TV Review: Hilarious ‘Archer’ Continues Hot Streak for FX

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CHICAGO – Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay FX’s new often-brilliant animated series “Archer” is that, even with several new shows on my plate to watch, I actually went back and viewed a few episodes more than once. Like a lot of great animation - the best of “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “South Park,” “Venture Bros.” - “Archer” is immensely rewatchable. A future cult hit premieres tonight.

HollywoodChicago.com Television Rating: 4.0/5.0
Television Rating: 4.0/5.0

“Archer” is a daring hybrid of the workplace comedy (a la “The Office”) and a spy show spoof akin to “Austin Powers.” Not only does creator Adam Reed (“Frisky Dingo,” “Sealab 2021”) target the overall idiocy of the life of a wildly narcissistic, alcoholic, sexually daring super spy but his co-workers in the field and back at the office. The result is such a bizarre mix of styles and sources of humor that it’s hard to believe that it’s airing outside of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. FX deserves credit for taking another risk that seems certain to pay off.

Archer.
Archer.
Photo credit: FX

The fact is that adult-driven, primetime (or later) cartoons have become big business for cable TV, mostly evidenced by the amazing success of Adult Swim. And as much as I love “Venture Bros.” and “Robot Chicken,” a lot of what’s out there is mediocre or worse. It’s hard to believe that a show as cleverly written, conceived, and executed as “Archer” won’t find an audience merely because it’s on a network not known for animation but it is certainly a risk. In animation, creativity usually rises to the top and one hopes that comedy fans of FX hits like “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “The League” won’t be turned off to this similarly adult, raunchy, over-the-top show merely because it’s a cartoon.

Archer.
Archer.
Photo credit: FX

H. Jon Benjamin (an animation mainstay for years including dozens of Adult Swim guest shots and regular roles on “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist” and the great “Home Movies”) brilliantly voices the title character, suave super spy Sterling Archer, a man who likes to drink and screw in a fashion that would make Connery’s 007 blush. The superstar of spy organization ISIS works for his mother (Jessica Walter of “Arrested Development”), abuses his Alfred-esque butler (George Coe), and deals with his super-spy ex-lover Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler) while coping with the self-esteem issues of awkward co-worker Cyril (Chris Parnell of “Saturday Night Live”), who happens to now be dating Lana, and the oddities of the wildly unpredictable Cheryl (Judy Greer).

With wildly inappropriate sex jokes, stylish animation, and an arguably juvenile sense of humor, I can’t imagine there would be a bigger college frat house hit this season than “Archer”. Like the first few episodes of “South Park,” the show has that confident crudeness that elevates telling dirty jokes into an art form. The writing is often crude, the animation is purposefully low-rent but stylish, and the situations are ridiculous, but there’s a confidence to it and the excellent comedians who bring it to life do a remarkable job.

With its scantily clad (and sometimes less) characters, near-obsession with hookers (a dead or presumed dead one plays a role in two episodes in a row), and violent streak, “Archer” may seem like it was written by a few horny 14-year-old boys but, like “South Park,” this is much smarter and harder to pull off than its critics will give it credit for being. The simple fact is that “Archer” is laugh-out-loud funny, more so than the first hour of nearly any program I’ve seen in the last few years. Even the now-wildly popular “Sunny” took some time to find its rhythm. Not “Archer”.

FX has taken sizable risks in their development, emphasizing risk-taking programs like “The League” and “Sons of Anarchy” and the network shows no signs of slowing down or losing steam, even as workhorse “Nip/Tuck” winds through its final season. With “The Shield” gone and “Nip/Tuck” on its way out the door, a lot of networks would be in a position where their future looked unclear. Not FX. With shows as damn funny and ambitious as “Archer,” the network’s future looks bright.

‘Archer,’ which airs on FX, features voice work from H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash, George Coe, and Jessica Walter from creator Adam Reed. The show premieres with back-to-back episodes on January 14th, 2010.CST.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

BoBuck's picture

Tried to watch the new

Tried to watch the new Archer show, but the main characters voice is so obnoxious I had to turn it off. From the article it’s sound as if this person may have done a voice over or two, but why did he have to settle on what sounds like a live cat being rubbed hard against a cheese grater. Too bad he didn’t consider using an adult males voice instead. I had enough of a view of the show to know it might and could be funny if they get the lead voice fixed.

Anonymous's picture

You must be joking

If you don’t recognize H Jon Benjamin’s voice by now then please step away from the keyboard before you hurt yourself. Leave the postings to big boys who know what they’re talking about. I’m sure you would like Patrick Warburton to voice yet another male cartoon character instead of a seasoned vet who made sarcasm his first language fifteen years ago. Seriously man you gots to go.

BrockSamson's picture

Amazing Show

H. Jon Benjamin has been a mainstay in animated programming for years. Like the great Patrick Wharburton, he has that deep, dead-pan voice that fits in so perfectly for the characters he gives life to. Clearly BoBuck has no idea what he is talking about. A live cat being rubbed hard against a cheese grater would sound shrill and whiny, the complete opposite of deep and dead-pan. What an idiot this guy. If criticizing someone’s voice acting, at least form an accurate simile.

But I digress. The show is hilarious, though certainly not for everyone. If you do not enjoy the comedic tone of shows such as “The Venture Bros.” “Home Videos” “South Park” “It’s Always Sunny” “The League” “Home Videos” “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” etc, then you probably won’t like this either.

BoBuck's picture

Everyone can have their own

Everyone can have their own opinion..just like a moron like you can have one.
I expressed mine now you shove your accurate simile up your overly large butt.
His voice is as obnoxious as you are, and stop being cruel to animals by rubbing them against cheese graters…just how would you know that unless you are an complete in-human creep

dkjo's picture

What a silly reply. First,

What a silly reply. First, YOU were the one who started the whole cheese grater thing. How would YOU know what it sounded like?

But secondly, the fact that you described the character voice so poorly makes me honestly believe you were watching the wrong show.

CaptainKancleBiter's picture

Wow

Just the fact that someone would search online and post a review on a show they didn’t even finish one episode of is ridiculous. The cheese grater comment on top makes me thinks that internet trolls have run out of shit to bitch about.

I think the show is funny as hell, and hope they keep it going.

P.S.: Grated cat makes a tasty substitute for Parmesan any day, cruelty be damned. You just have to snap the neck so they don’t make that god awful screaming noise.

Dr. Krieger's picture

Well, technically he does have a point.

See, what you’re failing to realize is that cats only start out shrill and high pitched. That’s when they have a will to keep living. After a few rounds on the grater though, the animal usually stops fighting back and begins this low, soft, gargling, bellow. If you don’t want to ruin your cheese grater though, you can achieve a similar sound with a cat by hanging it upside down for about 3 hours, maybe longer, it depends on the breed of cat and altitude. I used to do this all the time, but now I’ve gotten into something… darker.

Anonymous's picture

Hahahaha! And oh so very

Hahahaha! And oh so very “Dr. Krieger”.

yaymenadi's picture

this show is awesome….it

this show is awesome….it better not be cancelled like O’GRADY!……and i agree bobucks descriptive skills are not adequate in the least … archer is the man ..honestly at first i thought the voice didn’t match archer’s look but two seconds later it didn’t matter cuz i was LMFAO :)

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