Here we go! I've had this idea in my head for many years now, so why not celebrate the start of a new year (and my first post in 2024) with a list of the many Easter eggs and hidden jokes that people have found in Bo's masterpiece?
Yes, Bo clearly mocks this type of analysis in The Inside Outtakes (to hilarious effect!), but I think it's nice to have them all together in one place.
Enjoy, and please let me know if I have missed anything not at all obvious that enhanced your viewing experience!
The Whiteboard
Bo's trusty whiteboard is a key element of Inside. It provides some laughs in Comedy AND shows us what he planned to do at various stages in his creative process.
First, the comedic use.
And here are his various versions of the special planned out (I adore the little drawing of himself!):
As you can see from this comprehensive outline courtesy of Redditor u/toppleimpound, Bo did not have anything planned after 30 until Goodbye. Does this mean he wrote the triumvirate of Welcome to the Internet, That Funny Feeling, and All Eyes On Me DURING filming, perhaps even later in the process? Incredible if so...all three are stunning pieces with some of the best lyrics to describe the isolation of quarantine.
The Typos
One of my personal favorite tidbits that I had picked up on in my multiple viewings of the Outtakes is that Bo has a few typos/misspellings scattered throughout his companion special. I've been a proofreader for two decades now, so I can't help but pick up on errors in writing—it's a blessing and a curse haha.
First, there is a quick, practically subliminal message before Bo's Google parody ad begins.
What we have we done to our children?
Second, there is an error in the credits sequence at the very end of his special.
(in order or appearance)
Fun fact: Some intrepid fan created IMDb accounts for the two spiders (they were subsequently removed, but I had captured the cast list while it was still available)!
I'm of two minds about the significance of these typos. One is that since these are ostensibly outtakes of the original special, Bo included some errors to demonstrate that this product is not perfect and further show it's a work in progress compared to Inside.
On the other hand, it's entirely possible Bo just didn't notice the misspellings (I mean, he WAS working at like 4 in the morning editing the YouTube special per the ending shot of his laptop screen). Believe me, this is one of the first questions I would ask Bo if I had a chance to talk to him in person again!
Editing at 4:01 AM
YouTube Conventions
Back in 2018, Bo told Grace Helbig on her podcast Not Too Deep that he was not averse to posting again on his YouTube channel.
Grace: Do you have any inkling in your brain or any desire in the future to put up purely YouTube videos?
Bo: I would put up something for that. Again, I would make something that is exclusively for that platform.
Four years later, Bo made good on his comment and released the YouTube-exclusive special on his channel. And BOY did he make use of every convention of the video platform!
First, he has the absolutely brilliant fake ads that initially tricked me when I saw the Outtakes for the first time (you can watch my reaction to JEANS here).
TOO SLOW!
Second, he added small ads throughout the special to make it really feel like modern YouTube.
BO BURNHAM'S INSIDE THE PODCAST WITH BO BURNHAM AND BO BURNHAM
SPONSORED BY MANSTUFF — PRODUCTS MADE FOR MEN WITH MEN IN MIND BECAUSE OF MEN IN GENERAL
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY MANSTUFF'S DICK SPRAY(TM). DOES YOUR JUNK GO SKUNK? USE ONE OF MANSTUFF'S PATENTED SPRAY-ON DICKODERANTS. USE THE PROMO CODE: INSIDEPODCAST FOR 20% OFF YOUR FIRST DUDE BUY.
The Seasonal Depression Collection Fall Sale!
It's Mental Health Awareness Decade at Kohl's! All laceless shoes 50% off! STAY INSIDE.
INSIDE: THE VIDEO GAME
"WILDLY IMMERSIVE! DURING ONE OF THE MASTURBATION SIDEQUESTS, I LITERALLY CAME IN MY PANTS." - THE NEW YORK TIMES
Sponsored by Teen Mastercard & The United States Department of Defense
Great news! Online-Only Child Therapists now accepting Crypto! Earn reward points for every session booked, can be redeemed for exclusive Fortnite Skins! STAY INSIDE.
LONELY CHRISTIAN GUYS IN YOUR AREA — CLICK HERE
Finally, he promoted fake videos to watch next, including the Hidden Messages one I've used as the thumbnail for this article. So clever (and I adore the use of exaggerated facial expressions and emoji haha)!
OMG! DID I JUST FUCK A MINECRAFT PINEAPPLE????
THEY PAID ME HOW MUCH?!?!
SECRETS!!!!! • HIDDEN MESSAGES • NOT AT ALL OBVIOUS
I WANT TO DIE!
FINALLY COMING CLEAN • NO MORE LIES
The Labels
Bo included some fun labels for people to find in the Outtakes as well.
"STOP PAUSING" is on the keyboard—for a quick shot that has his hoodie, water bottle from Problematic, a Red Bull can, AND my beloved disco ball? No way, Joseph!
Bo really went hard on the lying on the floor part of Inside, including small black labels that explain where all the props are from:
There's also this split-second message that appears during Welcome to the Internet that's a bit foreboding to say the least:
I'M STILL IN HERE
And finally, here's a playlist I made on Amazon Music that is my best recreation of what Bo had planned per the whiteboard we see in parts of the special:
I hope you've enjoyed going through this compilation of INSIDE jokes (haha), and Happy 2024 (or 2014 or 2004 based on these awful novelty glasses)! 🥳
