Bo Burnham is a comedian, musician, actor, writer, and director who has been involved in many popular projects over the past decade. He first gained fame through his comedic songs and YouTube videos in the late 2000s, and has since gone on to have an impressive career in television, film, and on stage. Some of Burnham’s most notable work includes his stand-up comedy specials, his role on the TV show Parks and Recreation, his critically acclaimed film Eighth Grade, and his 2021 Netflix special Inside. In this article, we will provide an overview of the many projects Burnham has been involved in throughout his prolific career.
Stand-up Comedy Specials
Bo Burnham’s stand-up comedy career began in 2006 when he started posting funny songs and sketches on YouTube as a teenager. His videos went viral and led to him signing a record deal with Comedy Central Records. Burnham released his first EP, Bo fo Sho, in 2008. His full-length comedy album Bo Burnham followed in 2009, along with his first stand-up special Comedy Central Presents: Bo Burnham.
Burnham’s big break came in 2010 when he filmed his first solo stand-up special Words Words Words for Comedy Central when he was just 20 years old. The special was a hit and firmly established Burnham as one of the most exciting new comedic voices. In 2011, Burnham released his second stand-up special What. on Comedy Central to continued acclaim. His third special Make Happy premiered on Netflix in 2016 to widespread praise from both fans and critics, cementing his reputation as one of the best stand-up acts working today.
| Stand-up Special | Year | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Comedy Central Presents: Bo Burnham | 2009 | Comedy Central |
| Words Words Words | 2010 | Comedy Central |
| What. | 2011 | Comedy Central |
| Make Happy | 2016 | Netflix |
Television Shows
In addition to his stand-up comedy, Bo Burnham has made many memorable appearances on popular television shows. His first major TV role was playing himself on the MTV reality show Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous in 2013. Burnham then had a breakout role as Ryan Howard’s intern Brody on seasons 6 and 7 of NBC’s hit show Parks and Recreation. His portrayal of the enthusiastic, socially awkward Brody was a hit with viewers.
Burnham has also appeared as a panelist on comedy panel shows like @midnight and The Pete Holmes Show. In 2016, he wrote and starred in the MTV sketch comedy series Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous. Burnham continues to participate in television projects, highlighting his versatility as a comedic performer.
| Television Show | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Parks and Recreation | Brody | 2013-2015 |
| @midnight | Panelist | 2013 |
| The Pete Holmes Show | Panelist | |
| Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous | Himself | 2013 |
| Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous | Writer/star | 2016 |
Film Career
In addition to television, Bo Burnham has also become an accomplished filmmaker and actor for the big screen. He made his film debut with a supporting role in the 2013 comedy The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Burnham’s biggest film project to date has been writing and directing the acclaimed coming-of-age drama Eighth Grade.
Released in 2018, Eighth Grade follows the struggles of an introverted teenage girl named Kayla (played by Elsie Fisher) during her last week of middle school. The film was praised for its honest depiction of anxiety, adolescence, and social media usage. Burnham’s script and direction received significant acclaim. He earned awards and nominations from organizations like the Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, and Independent Spirit Awards.
As an actor, Burnham has also appeared in films like Hall Pass, Rough Night, and Promising Young Woman. His ability to deliver both comedic and dramatic performances makes him a versatile asset to any film he’s involved in.
| Film | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Hall Pass | Larry | 2011 |
| The Secret Life of Walter Mitty | Narrator | 2013 |
| Rough Night | Tobey | 2017 |
| Eighth Grade | Director/Writer | 2018 |
| Promising Young Woman | Ryan | 2020 |
Inside and Other Works
In 2021, Bo Burnham recorded and released his latest comedy special Inside exclusively on Netflix. The critically praised special was entirely written, recorded, and filmed by Burnham alone in his home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inside provides a brilliantly creative critique of internet culture, performative social media personas, anxiety, depression, and the isolating effects of the pandemic.
Combining his trademark satirical songs with avant-garde filmmaking techniques, Burnham broke new ground with Inside. The special shows how he has matured as an artist willing to offer more vulnerability alongside the humor. Inside appears poised to garner Bo Burnham more acclaim and cement his reputation as one of this generation’s most inventive comedic minds.
Beyond just stand-up and screen projects, Burnham remains highly active with other pursuits like poetry books, internet videos, and more. His prolific creativity across all artistic mediums makes predicting what he might do next virtually impossible. But Bo Burnham’s continuously rising star power ensures that all eyes will remain on him for a long time to come.
Conclusion
Throughout his career, Bo Burnham has proven himself to be a multi-talented performer, writer, and director across mediums like stand-up comedy, television, film, music, poetry, and the internet. His comedy albums, stand-up specials, roles on shows like Parks and Recreation, and films like Eighth Grade have received massive praise from critics and fans alike.
Burnham’s ability to balance silly humor and satire with genuine emotion and insights into the human condition make him a unique voice that resonates with many. His latest special Inside showed deeper artistry and vulnerability while retaining his trademark intelligence and wit. As Bo Burnham continues creating dynamic projects that defy categorization, it is clear that he is cementing his legacy as an iconic comedian and storyteller defining his generation.