Since its debut in 2012, “The Eric Andre Show” has been nothing short of a glorious disaster in the late-night landscape. Each chaotic 11-minute episode features comedian Eric Andre unleashing a deranged version of himself, where the first order of business is always the same: obliterate the set. With debris flying and the host gasping for breath, the house band plays a jarring soundtrack that feels like a soundtrack to a fever dream.
When celebrities take the risk of appearing, they’re subjected to an unpredictable circus of discomfort: from getting worms tossed at them to enduring sauna-level heat in the studio. Sometimes, Andre’s clothes don’t survive, and other times, live snakes make a surprise appearance. The show feels like a surreal mashup of a horror flick and “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” on a heavy dose of psychedelics.
It’s not exactly the kind of show you’d expect to be an Emmy contender, and Andre himself would agree. “I never thought we were even in the running,” says Andre, who’s also an executive producer on the show. But to his astonishment, the show nabbed two nominations – a recognition that left him both thrilled and mystified. “After over a decade of wreaking havoc, to get this acknowledgment is just wild,” he admits.
These nominations, for Outstanding Short Form Performer and Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama, or Variety Series, are a surprising nod to a show that thrives on its own bizarre logic. Kitao Sakurai, who has been Andre’s creative partner and director since the beginning, says the show’s unique world allows for an unusual form of creativity. “It’s like we’re giving the audience a wild, externalized trip,” he explains, noting that the show’s consistency comes from a tight-knit group of collaborators who have helped shape its eccentric voice.
A significant part of the show’s madness comes from its frenetic editing, which Andre credits as the heartbeat of its comedic style. “Editing is everything for us,” he says. “They say TV belongs to writers and movies to directors, but our show is all about the editors. The comedic punch of our bits comes from how it’s cut together, from the tone to the aesthetics.”
Despite its reputation for off-the-wall humor, “The Eric Andre Show” has become a cornerstone of Adult Swim’s brand, pushing boundaries while refining its absurdist edge. Sakurai notes that while the chaos remains, the team has sharpened their approach over the years, zeroing in on what makes each bit resonate. “It’s like going through a creative crucible,” Sakurai says. “The show’s intense production challenges force us to get really clear about what each sketch is trying to say, no matter how ridiculous it might seem.”
The show’s unpredictability extends to its celebrity guests, who are often thrown into bewildering and uncomfortable situations with no prior warning. Season six delivered some of the most surreal moments yet, with Donald Glover getting smoked out by a furious leprechaun, Jon Hamm enduring an awkward grilling about Kevin Spacey, and Jaden Smith witnessing his chair give birth mid-interview.
Andre doesn’t believe in giving his guests any heads-up about what’s coming, aiming to capture their genuine reactions. “I don’t tell them a thing,” he reveals. “Even if they know me personally, nothing can prepare them for what happens once they’re on set.”
The sixth season of “The Eric Andre Show” coincided with Andre’s rising prominence in the world of prank comedy. He’s worked with the “Impractical Jokers,” appeared in “Jackass Forever,” and co-hosted ABC’s “The Prank Panel.” During this time, he also collaborated with “Jackass” co-creator Jeff Tremaine, who played a key role in shaping Andre’s approach to pranks for the 2021 comedy film “Bad Trip.”
Tremaine’s influence carried over into the sixth season, where he helped refine the show’s notorious street pranks. “Jeff taught us that the prank doesn’t end when you’ve got someone’s attention – that’s just the beginning,” Andre says. “It’s about drawing them in further, making them the star of the moment. It’s funny how a bunch of smart people can spend so much time crafting the dumbest jokes imaginable.”
And somehow, against all odds, that combination of madness and meticulousness has paid off. Welcome to the Emmys, Eric Andre. We’re all just as surprised as you are.
