Andy Barker P.I.
What’s the best show you’re probably not watching right now? Andy Barker PI starring former Conan O’Brien side kick Andy Richter. This show is honestly inspired. Watch one or two episodes and you’ll be shocked they can fit so much stuff into a single half hour block. The writing is amazing and seriously reminds me of the best of the Simpsons at its prime in the 90′s. (Perhaps unsurprisingly when O’Brien was part of that writing staff)
The setup? An accountant decides to become a private detective. But what it really is is an amazing riff on old detective and cop shows from the 50′s through the 70′s. Tons of homages but done in a style that really reminds me of the Simpons, as I mentioned.
It’s a load of fun. I’m not sure what more to say without spoiling the surprise of watching it. If you’re desperate for more info, check out the wiki. If you were a kid in the 70′s and 80′s then you’ll probably catch most of the old school pop references. Note that NBC has put the first six episodes up online in full. Yeah watching TV on a computer isn’t as enjoyable as on your couch. But it’s a note of their support that they thought they could generate support this way. (Note that only four episodes have aired on TV thus far)
If you’d asked me a couple of weeks ago what the best new show of the season was I’d instantly have said Heros. However Andy Richter is giving the comic book kids a run for their money.
Posted on April 7, 2007, in Pop Culture. Bookmark the permalink. 47 Comments.
Steve Evans
RJH
Scott B.
John C.
Susan M
Aaron Brown
ninemoons
arandomjohn
kulturblogadmin
Kyle M
Brad
KulturBlogGuest
MCQ
Wm
Rebecca
Ivan
Geoff J
btdgreg
Clark Goble
Aaron R.
Tim J
Definitely unreal stuff. I loved last week’s chicken-themed episode. The intense dead-pan feel of the entire show is brilliant; this thing is too good not to be canceled soon, so watch it while you can.
I saw the chicken-themed episode and only thought it was ok, not great. The best part about it was Buster from Arrested Development. But I didn’t catch the references to old school cop shows. I’ll add it to my DVR recording schedule and try to check it out some more.
I like it. With them putting all the episodes on the webb, and only letting it fill in a while, I don’t have alot of faith in it sticking around.
“Drive” starts a week from today. I’m looking forward to that. With any luck, it will be one of the best new shows this season.
Really? I’ve not heard anything about it but the trailers for it on Fox look kind of bad.
Susan, I can’t believe you weren’t on the floor over that chicken episode? And you didn’t recognize all those chase scenes? It was 70′s cliche time. (Or maybe I’m just dating myself)
I’ve seen two episodes of it so far, there’s some good stuff. Andy’s last show didn’t do so well, it actually looked pretty stupid so I didn’t have a lot of high hopes for this one. Andy Barker P.I. is actually pretty funny. I love how he is this totally un-cool and kind of Naive and it all works to his advantage. Funny stuff.
I did catch some nods to private eye novels (especially in the episode titles), but I guess I haven’t seen enough cop TV shows to catch those references.
It’s nice to see Tony Hale again, though.
Clark, I haven’t seen Fox’s promos, and I generally think all networks (and Fox in particular) do a bad job of promoting their shows. What you see is usually something other than what you get.
I think “Drive” could be good based on two things:
1) It was created by Tim Minear, who was a co-creator of “Firefly” and “Wonderfalls” (both canceled prematurely by Fox, alas); and
2) It stars Nathan Fillion.
Maybe it won’t be that good, but I’ll be checking it out.
The only thing I really thought was funny was Tony Hale w/the moustache. I only caught the last half of the episode though, I think. I don’t remember any chase scenes.
I saw about half of the episode where the laptop got stolen. I thought it was terrible. Maybe I need to reconsider.
Also, I have Wonderfalls on DVD but I’ve never had time to sit down and watch it all. I liked the episodes that were broadcast.
btw, 30 Rock is the best new show this season.
“I saw about half of the episode where the laptop got stolen. I thought it was terrible. Maybe I need to reconsider.”
I saw about five minutes of this episode, and it didn’t make much of an impression on me. Andy Richter just doesn’t strike me as someone who can hold a show together as a lead, even though I liked him on Conan.
Maybe I should give this show another try. Competition to get on my DVR queue is pretty fierce. Maybe when the other shows go into reruns, something else will have a chance to break in.
