"Archer" - Jon Benjamin animated comedy on FX

[Tuohy]

Welp here's an attempt at a BillBrasky-style post. Some really great talent involved, it sounds pretty promising to me.


FX ORDERS SIX EPISODES OF ANIMATED COMEDY SERIES
“ARCHER” (working title)

Series Created by Adam Reed
Characters Voiced by Jon Benjamin, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer
and Jessica Walter

Series Launches This Fall

LOS ANGELES, July 13, 2009 – FX has ordered six episodes of Archer (working title), a new half-hour animated comedy series from Adam Reed that the network will launch this fall, announced Nick Grad, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, FX.

Archer is an animated half-hour comedy set at ISIS, an international spy agency, where global crises are merely opportunities for its highly trained employees to confuse, undermine, betray and royally screw each other. The series features the voices of Jon Benjamin as suave master spy “Sterling Archer,” whose less-than-masculine code name is "Duchess”; Jessica Walter as his domineering mother and boss, “Malory”; Aisha Tyler as his ex-girlfriend, “Agent Lana Kane”; Chris Parnell as ISIS comptroller and Lana’s new love interest, “Cyril Figgis”; and Judy Greer as Malory’s lovesick secretary, “Cheryl.”

“This project has been a great surprise for us and we’re excited about adding it to our fall schedule,” said Grad. “Adam Reed has written successful animated series for Adult Swim/Cartoon Network, and he has taken this format and given it a live-action feel. It is a smart, adult comedy and the characters are given voice by a terrific cast. It clearly fits the FX brand and we believe it will find support from the fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

Produced by FX Productions, Archer was created by Adam Reed & Floyd County Productions. Reed previously co-created, with Matt Thompson, the animated series Frisky Dingo and Sealab 2021.

Reed said, "I've been a fairly rabid fan of FX's original programming for a long time, so I'm thrilled by the opportunity to become a part of it, and to bring our style of animation and comedy to such a fantastic line-up."

Jon Benjamin has amassed a number of voice credits on animated series including Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and most recently as “Carl” on Family Guy. A longtime veteran of Saturday Night Live, Chris Parnell is enjoying a successful run in film (Anchorman) and television (30 Rock). Aisha Tyler’s television comedy credits include Friends and Reno 911! Judy Greer’s comedy turns include It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development, Two and a Half Men and My Name Is Earl. Jessica Walter earned an Emmy® nomination for her role as “Lucille Bluth” in the Emmy Award winning comedy Arrested Development and she is reprising the role for the feature film adaptation of the series.

[ronfunc]

I can't believe that a list of H. Jon Benjamin's voice credits could possibly leave out Coach McGuirk. His role as the Devil I can slightly understand being left out, but McGurik?

[orator]

can't wait for this

[YoungAmerican]

I visited these guys in Atlanta a few months ago, and it looks really cool. Very interesting style, aesthetically, that really worked for me.

I had no idea at the time of the murderer's row of voice talent associated with the show.

[aenemaTron]

Finally, Jon Benjamin and Adam Reed work together on a series. You'd'a thunk they already had! I'm psyched. I was a Sealab 2021 guy goin' way back.

[jon]

Jon Benjamin and Adam Reed have such distinct cadences (speaking and writing, respectively), it'll be interesting to see how they match up.

[Libel]

Big Frisky Dingo fan, i'm all about this!

[Wizz]

very funny clip from "Archer" released recently:





...and some extra code for you to enjoy as well

[Jouster]

I posted that in the News thread about the show (3 hours ago).

[Wizz]

ok

[Libel]

Looks good...it's hard to hear that voice come out of that body tho...he's always McGirck in my head...

[aenemaTron]

It's funny you'd say that, considering the large amount of voice work he's done. You should watch some Dr. Katz.

[mezmorized]

This is exactly what I have been looking for since Frisky Dingo. Maybe Adam Reed will even do a voice or two.

[Libel]

It's funny you'd say that, considering the large amount of voice work he's done. You should watch some Dr. Katz.

Oh I have, I bought the first season on dvd and i've been watching the reruns on comedy central recently. But back then his voice was pretty different, guess he was younger and they were prob using cheaper equipment...think I read the first few seasons were recorded in Katz pantry. So it's not weird seeing it come out of Ben's body. Imagining a young buff McGirk who's some kind of spy tho...that's just weird

[BillBrasky]

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- FX is delaying the launch of its animated comedy "Archer" until January.

The six-episode series, which spoofs the spy genre, had originally been set to follow "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" on Thursday nights this fall. The network cites the show's lengthy production process - each episode takes about a month to produce - as the reason for the delay. FX however will quietly air the premiere installment this Thursday at 10:30/9:30c following the season premiere of "Sunny." Said stunt, which won't be promoted or listed in program guides, is described as "purely a sampling opportunity."

In addition, the network has asked for four additional scripts of "Archer" to potentially extend its freshman run. Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, Jessica Walter, Jon Benjamin and Judy Greer are among the show's voice ensemble. Adam Reed created the series and is executive producing.

Meanwhile, fellow newcomer "The League" is still on track to roll out this fall. The series, about the members of a fantasy football league, will follow "Sunny" on Thursdays at 10:30/9:30c later this year. An exact date will be announced soon.

Mark Duplass, Steve Rannazzisi, Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, Jon Lajoie and Katie Aselton co-star in the half-hour, which comes from executive producers Jeff and Jackie Schaffer.

[ResilientRabbit]

I'm excited for the sneak peek at the pilot tonight.

[nadsat droog]

It says that in the post above yours.

[ResilientRabbit]

Sorry I repeated a line from the second press release. Removed offending repeat words and still very excited for the pilot.

[Mr. Museum]

I loved everything about that pilot.

[jon]

Overall the writing was funny and the voice talent did a really good job, but two things kind of bugged me: 1.) the opening credits look too much like a Venture Bros. knockoff. It may not have been intentional, but it does. 2.) I wish the character animation was more expressive. I know that's how it looked on Frisky Dingo, but given how good Benjamin, Parnell, Greer, Walter, et al. are, you'd think they could come up with facial expressions other than "eyebrows up" and "eyebrows down."