Bill Burr Reviews Impressions of Himself | Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair
18 Apr 202408:36

TLDRBill Burr, a renowned comedian, takes a humorous look at various impressions of himself in a segment by Vanity Fair. Throughout the video, Burr reacts to different comedians' takes on his persona, style, and mannerisms. He reflects on his own past performances, noting changes in his appearance and stage presence over the years. Burr also humorously critiques the impressions, sometimes pointing out the accuracy and at other times jokingly dismissing them. The comedian expresses a mix of flattery and self-deprecation, acknowledging the talent of those who impersonated him and playfully suggesting that he might learn a thing or two from their performances. The segment concludes with Burr expressing gratitude towards the comedians for their participation and good-naturedly admitting that the experience made him feel even more self-conscious.

Takeaways

  • 🎭 Bill Burr appreciates the humor and talent in the impressions of himself, despite his initial apprehension.
  • 🤔 Burr reflects on his own past performances, noting how he has evolved as a comedian over the years.
  • 😅 He humorously critiques some of the impressions, pointing out the differences between his style and the impersonators'.
  • 😆 Burr acknowledges that the impressions are often more New York or Boston in tone than his own, which he finds amusing.
  • 🙄 He expresses a desire for some impersonators to move on to more profitable subjects, like Ben Affleck.
  • 💭 Burr comments on the cost of living and people's aspirations, using humor to relate to the audience.
  • 👴 He recognizes the talent in the impressions, especially those that capture his earlier style.
  • 🤨 Burr is critical of the intelligence depicted in the impressions, with a touch of self-deprecation.
  • 😓 He expresses discomfort with the process, as it forces him to analyze his own actions and mannerisms.
  • 😮 Burr is surprised by the accuracy and attention to detail in some of the impressions, such as clothing and physical appearance.
  • 🤣 He finds the entire experience unexpectedly enjoyable and complimentary, despite expecting it to be painful.

Q & A

  • What does Bill Burr think about people doing impressions of him?

    -Bill Burr finds it amusing and is flattered by the impressions, although he admits it's a bit weird to watch.

  • How does Bill Burr feel about his own appearance and weight during the video?

    -Bill Burr jokes about his 'covid weight' and wishes he was as animated as he used to be, indicating a self-deprecating sense of humor about his physical appearance.

  • What does Bill Burr say about the impressions that are easy to do?

    -He suggests that easy impressions are those that capture a person's essence without much difficulty, and he playfully challenges the impersonators to do more challenging impressions.

  • How does Bill Burr react to the impression that he feels depicts him as unintelligent?

    -Bill Burr laughs it off and does not seem offended, acknowledging that the impressions do not portray him as particularly intelligent.

  • What does Bill Burr think about the cost of living in New York?

    -He comments that it's too expensive to live in New York and humorously talks about people wanting to live off the L train.

  • How does Bill Burr describe the experience of watching his own old VHS tapes?

    -He finds it strange and feels like he's watching a younger version of himself, noting that it brings back memories of his earlier career.

  • What does Bill Burr say about his own performance style and the mic stand?

    -He acknowledges that he leans on the mic stand and that his current approach is working for him, without needing others to critique his style.

  • How does Bill Burr feel about the Republican's reaction to the number of people who voted for Biden?

    -Bill Burr humorously explains that people voted against Trump rather than for Biden, suggesting that the voters' sentiment was driven by a strong dislike for Trump.

  • What does Bill Burr think about the impressions done by other comedians?

    -He appreciates the talent and effort put into the impressions, even though he initially thought it would be more painful to watch.

  • How does Bill Burr react to the face swap technology used in one of the impressions?

    -Bill Burr is intrigued and slightly disturbed by the face swap, joking about the possibility of an AI replacement and how realistic it looked.

  • What does Bill Burr say about his experience with Jon Lovitz?

    -Bill Burr expresses admiration for Jon Lovitz, describing him as an old-school guy and appreciating his straightforward and humorous critique during a podcast.

Outlines

00:00

😄 Bill Burr's Self-Reflection on Imitations

In this segment, comedian Bill Burr humorously reacts to various impressions of himself. He discusses the ease of performing impressions and the nuances of his own style, including his distinct New York accent and mannerisms. Burr also reflects on his past, noting how some impressions remind him of his earlier career and personal evolution. He touches on the cost of living and the aspirations of people to live in certain areas, like off the 'L' train. Throughout, Burr provides commentary on the impressions, sometimes critiquing and other times appreciating the talent and effort of the impersonators. He also humorously contemplates the idea of an AI replacement and the potential for self-improvement.

