Episode overview

Eric Andre Returns Again

Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend · 29 June 2026 · 4 Egleze moments

What happened in this episode?

Comedian Eric Andre joined Conan O'Brien for a characteristically chaotic conversation that careened from World Cup soccer predictions to mental health confessions to bizarre historical crimes. The episode opened with O'Brien attempting to discuss the 2026 World Cup being hosted across North America, though admitting none of the hosts know much about soccer. The conversation quickly derailed into Andre's habit of carrying custom plexiglass separators for every car model when taking Ubers, his recent trip to Morocco for undisclosed business, and a lengthy tangent about William S. Burroughs killing his wife in 1951 and claiming it was a William Tell game. Andre opened up about recently starting SSRIs after years of resistance, fearing medication would diminish his comedy, while crediting Andy Richter for encouraging treatment. He discussed anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and depression that he'd previously self-managed through repression. The pair bonded over their shared experience as comedians hesitant to seek mental health support. Andre recounted a 2020 on-set injury when John Cena threw him through an unsandbbagged shelf during a stunt for The Eric Andre Show, resulting in a concussion. He also confessed to Photoshopping fake injury reports about Knicks players during the Finals and texting them to his Knicks-fan friends, acknowledging he was losing friendships over the prank. The episode promoted Andre's new Netflix film Little Brother with John Cena and his recent album Film Scores for Films That Don't Exist, though the hosts spent minimal time on either project, instead embracing the conversational chaos that defines their chemistry.

What are the key points?

Andre revealed he recently started taking SSRIs after years of resistance, fearing medication would harm his comedic ability and personality.
He suffered a concussion in 2020 when John Cena threw him through an unsandbbagged metal-framed shelf during an Eric Andre Show stunt.
Andre admitted to creating fake TMZ articles about Knicks player injuries and texting them to friends during the Finals, losing friendships over the prank.
The hosts discussed William S. Burroughs killing his wife in 1951 Mexico and serving only 13 days in jail after claiming it was a William Tell game.
Andre released a classical album called Film Scores for Films That Don't Exist and stars with John Cena in Netflix's Little Brother.
O'Brien credited Andy Richter for encouraging him to try antidepressants, overcoming similar fears about personality changes.
Andre described carrying custom plexiglass Uber separators for every car model and immediately installing them to avoid conversation with drivers.

Which topics are covered?

Crime & Justice History Comedy Sports Entertainment Health, Longevity & Biohacking Psychology

How is this page sourced?

Programme: Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Published: 29 June 2026
Original episode: Open the original source ↗

Egleze verifies the speaker, source and timestamp for each linked moment. Unless a moment is explicitly marked independently verified, statements remain attributed claims by the named speaker rather than established facts.

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4 moments from this episode

Source-linked · editorially selected

Crime & Justice

Eric Andre Reveals William S. Burroughs Used Apple Defense After Killing Wife

at 27:52 · Attributed speaker claim

1951 in Mexico City, William S. Burroughs shot and killed his wife and said he was playing William Tell. He was convicted of culpable homicide in Mexico, but served only 13 days in jail before his brother secured his release on bail.

During a tangential conversation about beatnik culture, Andre and O'Brien discussed how legendary author William S. Burroughs claimed he was playing a William Tell game when he shot and killed his wife in 1951 Mexico City. Burroughs was convicted but served only 13 days in jail before being released on bail, eventually receiving a two-year suspended sentence after being convicted in absentia. The hosts used the story to darkly joke about how lightly the crime was treated.

Read this moment → Check original at 27:52 ↗

Comedy

Andre Confesses to Photoshopping Fake Injuries to Torment Knicks Fan Friends

at 32:34 · Attributed speaker claim

I've been Photoshopping fake TMZ articles like Brunson tore his ACL. This morning with today's date and texting them to my friends who are diehard Knicks fans. And they're like, I swear to God, Eric, like, your voodoo, whatever you think is funny right now, it is not funny. The more angry they get, the more I'm cranking out these fake Photoshopped articles of injured Knicks players right now. And I'm losing friends.

During the 2025 NBA Finals with the Knicks competing, Andre admitted to creating fake TMZ articles announcing injuries to key Knicks players and sending them to his Knicks-fan friends early in the morning. He described escalating the prank as his friends grew more upset, acknowledging he was actively damaging friendships for his own amusement during a high-stakes playoff run.

Read this moment → Check original at 32:34 ↗

Entertainment

Andre Details John Cena Stunt Gone Wrong Causing Concussion on Set

at 42:52 · Attributed speaker claim

Cena threw me through the thing. He did the stunt properly. I went through the thing properly, but then the thing went over. And it was the only season of Eric Andre Show I got rid of all my body hair on purpose. And the thing went over and boom, gave me a big Fred Flintstone, and I got a concussion. I got dizzy. I was talking about things that didn't make any sense.

Andre recounted a 2020 incident on The Eric Andre Show where wrestler John Cena threw him through a shelf as planned, but the unsandbbagged metal-framed prop tipped over and struck him, causing a concussion. Andre had shaved all his body hair for the season, which he said prevented him from sensing the shelf falling. He required a hospital visit and CAT scan following the injury.

Read this moment → Check original at 42:52 ↗

Health, Longevity & Biohacking

Eric Andre Admits to SSRIs After Years Avoiding Medication for Comedy

at 45:34 · Attributed speaker claim

I got on them pretty late for a guy with my affliction. I know in my case it was just Nope, you don't take anything to make life easier. If anything, you do things to make life harder. I was annoying. It doesn't change who you are or anything. I thought it would. That's why I didn't do it. I was like, I won't be comedic.

Andre opened up about starting SSRIs late in life after years of resistance, believing medication would diminish his comedic ability. He discussed anxiety, obsessive compulsive thought loops, and depression, crediting Andy Richter for encouraging him to seek help. Both Andre and O'Brien shared fears that antidepressants would fundamentally alter their personalities and creative output, a common concern among comedians.

Read this moment → Check original at 45:34 ↗