Bo Burnham

Robert Pickering Burnham, born on August 21, 1990, in Hamilton, Massachusetts, embarked on his creative journey by uploading comedic musical songs to YouTube in 2006. These early videos, characterized by wordplay and a readiness to tackle taboo subjects, quickly gained viral traction, establishing him as one of YouTube’s initial stars. His work during this period, often accompanying himself on guitar or digital piano and recorded in his bedroom, contributed to his unique “pubescent musical comedy” style. This early online success led to a four-record deal with Comedy Central Records, culminating in the release of his debut EP, “Bo fo Sho,” in 2008, and his self-titled album, “Bo Burnham,” in 2009. His live performances, including a notable appearance in London for Comedy Central’s “The World Stands Up” at the age of 17, marked him as the youngest comedian to achieve this feat at the time, showcasing his rapid ascent from online creator to a recognized stage performer.

Transitioning from his early YouTube focus, Burnham developed a stand-up comedy format that integrated his musical compositions with traditional stand-up. This evolution was showcased in his acclaimed comedy specials: “Words Words Words” (2010), “what.” (2013), and “Make Happy” (2016). In parallel, he ventured into television as the writer, executive producer, and star of the MTV mockumentary series “Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous” in 2013, and published a poetry book, “Egghead: Or, You Can’t Survive on Ideas Alone.” A significant turning point in his career came in 2016 when he stepped away from live performances due to anxiety and panic attacks. This shift led him to filmmaking, where he made his directorial debut with the critically celebrated film “Eighth Grade” (2018), which earned him a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay and a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – First-Time Feature Film. He further expanded his filmography by directing comedy specials for other comedians like Jerrod Carmichael (2017) and Chris Rock (2018), and appeared as an actor in films such as “The Big Sick” (2017) and the Academy Award-nominated “Promising Young Woman” (2020).

Burnham’s return to performing in 2021 was marked by the release of “Inside,” a unique musical comedy special self-recorded at his home during the COVID-19 pandemic. This special garnered widespread critical acclaim, securing three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Music Direction, Outstanding Writing, and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special. “Inside” also led to Grammy nominations for Best Music Film and a win for Best Song Written for Visual Media (“All Eyes on Me”), with several songs from the special charting on Billboard and achieving platinum certification. In 2022, he further released “The Inside Outtakes,” providing additional material and demonstrating his innovative approach to content creation. His recent executive producing and directing work on Jerrod Carmichael’s comedy special “Rothaniel” further cemented his role behind the scenes, earning an Emmy for best writing for a variety special.