Eric André is a master of occupying the awkward spaces of comedy. He’s proven it on 'The Eric Andre Show,' in a 2017 interview with the late Larry King (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XR4Ml8FijM) and most recently, in his hidden-camera comedy 'Bad Trip.'
On the latest episode of ‘It’s Been A Minute,’ NPR host Sam Sanders talks to the actor and comedian about the complications of making a prank show while Black, who André would never prank and why everyone could use a little absurdism to warp their realities.
ADVISORY: This video contains explicit language.
00:00 - Larry King interview
02:19 - Occupying the awkward space
04:20 - Remembering DMX
05:50 - 'Bad Trip' synopsis
06:57 - How the team pulled off these pranks
12:35 - Eric’s favorite pranks
13:45 - Working with Chris Rock
14:20 - Exorcism prank
15:10 - Eric’s most dangerous prank
16:19 - Working with Tiffany Haddish
17:20 - Demonic Celine Dion
18:20 - Safety precautions
19:09 - The risk of pulling pranks as POC
22:56 - Revealing the humanity of the people who are being pranked
23:30 - Sacha Baron Cohen’s reaction to the film
25:18 - The process of making 'Bad Trip'
31:09 - Most surprising reaction to a prank
32:15 - Shock comedy, and the importance of intent and context
35:45 - The success of 'Bad Trip'
40:28 - Distorting reality through absurdist comedy
44:46 - Advice from Dave Chappelle
47:48 - Eric’s musical background
53:33 - The one person Eric would never prank
55:57 - Black joy in 'Bad Trip'
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