the creative process in the hands of a reclusive perfectionist, Bo Burnham: Inside should be the next comedy special to queue up on Netflix. And if you don’t believe me when I say it’s all an act, Inside Disbursementsalso streaming on Netflix is ​​the perfect companion to tell you “everything’s going to be okay.”

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