Cole Clay // Film Critic
Eric Andre’s anarchistic brand of comedy has been on full display during the inaugural season of MAN SEEKING WOMAN. Andre is the mad genius behind the Adult Swim pseudo talk show THE ERIC ANDRE SHOW where he perpetually destroys the set during the show opener. Andre says that his persona on these projects are more inline than the less abrasive roles he has played on DON’T TRUST THE B IN APARTMENT 23 and THE INTERNSHIP.
Andre’ has an electric personality that is like a cartoon come to life. His comedy is not your run-of-the-mill material, but mixed with the twisted world of MAN SEEKING WOMAN, it’s like a Meg Ryan rom-com on peyote mixed with a little Salavdor Dali brand of surrealism.
What’s up, Eric? Thanks for the time.
Eric Andre: “Hold on man, I’m driving like an a–hole.”
How much of your personality do you put into crafting Mike’s alpha male facade?
Eric: “Well, I improvise a lot and they end up using some of the stuff, but I take from all of the biggest douche-bags I grew up with in Florida and I channel them and put them into Mike.”
Do you think you’d hang out with him in real life?
Eric: “Nope, I would run for the hills.”
So, since this is MAN SEEKING WOMAN, how do you usually meet women you go out with?
Eric: “I just cruise around community colleges in my Toyota Corolla lurking. I’m a lurker and a creep. Women don’t like me because I sleep standing up, like a horse.”
I spoke with Jay recently about the show and was wondering how you’re chemistry is off camera.
Eric: “Jay is a maniac, but also a smart, smart cookie. He’s a funny guy and the good thing about it is he’s a writer as well as an actor so I can always go to him for funny lines.”
Your character is basically the moral center of the show, in that everybody should do exactly the opposite of what he says. Do you think we’ll ever get a good piece of good advice from Mike?
Eric: “I think so, with time. In the last episode, we saw some softer sides of Mike. Towards the end of the season, the subtle nuances of Mike’s character will come out where he’s a bit of a walking contradiction. He has a softer; or he’s in touch with his feminine side more than we think eventually.”
What do you think Mike sees in Josh that most people don’t?
Eric: “That’s a really good question. I think there’s an inner playboy in Josh that Mike is trying to channel. They have a Mr. Miyagi – Ralph Macchio kind of relationship sometimes there I think he’s trying to change. He sees potential. He thinks Josh is like the young grasshopper, and his flower is waiting to blossom like a Georgia O’ Keeffe painting.”
Great answer.
Eric: “Totally.”
One of my favorite aspects of your comedy is you do a hilarious dead-pan delivery. And I know this is kind of cliche, but do you have issues on set with keeping it together during an absurd scene?
Eric: “Constantly. I’m not a very good actor, so I break character all the time.”
I remember earlier in the season Mike staged an intervention for Josh when he was getting a little too serious about a woman. Why do you think it’s important for Mike that Josh is single?
Eric: “It’s simple, because Mike always needs a wing man. I think it’s completely for selfish needs. Also, I think Mike is a little jealous because Josh is his bro. He doesn’t want anybody to take his bro away from him.”
Could you see Mike landing a serious girlfriend?
Eric: “Maybe with time. Mike’s a complex individual. His brain is like a Rubik’s Cube with some of the pieces missing, so you never know if you, or he’s got it down correctly.”
I know with friends in my personal life there is a give and take, do you think Josh and Mike have a symbiotic relationship? As in Josh needs Mike as much as Mike needs Josh.
Eric: “Oh most definitely, there’s a little bit of co-dependency in their relationship for sure.”
Since Mike is indeed a little more subdued than your work on THE ERIC ANDRE SHOW, I was wondering if you approach your character development differently, or are bother personas pure Id?
Eric: “I think it’s pure Id, but Mike has some of that classic; I get my friend into sh–ty circumstances. Not really quite sure if I let loose completely with either role, I’m just pulling from all the kids I hated in high school.”
Are you wearing a sweater with Oprah’s face on it?
Eric: “Are you driving next to me or something?”
No, man. I saw Jenny McCarthy of all people tweeted a picture of you this morning.
Eric: “Oh yeah, me and her go way back… to earlier this morning.”
I loved your appearance on THE HOWARD STERN SHOW when you were promoting your show. Are you going back to promote MAN SEEKING WOMAN?
Eric: “I would love nothing more, if we could do another season of THE ERIC ANDRE SHOW just for that, but I love Howard so I’d be thrilled.”
Good chatting with you.
Eric: “Alright man, thank you (click).”
All-new episode of MAN SEEKING WOMAN airs tonight at 10:30 p.m. E/P only on FXX.
