While comedians like Louis C.K., Aziz Ansari, and Jim Gaffigan have self-released standup specials online for $5, Bo Burnham is putting his next one out for free. Burnham announced release plans for his new one-hour special, entitled what., during an interview on the podcast Hail Satire!. Here he is explaining why he’s releasing it for free:
“I spent three years making this thing. I just kinda want people to see it. I’m not Louis C.K., who has a gigantic audience. I think there a lot of people who haven’t heard of me and a lot of people who may have heard of me earlier and not dug me stuff when I was 16 who might dig it now. I just wanted to be able to spread it to people to see it.â€
what., which Burnham describes as “very large and theatrical with backing tracks and lights,†was recorded in San Francisco last month. This is his second hour special. His first, Words Words Words, debuted on Comedy Central in 2010.