LICENSED TO LAUGH: THE RETURN OF "ARCHER"

For your thighs only! Sterling Malory Archer returns. Image: FX.

The coolly funny retro sixties world of American super-spy ARCHER, created by Adam Reed for the US FX network, returns to the UK's FIVE* channel tonight for its second successful series. And, from the looks of things this year, James Bond this guy really ain't-proving himself far more vain and even less interested in spying than ever before! Working for the International Secret Intelligence Service, run by his own mother, Malory (voiced with just the right note of indignant sarcasm by the excellent Jessica (PLAY MISTER FOR ME) Walters), Sterling Malory Archer (voiced in a combination of calm but occasionally worried egotism by H. Jon Benjamin), convinced he looks like his screen hero/idol Burt Reynolds and with a total predilection for irrelevancy, would rather just reap the regards of the international jet set- the cool gadgets, drinking lots of booze and bedding the glamorous women- than actually blowing up secret bases and putting his life on the line against the worlds most dangerous baddies! In fact, he's more likely to cause an international incident himself rather than stopping others from doing so!

Some fun trailers: YouTube - Archer Season 2 promo #4

Generic first season trailer: YouTube - Archer Trailer

Described by US critics as James Bond meets ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (of which this series has several of the latter's fine cast), with more than a touch of the bizarre story telling enjoyed by the likes of other comedies like THE PINK PANTHER and the sometimes wacky naughtiness of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM thrown in, plus a memorable support cast of both shady heroes and villains (voiced by great comedy actors including STAR TREKs Rene Auberjonois, Judy Greer and Jeffrey Tambor), ARCHER, with its slick retro style spoof animation, is an enjoyable new cult classic-a funny variation on the world of the super-spy and well worth a look if you haven't see it before.