If you're unfamiliar with Archer, the spy/office spoof series from FX, you would do well to find a way to catch up as soon as possible, so that you can jump in on the second season, which is already underway. Part Bond, part Mad Men (but with spies), and part... The Office, I suppose, Archer is wild spoof and no holds barred, dark comedy that streaks along at a pace as furious as the spy-ventures it mocks in theory, but rarely approaches in fact.
Sterling Archer is a master spy, in a world not exactly like our own. There's a good deal more spy action, for one, and the International Secret Intelligence Service is behind most of it. You might think that an agency like ISIS would run like a well-oiled machine, but people are people, and office shenanigans and politics don't take a break just because there is pseudo-serious business at hand.
You might also think that Archer (did I mention he is a master spy) would be... well, mostly business, given his line of work. Even with James Bond floating around in our "spy" folder of imagination, who could partake of a dalliance with the best of the, nothing could prepare us for the Office-esque madness that Archer can deliver.
From creator Adam Reed, of other Adult Swim efforts, Archer is quite possibly the funniest thing on television right now, and you really owe it to yourself to check it out, if you haven't already. If you have, the DVD release is a must-own. Few shows truly provide the rewatchability inherent in the theory of owning them to the extent this one does, and you absolutely will watch this one over and over.
Below check out a rather NSFW Archer PSA, and don't forget to check your status for opportunity to win a copy.
ARCHER is set at the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS), a spy agency where espionage and global crisis are merely opportunities for its highly trained employees to confuse, undermine, betray and royally screw each other. TIME Magazine's James Poniewozik wrote "If you want your action parody and office sitcom all in one, Archer may well be the spy you'll love." Of course, he loves mother (aka The Boss) so we're suspicious of his motives.
- Exclusive DVD extras including un-aired ARCHER pilot, "Making Of" production shorts, & deleted scenes.
- Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.78.1
Additional Intelligence Obtained:
The series features the voices of H. John Benjamin (Family Guy) as suave master spy "Sterling Archer", whose less-than masculine code name is "Duchess"; Jessica Walter (Arrested Development) as his domineering mother and boss, "Malory Archer"; Aisha Tyler (24, Friends) as his ex-girlfriend, "Agent Lana Kane"; George Coe as his aging-but-loyal butler, "Woodhouse"; Chris Parnell (30 Rock, SNL) as ISIS controller and Lana's new love interest, "Cyril Figgis"; Judy Greer (27 Dresses, Marmaduke) as Malory's lovesick secretary, "Cheryl"; and Amber Nash as "Pam", the director of human resources for ISIS. ARCHER was created by Adam Reed and Floyd County Productions and is executive produced by Reed and Matt Thompson.
Enter to Win!
Because of the pure awesomeness associated with Archer, I'm making this one a Facebook Fan (grr... Liker) Giveaway. If you're already a fan, you're done. If not, find the box on the right, click Like, and set yourself up to win this and other great prizes.
U.S. only. Winner will be randomly selected on February 14th.
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© 2011, Are You Screening?. All rights reserved. Reprinting without express permission of the author is prohibited.
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About Marc Eastman
Marc Eastman is the owner and operator of Are You Screening? and has been writing film reviews for over a decade, and several branches of the internet's film review world have seen his name. His reviews have brought him personal praise from the director of a major motion picture, and have been used as required reading in a course at a major University. These priceless rewards, along with just bags of cash, keep him from straying from freelance writing. He is also a member of The Broadcast Film Critics Association and The Broadcast Television Journalists Association.
