06.07.2022

Greetings from some where far off in the Twilight Zone!

While perusing my archive during a massive organization overhaul that I know will take 100 years to finish, I came across a series of photos that sorta blew my mind! Back in the early summer of 2014, one of my close friends, Dane Reilly, was producing a lot for Adult Swim and he would always talk about this dude Eric Andre. He never talked about what Eric did, or say, he'd just bring it up in passing when he'd say, "Oh we've gotta story board for Eric", or some random sketch jargon.

One random morning, Dane called me and invited me to come meet uptown in NYC where he's currently on set filming some on the street sketches with Eric. "Dude, I have work today, and I'm kinda hungover. I definitely don't feel like taking a train from Soho to Harlem right now. I don't have the stomach for it." I tell Dane, really feeling like absolute trash. "Darnell, I'm telling you now. Call out sick and come up and shoot some photos. You have no idea how worth it this all will be". I weigh my options, and decide, whether or not I show up to work, I'll still get paid, so I got it together and headed uptown. 

Have you ever lived in a moment where you thought you were tripping on some sort of psychedlic because the things going on in your life just can't be that real? Let me tell you.... the moment I met Eric Andre, he was walking in Central Park North, in this crazy ass all green suit, following some really old man with no shirt, a gallon waterbottle attached to his head, and two 40 oz. beers ductaped to his hand. I seriously thought I was getting some late stage effects of whatever someone possibly slipped in my drink the night before because I couldn't believe this wild scene unfolding in front of me. After they were done filming their segment, Dane explained they were filming Eric for a season 3 episode where he does this whole crazy skit called "Bird Up". He wears the green outfit so that they can edit whatever acid-crazed ideas the editors may have into each skit.

There's so many elements I can speak on: Interviewing extremely wasted people in a port-a-potty about politics, running around with raw chicken minarets, Eric and Hannibal Burress sandwiching a random Harlem pedestrian, about 30 fans running around in green outfits with Eric, terrorizing the streets of Harlem, Eric dressed as a giant parrot eating mayonaise with a strangely large and phallic gummy worm..... Yes, I am sure this all sounds pretty insane, and I probably wouldn't believe half of it if there weren't photos. The following images is just one day with one of the most hilarous, bold, and fearless comedians out right now, filming alongside his trusty crew! I want to send a big thanks to Dane for putting me on! It's like you're my friend and you know exactly where my sense of humor lies. Now without further ado, Eric Andre!