Apple Gets The Bad Lip Reading Treatment And It's A Must-See
Apple's deeply polished keynotes have always been ripe for parody, but combine that with the off-kilter comedy of Bad Lip Reading and you have a holiday gift that keeps on giving. The YouTube channel has made a name for itself dubbing musicians, politicians, movies, and more with alternative soundtracks, and now it's the turn of Tim Cook and Craig Federighi.
Unsurprisingly it's an Apple presentation – and the various products announced – which comes in for the Bad Lip Reading treatment. Maybe you forgot the time the Cupertino company announced the Lickamaforbus, or you missed the livestream of the bold new flavors of the Apple Wings. Now's your time to catch up.
We've seen plenty of Apple-themed comedy over the years, some clips funnier than others. Part of what makes the company so appealing to satire is just how seriously it takes its events. That level of polish is probably envied by a lot of competitors in the tech industry – not to mention successful at getting Apple plenty of attention – but it also makes for a rich seam of parody potential.
On the one hand there are the keynotes themselves. After all, there's something about a lone figure getting deeply enthusiastic about the minimalistic presentation showing on a huge screen behind them. Whether it's Tim Cook or Steve Jobs before him, it's catnip to comedians.
At the same time, Apple's promotional videos have also seen plenty of parodies. Maybe the best known was The Onion's "Revolutionary Laptop With No Keyboard" all the way back in early 2009, reimagining the MacBook only with a clickwheel instead.
Larger companies have been getting in on the action, too. Back in 2014, for instance, IKEA took a leaf out of Apple's book with its "bookbook" video, with earnest spokespeople talking in hushed tones about their shiny new catalog.
Meanwhile the Apple presentations themselves have been getting in on the comedy too. A tongue-in-cheek opener for the September 2018 keynote saw Apple Park, Tim Cook, and a speedy intern feature in a film of the Cupertino firm's own.