I watched all the shows online. It runs hot and cold, but I like it (in particular, I like Tony Hale).
I hated every episode of Wonderfalls that I saw. There wasn’t a single likable character on the show. This was not a virtue.
I agree with arJ on 30 Rock. It’s hilarious.
I think Andy Barker P.I. is pretty funny, but as with his previous series (Andy Richter Controls the Universe [which I really liked]) some of the jokes are hit or miss and a lot depends on whether or not you like Richter’s approach to comedy. I could see how some people could find him annoying.
Also: The Office started off a bit weak, but it has gotten stronger throughout the season and is now blending drama and comedy in a way that almost reaches the subilimity of the English version —- and in some ways is better because the acting and writing is more consistently top-notch.
I love Wonderfalls. It ranks up there with Firefly and Freaks and Geeks as the best shows that were canceled after half a season but were still released on DVD.
I felt like the characters (especially the main character) we’re trying to be unlikable but in the end are likable in spite of themselves. And I found the family dynamics in the show hilarious.
The Office is good when Michael stays a bit more under control. When he gets too outrageous (ex: the wedding episode) it it cringe worthy. They need to strike the right balance there more consistently.
I love everything about the Office. Even the cringe-inducing Michael moments. Or maybe I should say, especially those. I watched last week’s episode about three times. The acting on that show is brilliant. The scene at the end where Jim is in the bathroom looking shocked was hilarious. I replayed that scene shot several times just to take it all in—he even looks funny in his reflection in the mirror.
The last show I would pause and rewind over and over again was Arrested Development. The Office is up there with AD.
Agreed, Susan.
I also think that the scene with Pam and Roy in the diner is a classic of understated comedy and pathos.
WM,
I loved Firefly and I have liked what Freaks and Geeks I have seen. All my tv buddies like Wonderfalls except for me. I have no explanation. I am looking forward to Drive, tho.
Exactly, WM. That scene was really well done. Did you catch the way Pam hugged Roy goodbye? So perfect. (She seemed reluctant to touch him)
And my entire family has been saying, “I accidentally cross-dressed” all weekend.
I think the one irrefutable truth I learned watching these Andy Barker PI episodes is that a fat guy running is always funny.
Sorry guys. Andy Barker was just banished to Saturdays.
NBC is ridiculous with how little chance they give their new shows. The Office was lucky it didn’t get the axe after the first season. I am holding out hopes though that the real best new show this season, Friday Night Lights, survives. I can’t believe how good FNL is.
Dang. Banished after four episodes???? That’s kind of ridiculous.
BTW – can I confess that I hate Firefly and I can’t fathom why Serenity gets such big fan support among the geek classes? (Recently voted better than the original Star Wars? What’s up with that?)
There’s something really special about Serenity. I think Supergenius once used to the word gentle in describing it. I love it and will watch it anytime, anywhere, but no one else in my household likes it so I rarely get to see it.
It speaks to our inner fanboy (as do all Whedon products). Also, it has a tiny, super-ninja girl.
Susan, Have you watched Firefly? I think I actually prefer the TV show to the movie. I found it incredibly engrossing.
I ran out and bought the series on DVD after seeing Serenity, but haven’t watched it all yet. I don’t get much tv time without someone else there, and everyone else in the house doesn’t want to see it.
UPDATE: sorry, folks, ABPI has been cancelled.
Clark- I’m so glad you won’t be watching “Drive.”
P.S. Serenity is better than Star Wars.
Re: The Office, I was pretty upset a few weeks ago when the episode ended with Roy saying, “I’m gonna kill Jim Halpert.” I thought it was going to start a tawdry subplot where Jim’s life really is in danger and then gets beat up and goes into a coma and while he’s out, his two love interests clash over whether they should pull the plug and when he wakes up he chooses the one who didn’t want to pull the plug and so on. But thankfully, it doesn’t look like they’re going down that road. Overall, the Jim/Pam/Roy/Karen love quadrangle has been handled nicely.
Agreed. Brilliant show, even with the rocky start to the season.
Just heard. It’s official. It’s been cancelled. This Saturday they show the final two episodes.
