We all have that one clip. You know the one—the video that pops up in your feed once every few months and you just have to watch it again. For a lot of us, it’s the time Lance Reddick absolutely demolished Eric Andre’s desk.
It was 2013. Season 2, Episode 7 of The Eric Andre Show. On one side, you have Eric Andre, the king of chaotic, uncomfortable late-night performance art. On the other, Lance Reddick, an actor who spent his career playing the most dignified, terrifyingly calm men on television. Whether it was Cedric Daniels on The Wire or Phillip Broyles on Fringe, Reddick was the guy who could wither a person with a single, silent stare.
Then he went on Adult Swim. And honestly? He might have turned the tables on Eric Andre more effectively than any guest in the history of the show.
The Moment the Desk Died
If you haven't seen the clip in a minute, let’s refresh. The interview starts out weird—which is standard for Eric. They’re talking about claymation. They're talking about baseball. They're talking about... Justin Bieber? It’s the usual fever dream.
Then, it happens.
Reddick gets "angry." He stands up, eyes bulging, and slams his hand down on the desk with the force of a thousand suns. The sound is deafening. Eric, who usually thrives on scaring others, looks genuinely terrified. He flinches. He physically recoils. Reddick then storms off the set, but not before leaning over and telling a shell-shocked Eric, "You need a new desk."
But here is the thing: it wasn't just a walk-off.
Reddick came back. He returned to the stage wearing rags, chains, a visor, and a Starfleet communicator badge pinned to his bare chest. He proceeded to scream-sing about wanting a "slave role" and wishing he were LeVar Burton. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most unhinged things ever broadcast on television.
Was it Real or Staged?
This is the big question everyone asks. Did Lance Reddick actually get pissed off? Did he really break the desk in a fit of rage?
The truth is actually way more impressive.
In various interviews before his passing in 2023, Reddick was surprisingly open about how that segment came together. He hadn't actually heard of the show when the offer came in. He had to go online and look it up, and naturally, he was confused. He even called Eric Andre beforehand to talk about bits.
But when he got to the set, the plan changed. About 20 minutes before he went out, Eric pitched the "LeVar Burton" idea.
The "angry walk-off" was Eric’s suggestion. He told Lance, "On the next take, just get pissed off and walk away."
The desk slam? That was all Lance.
"To slam the desk, that was just spontaneous," Reddick later admitted. He decided to bring that trademark Reddick intensity to a comedy bit, and he committed so hard that he actually scared the host. Eric Andre is famous for making guests feel like they’re in a nightmare, but for a few seconds there, Lance Reddick made Eric feel like he was about to get murdered by the commander of the Baltimore Police Department.
Why Lance Reddick Worked So Well with Eric Andre
Most guests on The Eric Andre Show fall into one of two camps. They either look like they want to die (Lauren Conrad), or they try too hard to be "in on the joke" and ruin the vibe.
Reddick did something different. He treated the absurdity with the same gravitas he brought to a scene in John Wick.
He didn't wink at the camera. He didn't giggle. When he came back out in those chains yelling, "Warp speed! Don't rainbow read me!" he was acting his heart out. He understood the assignment: the funnier the bit is, the more serious you have to be.
The LeVar Burton Connection
There is a weird, beautiful post-script to this. Years later, LeVar Burton himself appeared on the show. In a perfect callback, Burton sat in the guest chair and said, "I wish I was Lance Reddick."
It was a full-circle moment for a show that usually doesn't care about continuity. It showed the respect the industry had for Reddick. Even in a show designed to humiliate, he walked away looking like a legend.
The Legacy of a Multi-Faceted Giant
When Lance Reddick passed away from heart disease in March 2023, the tributes were massive. People talked about The Wire. They talked about Destiny. They talked about how he was the backbone of every project he touched.
But the Eric Andre clip was everywhere.
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It serves as a reminder that Lance wasn't just "the scary guy" or "the authority figure." He was a classically trained musician and an actor with a wicked sense of humor. He wasn't afraid to look ridiculous. He wasn't afraid to break a desk.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lighter side of Lance Reddick or understand the genius of that specific era of comedy, here is what you should do next:
- Watch the "Corporate" series: If you loved him on Eric Andre, you have to watch him in the Comedy Central show Corporate. He plays a CEO who is basically a parody of every intense character he ever played. It's his best comedic work, hands down.
- Check out the full interview: Don't just watch the 30-second clip on Twitter. Go find the full segment from Season 2. The buildup makes the payoff way better.
- Listen to his music: A lot of people don't know he was a jazz musician. If you want to see the soul behind the "scary" characters, find his album Contemplations & Remembrances.
Lance Reddick was a rarity. He could make you cry in a drama and make you cry-laugh in a sketch show. He took Eric Andre's chaos and raised him a desk-shattering slam. And honestly? We're all better for it.