Archer is an American animated comedy television series created by Adam Reed and set at the International Secret Intelligence Service, where suave master spy Sterling Archer deals with global espionage; a domineering, hypersexual, mother/boss; his ex-girlfriend; her ISIS accountant boyfriend; and a less-than-masculine code name: Duchess.
The inspiration behind Archer came to Reed while in a cafe in Salamanca, Spain. Finding himself unable to approach a beautiful woman seated nearby, he conjured up the idea of a spy who "would have a perfect line".
The series premiered in the USA on FX on 17 September, 2009.
Archer premiered in South Africa on TopTV's FOX FX channel on Monday 14 June 2010, at 21h45. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 3 premiered on FOX FX on Thursday 14 November 2013, at 20h50. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the third season.
Synopsis
Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy set at the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS), a spy agency where espionage and 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 H. 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; George Coe as his aging-but-loyal butler, Woodhouse; Chris Parnell as ISIS comptroller and Lana's new love interest, Cyril Figgis; and Judy Greer as Malory's lovesick secretary, Cheryl.
The series also features an anachronistic style: using fashion from the 1960s, technology that is a mix of '80s era computer technology alongside modern technology, and an alternate universe style political status quo in the form of the Soviet Union still being active in the year 2010.
Each episode of Archer takes approximately one month to produce and is animated by three different studios.
Archer was created by Adam Reed who also serves as Executive Producer alongside Executive Producer Matt Thompson and their Floyd County Productions who animates the series. Archer is produced by FX Productions.
Seasons
Series exclusive to FOX FX
Season 1 (10 episodes)
Premiere: 14 June 2010 | Finale: 29 June 2010 | Mon-Thu, 21h45
Season 2 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 24 March 2011 | Finale: 5 May 2011 | Thursdays, 20h30 (double bill)
Season 3 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 14 November 2013 | Finale: 6 February 2014 | Thursdays, 20h50