Last night’s pilot episode of NBC’s Andy Barker, P.I. certainly didn’t pack as many laughs into a half-hour as regular time-slot occupant 30 Rock, but it contained enough zany delights that I’ve decided to make room for it on my already engorged DVR. The sitcom’s overarching plot — mistaken-identity hijinks ensue when the titular milquetoast accountant takes over a lease from a detective agency — left plenty of room to riff amusingly on genre clichés (the comically moody soundtrack is especially funny), but it’s in the loopy little details where this series really excels. The "Go USA People!" sign at the kebab shop, the use of a remote-control Sandra Bullock doll from Miss Congeniality 2, the throwaway shot of a priest eating a hamburger, all left me unexpectedly guffawing. And not only is Andy Richter totally winning in the lead role, but so is the rest of the cast — from supporting players like video-clerk sidekick Simon (Arrested Development‘s Tony Hale) and skittish wife Jenny (Ellen‘s Clea Lewis), to bit parts like a surly archives clerk (Nicole Randall Johnson). I laughed so hard after the latter exhaustedly told Andy, "Sir, I get four, five calls a day. I can’t keep track of every one," I almost missed her reprimand of the elderly woman Andy framed for shoplifting: "Is this how you conduct your life?" What did you think PopWatchers? Is Andy Barker, P.I. getting a spot on your Thursday schedule? (And if you missed it, catch it here.) Holla back!
Mar 16
2007
04:36 PM ET
Snap Judgment: 'Andy Barker, P.I.'
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It depends. If there’s only room for Andy Barker OR 30 Rock, then 30 Rock all the Way.
Last night’s show was a little disapointing, though I had forgotten about how funny that Sandra Bullock doll was (as were Andy’s lines about ‘Oh Sandra, why do you take such questionable roles?’), or how fun the signs were at the Afghan restaurant.
MSG No!
USA Yes!
I thought it was pretty good… definitely funnier than most cookie-cutter sitcoms out there now.
Best moment was when Andy picked up his client–because he couldn’t miss an appointment, heaven forbid–and they were discussing IRA’s in the car while trying to escape the Russian mobsters. Hilarious!
I thought this show was HYSTERICAL! I hope it gets a good run. The Eye of the Tiger at the end was classic!!!
I was really looking forward to this show because I thought it would be laugh-out-loud hilarious. This first episode, while it had some minor chuckles, was nowhere as funny as the previous 9:30 occupant, 30 Rock. I’m going to give this show the benefit of the doubt but if 30 Rock ain’t back next week, SCREW ANDY BARKER P.I.!!!
I’m curious about opinions of the follow-up program, with Jeff Goldblum. I had low expectations, and was pleasantly surprised.
You know after his pitiful Fox sitcom, I thought that Richter was done for. After seeing his cameo in the dreadful movie Frank McClusky C.I. I thought that he was really asking for trouble. But, now that I have seen his new show I must say that not only was the pilot well thought out, Andy Richter is actually funny! I hope that NBC finds a suitable place for it. As for Goldblum’s show, it is not bad. But did anyone notice that he was wearing a hearing aid? Is Goldblum hearing impared?
It seemed a little over-stuffed. Maybe if the pilot had been an hour to fit in the set-up to the series AND his first mystery it wouldn’t have felt so rushed. I loved the archive clerk and the Sandra Bullock doll, but the way they zoomed in on the “Go USA People!” sign was way too obvious, it would have been better as a background joke.
I’ve started watching the second episode and it seems like it’s getting better, “Rockin’ out to Norah Jones”/ “It could’ve been worse, they could’ve put two candles in your bottom”.
It’s good to see Richter get a decent series after Quintuplets.
I have been wondering where Clea Lewis went- she was so funny on Ellen. And I am the only one who remembers Jeremy Piven on that show?
I’m sold.
Third episode: “First we barbeque the chicken over cedar chips and then we lovingly boil it to seal in the flavor.”
I thought the show was all right. I like the scenes with Wally and Simon the most. While I hope that the rest of the episodes are funnier than the pilot, I wouldn’t mind watching it next year.
My only concern is that if Andy Barker gets renewed for next season then NBC will have 5 sitcoms returning (assuming that they renew 30 Rock, PLEASE!!!). That means that they’ll have a mismatch 1/2 hour comedy line-up. Who knows what they’ll choose to go along with these shows.
I’ve seen three eps of this show so far (they are on NBC.com) and it gets funnier. I stayed up until about 1 am last night watching them and laughing out loud half the time. I am sure my neighbours weren’t too pleased. The pilot isn’t as funny as the others, so I say give it a chance. I do love 30 rock though. I think NBC can get rid of My Name is Early. I just don’t get that show.
Every comedy NBC has put in Thursdays recently have been the best shows on TV. They should get How I Met Your Mother and complete the lineup with 6 comedies on Thursday. That’d be insane. Though HIMYM is the only show with a laugh track.
Why doesn’t NBC keep three out of the five on Thursday Nights (Office, Earl, Scrubs) +1 one new show, and then keep 30 rock and Andy Barker on Tuesdays? They need something between Dateline and SVU anyway
You are right Mindy. Piven replaced Myers after his departure from the show. I believe that Piven played Ellen’s younger brother. For the bonus question: what was the original name of Ellens show? “These friends of mine.”