As you likely read in my Today's News blog, Andy Barker has been hastily ushered off NBC's lineup, and last night's double bill was likely the last we shall see of our intrepid sleuth. Unfortunately my schedule did not afford me the chance to view the episodes, but please feel free to use this blog to discuss it amongst yourselves.As I said in the news blog, it's a shame this show didn't catch on, as it had a wholesome, sweet, suburban feel to it. Not every sitcom needs to be littered with pop culture shout-outs and knowing winks.RIP, P.I.PS. Now how about that prequel spin-off "Guy Halverson, Two Tons of Don Juan"?
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Here I was, fresh from penning the 30 Rock recap, prepared to shrug at the relative humor of Andy Barker, P.I. — I mean, 30 Rock is 30 Rock — but our stalwart accountant/private investigator combination served up a pretty good time. I've decided that the cartoony, ready-to-be-solved-in-22-minutes mysteries are akin to Police Squad!, with broadly drawn broads and gummy-bear goons. I loved Drebin & Co., so that's a favorable comparison.It's interesting that this week's guest star, Traci Lords, hailing from an early (porn) career known for bad acting, is... wow, she's a bad actress. But perfect for this week's purposes, as Geneva Marseilles (CC had "Marsay," but I have to think they were going for the history-rich one-two) wasn't Oscar-caliber either.The bullets: • This week's dollop of man-wife tenderness: Jenny tilting her heel as she pecks Andy. • Andy's bean-counter humor: "They don't call it Quicken because it slows your pulse." • "You bit me! What are...
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So, to date on NBC's Andy Barker, P.I., we've had a Russian mob-lette hoodwinking our valiant CPA into finding a "dead" man; a murderous, gay golf caddy; and now a ruthless low-grade chicken cartel abetted by a poultry inspector with a thing for collectible pistols. This week's adventure, in which kebab-shop owner Wally sics Andy (and thus Simon) on his shady supplier, was a bit on the super-silly side for my "high-brow comedy likings," but the "mysteries" obviously are just clotheslines on which to hang humorous reactions and jokes. I mean, yeah, 30 Rock has "plots," too, but that show's zany delivery is really the star.I like how we got some more "tender" from Andy and his wife — his office has a great view, he boasts, indicating a framed pic of Jill — awww! But I missed Nicole, though maybe she is better in measured doses. And you had to relish the new reveals about gruff 'n' tuff Lew, who apparently had some unfinished business with a bird. The bullets:• Jenny try...
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Here we are, nine hours later, and Guy Halverson sprinting down the fairway, a hoagie bursting with "three kinds of ham" in his grasp, still haunts my noggin. What made the recurring image so damn funny, though, isn't its subject matter — large man plus flailing sandwich plus slow motion — but Andy Richter's expression of disbelief each time he went into and out of the flashback. "Ah, yes [his mistress was] jealous.... Ya think?" The theme song for Guy's last gallop didn't hurt either.And that, folks, brings us to a discussion of Week 2 (of 6) of NBC's Andy Barker, P.I.. As I said before, what makes this show sing is the casting. Clea Lewis is the supportive wife every guy wants (and, in this case, wants Guy). And Tony Hale opposite Nicole Randall Johnson shows seriously funny promise. I love how Nicole (as Nicole the self-hired assistant) "switches on" that perky, entirely false demeanor en route to making the person she's talking to feel like a fool.Perhaps my only recur...
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If you're a 30 Rock fan and know me from that show blog, it's good to see you joining me here. To everyone else, greetings, I will be your host for these six episodes of NBC's Andy Barker, P.I.Previously in the 30 Rock blog, I talked up Andy some, if only to assure fans of Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, et al, that their time slot would be in capable hands. Since then, it's been good to see the legit TV critics throw some praise Andy Richter's way, as this show certainly has sharp writing, but perhaps more importantly some very nice casting. I will admit, my exposure to Andy has been minimal (having never been a Conan fan). But I do like him in this role of a hapless "cheese and crackers"-cussing accountant resigned to a vanilla office in a vanilla strip mall, then seduced by the invitation — from the Wrigley's Orbit gum gal — to walk on the wild side as a private dick.Andy Barker ups the ante further by surrounding Richter with a winning ensemble. Clea Lewis (Ellen) is perfect a...
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