It’s been three years since musical comedian Bo Burnham’s last routine, and his upcoming special what. is well worth the wait.
Burnham’s postings on YouTube went viral in 2007, forever associating his name with the phrase “YouTube sensation” in every news article written about him. Recently Burnham has moved from being known as “that YouTube kid” to being known as “that Vine kid,” thanks to his popular six-second posts on the video-sharing app.
Thankfully, for fans who prefer his musical/stand-up work, Burnham filmed his upcoming special what. in San Francisco recently. As with his previous shows, what. contains plenty of scatological humor, introspective observations, and dirty poems – there’s a little something for everybody.
what. moves away from the relaxed format of his prior works, feeling more like a performance than a casual routine. Lighting effects, backing tracks, and even a bit of prop comedy combine to create a show that has the viewer spending more time laughing than not.
Known for songs like “My Whole Family (Thinks I’m Gay)” and “Rehab Center for Fictional Characters,” Burnham released an eponymous album in 2009 and shot a one-hour special for Comedy Central titled Words Words Words in 2010. In May, MTV premiered a TV series created by and starring Burnham called Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous, but it was cancelled after one season.
Despite the show’s high points, the songs leave a less memorable impact than those in Words Words Words. Only one of the show’s songs, a humorously genuine look at “God’s Perspective,” has Burnham’s characteristic ingenious rapid-fire lyrics. None of the others come close to the songs from Words Words Words that I’d play on repeat, deciphering an obscure new joke with each play.
Oddly enough, one of the most outstanding songs Burnham has written is absent from the show, despite being penned in the time since his last special. A studio version of “Nerds” was released online for free earlier this year, and conveys a powerful message of support to bullied teens while being a prime example of his fantastic skills as a wordsmith. It’s a shame the song didn’t make it into what., as it would have been a great addition to the show.
While it lacks the nuance and insight of Words Words Words, Burnham’s what. is a wonderful show that will soon be another must-watch hour-long special from the 23-year-old wunderkind.