They really pulled out all the stops by going with strong lead ins and the super size gimmick this week. The super size thing is a really clever idea in that not only does it encourage people to watch to see the longer episodes of shows they like such as The Office, but it makes it harder to switch channels when ABPI comes on because you’re midway through a show on any other channel.
I’ve thought it over more and I think I didn’t like the 0.5 episodes that I saw because the entire plot revolved around an unfunny lack of communication. The old PI guy simply forgot to tell Andy a bunch of stuff. It was annoying. Any plot that could have been resolved by two well placed sentences at the start is contrived. It is the sort of thing that Ebert hates. He has a term for it, which I can’t remember at the moment.
“I’ve thought it over more and I think I didn’t like the 0.5 episodes that I saw because the entire plot revolved around an unfunny lack of communication.”
It always worked well for Jack, Krissy and Mr. Roper.
Shakespeare *loved* it.
the ONLY reason I’ll be watching Drive is Nathan Fillion.
Susan – watch Jaynestown (episode 4) – that’s the one that hooked my husband (then he made me go back and watch the earlier episodes in order again.)
Oh, if only Joss Whendon had written Star Wars episode III.
Shakespeare usually had some plot point that forced it rather than, “Oh, I’m just annoying and forget everything though I have amazing recall at the moment.”
Oh come on. No one can read Shakespeare’s comedies and come away feeling they are anything but contrived and force. Sorry, Twelfth Night doesn’t get criticized for doing what Three’s Company did simply because he did it first.
Have I mentioned that I don’t consider the ABPI is like Three’s Company and thus is a great show to be compelling?
I should probably start a new thread for this, but did anyone else catch “Drive” yesterday?
The premise is pretty high-concept (which is to say, somewhat hokey), but they attack it with enthusiasm: there’s a top-secret, illegal car chase across the country and the winner gets $32 million. No one chooses to join the race, it chooses them. Each contestant is given a cell phone that sends them clues to the next leg of their journey. The race is run by some shadowy figures that no one knows anything about, and some people are coerced into racing by very unethical means. The first thing we see is Nathan Fillion’s character distraught because his wife has been abducted from their Nebraska home. He soon finds out that the people behind “the race” have her, and the assumption is that he has to win the race to get her back. The best part of the show for me was watching Fillion with the police detective investigating the missing person case, who also played a bounty hunter in probably the most kick-ass episode of “Firefly.” Unfortunately, it was a bit part, and I don’t expect we’ll see him again in the show.
My second favorite character is played by the guy who also plays Ugly Betty’s sister’s baby daddy. The character is okay, but I love that actor. There’s also a woman who had a baby just days before the race who is pretty good so far.
The market for this show is pretty clear: people who like character-driven, high-concept serial dramas. In other words, this squarely fits within the “if you love “Lost,” “Jericho,” and “Heroes,” you might also like…” category. I thought it was better than “Jericho,” but not up the the standards of “Lost” or “Heroes.” It was good enough to keep my watching, for now. The idiots at Fox apparently think it’s a good idea to program this up against “Heroes” on Monday night, so I don’t know how long it will last. I have a dual-tuner DVR now, so I can watch both if I want to, but I doubt too many people have that luxury. Or, at least, not enough to keep the show afloat in the ratings.
Thank goodness I watch all my TV on the internets.
Keeping more in line with the Andy Barker bit I didn’t like the last episode. Still a good show that will be missed.
I didn’t watch Drive though. I am looking forward to the return of Heros.
I wouldn’t get too invested Greg. Ratings for the premiere were quite poor, finishing fourth behind the likes of such titans like Dateline.
It amazes me how stupid network execs can be. Fox has one of the most popular shows in history, which they can use for a launching pad for any show they want, but do they use it? Not very well.
Does anyone have the final 2 episodes of Andy Barker PI on DVD or VHS? I missed them on Saturday… will they be aired again does anyone know? Thanks…
I guess it’s not entirely unexpected, but Fox has canceled “Drive.”
I feel bad for Nathan Fillion and Tim Minear.
TC they’re still up at the link I have in the original post in full. All the episodes.
Clark… or anyone that has the final 2 episodes of Andy Barker PI on DVD. I have seen them on the website but I want them on DVD. Contact me at topcat77tcook@hotmail.com