The Eric Andre Show is, I'm assuming, not a show that hordes of distinguished celebrities actively try to get involved with. That's primarily because the talk show can devolve into all-out chaos rather quickly, with comedian and host Eric Andre pulling bizarre and elaborate stunts in an effort to trip up his unsuspecting guests. Given that Andre has been chased with a bat, yelled at, and had celebrities air out grievances against him on social media, I've always wondered if the comedian himself thinks he takes things too far. It turns out he does not.
I got a chance to ask Eric Andre that very question in a bizarre but fun interview ahead of Season 5 finally premiering of The Eric Andre Show, and he explained why views his wild interviews as being above the metaphorical line. I asked Andre if there was an instance or specific interview in which he felt bad about the pranks he was pulling on his subject, and the comedian said the following:
No, I’m never intentionally mean to anybody. I’m a benevolent terrorist. I’m never malicious. You’re always trying to go up to the line and find the line, you know, but I’m trying my best.
Eric Andre thinks he keeps things right at the line, though it's worth mentioning he may have a different definition of what "the line" is compared to other people. The Eric Andre Show has done everything from make celebrities jump with fear, or enrage them with the sheer ridiculous that is going on around them. As Andre has said though he hasn't intentionally been mean to anyone during those interviews, labeling himself as a benevolent terrorist.
Of course, some celebrities have gotten mad about their experiences on the show, even if Eric Andre wasn't explicitly mean to them. Rapper Flava Flav famously feuded with The Eric Andre Show following his episode where a shot was aired that appeared to show sidekick and comedian Hannibal Buress kneeing Flava Flav in the face. Andre also made headlines when he vomited and then ate his vomit during a conversation with The Hills' Lauren Conrad, who ended up leaving the interview.
Being on The Eric Andre Show is an experience where, even if the host didn't intend to make a guest leave offendedly, it can happen quickly and without warning. Andre went on to talk about his interview experiences and how he took his mini-mantra from another master troll of television entertainment, Nathan Fielder.
We’re all just trying our best. One time I got into a fight with Nathan Fielder at a wedding and I came up to him and apologized and he goes, ‘Listen man, we’re all just trying our best.’ (Laughs.) I thought that was like the perfect way to like put it.
I can't even begin to imagine what a fight between Nathan For You's Nathan Fielder and Eric Andre would entail, but I would love to see it turned into a movie. In either case, it's good to know Eric Andre is more or less okay with the things he can put his guests through on The Eric Andre Show, because I'm not sure how he could do it otherwise. Of course, it's probably important to also make sure all of his offended guests are also okay with everything he does.
The Eric Andre Show Season 5 premieres on Adult Swim Sunday, October 25 at midnight. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for more on Eric Andre, and for the latest happening in television and movie news.
