Bo Burnham is an American satirist, stand-up comedian, musician, actor and filmmaker who came to success early at 16 on YouTube. In 2016 he described Trump as ‘joke proof’ and says he prefers to avoid politics, taking aim instead at cultural attitudes in general. Though his ‘That Funny Feeling’ – a litany of anxiety and dread – became a TikTok hit after the recent 2024 election.
He was born 21 August 1990 at 2.10pm Hamilton, Massachusetts, and has a knowledgeable 9th house Leo Sun with Venus, South Node and Jupiter also in Leo in his communicative 9th. His chart is dominated by an Earth Grand Trine with Mercury in Virgo in his 10th trine Saturn in Capricorn trine Mars in Taurus – and that is formed into a Kite by Mars opposition a 12th house Pluto. Making Pluto, which plumbs subterranean depths in the 12th his driving planet. A more heavyweight chart than might be expected but all about getting a message across with a punch. Plus an Aquarius North Node in his chatty 3rd which will demand a cause to focus his attention and energy.
When he became an overnight success in 2006 aged 16 his Solar Arc Jupiter was square his focal point Pluto with tr Jupiter conjunct his Pluto – giving him a tremendous boost. His Solar Arc Sun was also exactly conjunct his Moon for a new beginning and his Progressed Mars was sitting on his Descendant exactly moving him in an upward direction – though none too tactfully.
His early satire was sometimes misjudged for which he has apologised. He described it as “shock-jock offensive comedy done by a 16-year-old without any tact”.
He’s one of the triple conjunction in Capricorn generation so very much at home across the social media. His chart is unlike earlier satirists Librans Oscar Wilde and Gore Vidal but with marginal similarities to Virgoan Dorothy Parker.
Quotes:
“I would say don’t take advice from people like me who have gotten very lucky. We’re very biased. You know, like Taylor Swift telling you to follow your dreams is like a lottery winner telling you, ‘Liquidize your assets; buy Powerball tickets – it works!”
“Being famous is complete luck, and that’s something you can’t bank on.”
“Your hard work and talent will not pay off.”
“I like to joke about being gay because it’s something teenagers would never joke about.”
“Uncharted territory is a good place to be in.”
“I fully embrace myself as a hypocrite.”
“I do weird things, and people watch.”
“It’s all about surprising people, and you’re not surprising people if you’re making them laugh every five seconds.”