05:02

😉 Bill Burr's Podcast and Personal Style

This paragraph focuses on Burr's introspective take on watching and listening to himself, particularly in the context of his podcast. He expresses a mix of amusement and discomfort, highlighting his awareness of his own quirks and habits while performing. Burr also shares his thoughts on the authenticity of the impressions, noting how some capture his stand-up style while others reflect his more casual, conversational podcast persona. He appreciates the detailed observations of his fellow comedians, such as Jon Lovitz, and the camaraderie within the comedy community. The segment concludes with Burr thanking the comedians for their impressions and humorously acknowledging the impact it has on his self-perception.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Impressions

Impressions in the context of the video refer to the act of impersonating or mimicking the characteristics, mannerisms, and voice of a person, in this case, Bill Burr. It is a form of comedy where performers take on the identity of well-known individuals to entertain an audience. In the script, Bill Burr watches and reviews various comedians doing impressions of him, providing his reactions and insights.

💡Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair is a magazine that features articles on culture, fashion, and current affairs. In the context of the video, it is the platform that is hosting Bill Burr's review of impressions done by various comedians. The mention of Vanity Fair implies a certain level of prestige and mainstream recognition for the activity of reviewing these impressions.

💡Covid weight

The term 'Covid weight' has become colloquially used to describe the weight gain that many people experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of staying at home and altering daily routines. In the script, Bill Burr humorously references this concept, wishing he could lose his 'Covid weight' and regain the animated nature of his earlier comedy performances.

💡New York

New York, specifically referring to the accent and mannerisms associated with the city, is a key element in the script as it is used to describe the style of some of the impressions. Bill Burr, originally from Boston, has adopted a New York style in his comedy, which is reflected in the impressions done by other comedians. The term is used to illustrate the regional differences in humor and the specific comedic style that Bill Burr is associated with.

💡L train

The L train is a subway line in New York City that is mentioned in the script as a metaphor for living in a certain area of Brooklyn, which has become known for its artistic and trendy residents. Bill Burr uses this reference to poke fun at the idea of people moving to Brooklyn specifically to live off the L train, and how this might change if the train line were to extend across the country.

💡Stand-up comedy

Stand-up comedy is a form of comedic performance in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, sharing jokes and stories. In the video, Bill Burr is the subject of impressions by other comedians, which ties back to his career as a stand-up comedian. The script references his past performances and the evolution of his comedic style over time, as well as the nervous energy and frustration he experienced early in his career.

💡Podcast

A podcast is a digital audio or video series that users can download or stream online. In the context of the script, Bill Burr mentions his podcast, which is a platform where he shares his thoughts and engages in discussions, often in a more casual and conversational format than his stand-up comedy. The script references the podcast as a different aspect of his comedic persona, where he might appear more relaxed and informal.

💡Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is a comedian and impressionist known for his work on 'Saturday Night Live.' In the script, Bill Burr expresses admiration for Pharoah's impression of him, highlighting the detailed and accurate portrayal of his character, including the distinctive beanie that Pharoah wears as part of the impression. The mention of Jay Pharoah illustrates the level of talent and recognition among fellow comedians.

💡AI replacement

The term 'AI replacement' refers to the hypothetical scenario where artificial intelligence technology becomes advanced enough to replace human roles, in this case, potentially replacing a comedian like Bill Burr. In the script, Burr humorously contemplates whether the impressive impression by another comedian, enhanced with a face-swap technique, could be an indication of his potential AI replacement in the future.

💡Self-loathing

Self-loathing refers to a strong dislike or dissatisfaction with oneself, often accompanied by negative self-judgment. In the context of the video, Bill Burr mentions that he thought the process of watching impressions of himself might trigger feelings of self-loathing. However, he found the experience enjoyable and was flattered by the comedians' impressions, which contradicted his initial expectations.

💡Flattered

To be flattered means to feel pleased or honored because someone has shown you admiration or respect. In the script, Bill Burr expresses that he is flattered by the efforts of other comedians who have taken the time to study and impersonate him. This indicates his appreciation for their talent and the recognition that their impressions are a form of compliment.

Highlights

Bill Burr humorously discusses the awkwardness of watching impressions of himself.

Burr expresses a desire to have been as animated as his impersonators, joking about his 'COVID weight'.

He critiques the impressions, pointing out the 'New York' accent and mannerisms.

Burr suggests that impersonators should move on to more well-known subjects like Ben Affleck.

He reflects on the cost of living in New York and the aspirations of people to live 'off the L train'.

Burr is impressed by an impersonator's commitment to the bit, noting it was 'amazing'.

He humorously imagines the L train expanding across the country for people's prestige.

Burr comments on an impersonator's physical resemblance to his younger self, including his clothing style.

He admits to not wanting to see more impressions, as they make him self-conscious about his stage presence.

Burr reacts to the idea that imitation is a form of flattery, with a nuanced perspective.

He discusses the intelligence depicted in the impressions, noting a lack of it in the portrayals.

Burr humorously addresses political opinions, particularly the Republicans' confusion over Biden's votes.

He appreciates the skill of the impersonators, despite his initial apprehension.

Burr recalls his early career and the nervous energy that characterized his performances.

He praises Marina for her impression, noting the accuracy and the nostalgia it brought.

Burr expresses admiration for Jay Pharoah and his comedic style.

He humorously speculates about an AI replacement for himself, reflecting on the changing nature of his appearance.

Burr concludes by thanking the comedians for their impressions, despite the self-consciousness it induced.