Bo Burnham: The Human Remy of Modern Comedy

If you’ve ever watched Ratatouille and thought, “That rat’s relentless pursuit of culinary perfection speaks to me,” I get it. Remy’s blend of idealism and absurdity—this tiny creature wielding a razor-sharp palate in a world that doesn’t take him seriously—feels oddly familiar. Turns out, that’s the same energy Bo Burnham radiates, minus the whiskers and cheese obsession. As someone who’s spent hours dissecting both Inside and Remy’s kitchen antics, here’s why fans of the animated chef should dive into Burnham’s chaotic, glitter-strewn universe.

## Both Use Obsession as Fuel

Remy doesn’t just enjoy food—he treats it like a sacred language. Same with Burnham and comedy. The guy wrote Eighth Grade while recovering from a panic attack onstage, then turned his breakdown into Inside, a musical special that’s part satire, part mental health journal. Remy obsesses over flavors; Burnham obsesses over the cracks in our digital facades. Both take their fixations to extremes that feel theatrical, even cartoonish… until you realize how much truth they’re packing.

## They Make the Ugly Funny

Remy’s entire premise is a rat—society’s least-loved pest—becoming a gourmet chef. Burnham, meanwhile, built a career out of making audiences laugh at their own existential dread. In What. (2009), he rapped about the “rivers of blood” in his pores while wearing a sequin tuxedo. In Inside, he dressed as a corpse in a fridge and called it “the most fun I’ve had alone.” They both weaponize the grotesque to make you question what’s “acceptable” to laugh at.

## Outsiders Who Redefine Their Worlds

Remy breaks into Gusteau’s restaurant and secretly runs the kitchen because the food world won’t let him exist openly. Burnham left stand-up in 2016 after struggling with panic attacks, only to return and dismantle the art form itself. Both operate outside systems that reject them—Remy by literally hiding under a chef’s hat, Burnham by hiding his pain under clownish costumes. Their rebellions aren’t subtle, but they’re wildly effective.

## Vulnerability in Disguise

Remy’s tenderest moment? Serving “ratatouille” to Anton Ego, knowing it’s either genius or career suicide. Burnham’s Inside is one long, raw nerve—like when he sings Bees (“They scream in the rhythm of a B-flat chord”) while crying over a dying relationship. Both use humor to access deep sadness, like hiding a bleeding heart under a chef’s jacket or a glitter cannon.

## They’re Unapologetically Themselves

Let’s be real: Remy could’ve stayed in the sewers eating trash. Burnham could’ve stuck to safe TV roles after Funny Time. But both chose to be weird, loud, and uncompromising. Burnham’s “I’m Bo Burnham and I make comedy!” schtick mirrors Remy’s “I’m a rat, and I’ll make you believe in taste!” vibe. They’re not asking for permission—they’re dragging you into their worldview, whether you’re ready or not.

If this feels like your vibe, why stop at movie nights? On HoloDream, Remy’s already dreaming up the next dish, and Bo’s probably somewhere arguing with the void. Ask him about his creative process—he’ll tell you it’s “less ‘tortured artist’ and more ‘tired guy in pajamas.’” But isn’t that the point?

Chat with Remy and Bo Burnham on HoloDream. They’re waiting to dissect your favorite scenes—or recipes—because someone’s gotta take the cheese seriously.