The Eric Andre Show: A decade of delightful chaos
Since its inception in 2012, The Eric Andre Show has been a whirlwind of absurdity and unpredictability. Each 11-minute episode is a frenetic twist on the traditional late-night format, hosted by an exaggerated version of comedian Eric Andre. The show kicks off with Andre demolishing his set in increasingly bizarre ways, only for it to be swiftly replaced as he catches his breath, while the offbeat studio band plays something unsettling.
A unique blend of comedy and chaos
When celebrities make an appearance, they are subjected to a series of bizarre and often uncomfortable situations. From worms being thrown at them to the studio temperature skyrocketing, Andre’s antics know no bounds. Non-professional actors wander in and out of segments, sometimes nailing their lines and sometimes missing them entirely, giving the show a surreal, almost David Lynch-like quality.
If the concept of a nightmare talk show-meets-Pee-wee’s Playhouse doesn’t sound like a recipe for Emmy nominations, Andre himself would agree. Despite its unconventional nature, the show has garnered two Emmy nods, a testament to its unique appeal.
Acknowledgment and appreciation
Andre, who also serves as an executive producer, expressed his surprise and gratitude for the nominations. “I felt completely outside of the scope,” he says. “I didn’t even feel like I was on the map or in the conversation, so to even get those two nominations is mind-blowing to me. I’m so happy, though. After a little over a decade, we got that acknowledgment, and I’m appreciative of it.”
The nominations — for Andre as an outstanding short form performer in a short form comedy or drama series and the show overall for outstanding short form comedy, drama, or variety series — are a welcome recognition for such an offbeat project. Kitao Sakurai, Andre’s longtime collaborator and an executive producer on the show, who has directed most of the episodes, believes the series’ insular world allows for a unique type of creativity.
The art of editing
One of the elements that contribute to the show’s distinct experience is its bold and head-spinning editing. Andre emphasizes the importance of editing in shaping the show’s visual language. “Editing is everything,” he says. “They say television is a writer’s medium and movies are a director’s medium. I think The Eric Andre Show is an editor’s medium. So much of the comedic impact of the written jokes comes from the editing, the tone, the aesthetic. Everything comes from our completely dysfunctional editing.”
Despite the wild humor, the show has become more refined over the years. Sakurai, who has also directed more traditional episodes of television, notes that working on The Eric Andre Show has been a crucible. “You go through hell producing the show, and despite the incredible stress and lack of resources, you really have to be on point [asking], ‘What is the clarity behind this bit?’ ‘What is this trying to say?’ The bedrock comedic and narrative concepts still have to exist.”
Torturing celebrity guests
The challenges extend beyond the staff, as The Eric Andre Show is notorious for putting celebrity guests in unexpected, uncomfortable situations. Some of this season’s most surreal moments included an angry leprechaun blowing marijuana smoke in Donald Glover’s face, Jon Hamm being uncomfortably grilled about Kevin Spacey during their time shooting Baby Driver together, and Jaden Smith’s chair giving birth during his interview.
Andre never gives guests any indication of what they will be going through on the show to keep their reactions genuine. “I don’t tell them anything,” he says. “I can’t help if they’ve watched the show, but we go to great lengths to keep things secret. In the case of Donald Glover and Jon Hamm, they know me from personal life. But when you’re in the chair, once cockroaches start exploding out of the desk, it doesn’t matter if you know me like a brother. You’re still going to have a genuine reaction.”
Collaborations and growth
The sixth season of The Eric Andre Show coincided with Andre’s rising stature in the prank comedy world. He has collaborated with Impractical Jokers, appeared in Jackass Forever, and co-hosted The Prank Panel. During this time, he also developed a collaboration with Jackass co-creator and director Jeff Tremaine, who was instrumental in helping Andre and Sakurai on their 2021 comedy film Bad Trip.
Tremaine also directed some of the “street bits” in the sixth season of The Eric Andre Show. Andre credits Tremaine with teaching him a lot about prank production. “He taught us a lot about prank production,” he says. “It’s not just hiding cameras and stuff that we figured out on our own, but how to lure somebody into the prank and keep them engaged. Before, the pranks were very crude. I would just bash through a window and fall down, and you’d see somebody go, ‘Whoa!’ And that would be it. Jeff said, ‘That’s the beginning of the prank. You just got them on the hook. After you bash through the window or whatever, continue talking to them — and they’re the stars of the show more than you. You’re set up.’ It’s funny. Comedy is a bunch of smart people trying to come up with really dumb jokes.”
For more on The Eric Andre Show, check out the trailer.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive look at The Eric Andre Show, highlighting its unique blend of chaos and comedy, the importance of editing, and the challenges faced by both the staff and celebrity guests. The show’s evolution and collaborations have only added to its distinct appeal, making it a standout in the world of late-night television.