Archer's "Tragical History": Spy Comedy or Workplace Comedy?

     FX's Archer began showing signs last season that, besides being a spy thriller, it may also be a workplace comedy. Those signs have morphed into the heart of the show in season two. While Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) and the other ISIS agents still sometimes go out into the field to do stuff, much of the action takes place in ISIS headquarters as the various personalities that make up its staff clash and chafe. Even while out of the office, more often than not some of the administrative staff gets into the action.

     This week, Cyril (Chris Parnell) feels bad about himself after his co-workers laugh at him. This is nothing new. But this time, Cyril is given the opportunity to do something about it when the mysterious Spelvin (Peter Serafinowicz, Shaun of the Dead, Running Wilde) gives him a computer virus. Cyril thinks he will mess with ISIS's systems, then fix it, becoming a hero. The first part of the plan goes fine. The second, not so much. Because Spelvin is really tricking Cyril so he can steal the list of agents and sell it to the highest bidder.

     Poor Cyril. While initially presented as a straight-laced dweeb, Cyril has since been shown with drug and sex addiction problems. Now he is also a traitor. Luckily, only Archer finds out, as Cyril needs his help to stop Spelvin, and in the end, though Archer will never admit it, Cyril sort of redeems himself. Did I mention Cyril is an accountant, and has no business getting mixed up in espionage stuff?

     The humor comes not just from Cyril's fish out of water schtick, but also in how he relates to super-spy Archer. At least twice Archer mentions something, and Cyril expresses surprise at the thought, only to have Archer query "And you don't?" Great punchline. They are two very different people, and the highlighting of that fact lent to copious laughter. I won't say it is exactly unexpected that Cyril saves the day, after Archer handles the combat portion, of course, but the story flows naturally. Plus, Spelvin has sexy bikini-clad ninja bodyguards for Archer to flirt with, so really, win-win.

     Back at ISIS, things look a lot more like The Office than James Bond. Krieger (Lucky Yates) should be fixing the computers, but Lana (Aisha Tyler) has destroyed his virtual girlfriend, so he is working on a new one. That image alone is priceless. Cheryl (Judy Greer) and Pam (Amber Nash) unhook all the computers, and Cheryl accidentally destroys them, and quite possible the elevator. Bickering with co-workers? Destruction of company property? Sounds like a workplace comedy to me.

     The series also stars Jessica Walter as Malory and Adam Reed as Ray. Tune into Archer Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

Article first published as TV Review: Archer - "Tragical History" on Blogcritics.

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TV Review: Running Wilde

     FOX's new sitcom Running Wilde hasn't gotten that much attention.  Despite following another new sitcom, Raising Hope which is a hit, and was the first show on network television picked up for a full season this year, not details on whether Running Wilde's run will be extended have merged.  Five episodes have aired, and I still haven't decided if I like it or not, though the show had plenty going for it, and I was initially excited.

     Starring Keri Russell (Felicity) and Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as Emmy and Steve, child sweethearts who were driven apart by the very different lives they lead.  Emmy was a maid's daughter for Steve's family.  Steve allowed his father to buy him off to give up Emmy.  Now adults, Steve wishes to have Emmy back, and Emmy is in a Peruvian rain forest trying to save a tribe from Steve's father's oil company.  When Steve invites Emmy to see him get a humanitarian award (which he is giving himself), she comes with her daughter, Puddle (Stefania Owen), in tow, though only so she can try to talk him into finally standing up to his father to help her cause.  By the way, there has been no mention yet as to who Puddle's father is, so it's certainly possible that she's Steve's, but Steve is clueless enough to never ask.  Or perhaps the backstory timeline for Steve and Emmy's relationship doesn't come close to Puddle's inception.  Either way, it'd be nice to have a little clarity there.

     By the end of the pilot, Puddle has convinced her mother to stay and live in Steve's treehouse so that Puddle can go to school and lead a normal life.  Emmy doesn't need much convincing, because even though she keeps shutting down Steve's romantic overtures, she is clearly very fond of him.  Plus, he's become her latest project, as she tries to mold him into what she considers a decent human being.  Oddly, Puddle narrates the series and almost seems billed as the star, but doesn't have a lot to do past causing her mother to move in the pilot.  This is definitely Arnett and Russell's show.

     Last week's episode clearly was the second episode, even though it was aired fifth, dealing with Emmy and Puddle first settling in.  Perhaps it was held back because it wasn't that funny, and other episodes aired early inspired more laughter.  I don't know, but I wasn't impressed.  I have chuckled at moments in the series, but not so much this past week.

     Of course, three people do not make a show.  Steve has two people working for him that are part of the starring cast: Migo (Mel Rodriguez), who is Steve's friend, even though he skims some of the fortune, and Lunt (Robert Michael Morris), the old queen that tutored him.  Both are good for a few punch lines, but have yet to have any real plot or depth.  Both were recast after the pilot, and Lunt's character originally had a different name and was a woman.  Fairing slightly better is Steve's neighbor / rival / best friend / foil, Fa'ad (Peter Serafinowicz).  Though Fa'ad was an enemy in the pilot and this past week's episode, other installments have showed him more as a friend.  Sure, a superficial friend, but Steve is just as shallow.  The two connect because of similar upbrings and attitudes, and I prefer it when Fa'ad is not just trying to one up Steve.

    Interestingly enough, Will Arnett's Arrest Development co-star David Cross plays recurring character Andy (also a recast from the Running Wilde original pilot), Emmy's fiance.  Arnett is also playing a supporting role on David Cross's new show, which is currently airing on IFC, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, as Cross's boss.  The two are wonderful together, and thankfully that has been used on Running Wilde somewhat, though not a lot.

     The jury is still out on whether this show will last, or whether it deserves to.  If you'd like to watch, good luck.  Running Wilde  has been running Tuesday nights at 9:30 on FOX, however, this week Raising Hope is doing a one hour special episode, so Wilde does not appear on the schedule.  It will be showing a rerun at 12:30 Saturday night (Sunday morning), and FOX's web site lists it's timeslot at Saturday at midnight, which is not a good sign.  It is unknown if it will return to Tuesdays, or burn off the remaining episodes on Saturdays, or just disappear all together.

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The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret

     The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret is a wonderful new show, airing on IFC  in the United States.  If you don't get IFC, as I don't, it is also available via Amazon on Demand digital video download, or from the iTunes store.  The show is set in London, England, and also airs in the UK.  As such, only six episodes have been ordered, typical for a UK series.  Two have aired, and they are very, very funny.

     The show stars David Cross (Arrested Development, Running Wilde) as Todd Margaret, a temp at an energy drink company in America.  When Brent Wilts (Will Arnett, Arrested Development, Running Wilde) buys and visits the company, he sees Todd in a rare moment of confidence.  As such, he interviews, and believing Todd's lies, promotes Todd to run a new office he wants to open in London.  GIven a large salary and a big expense account, Todd flies to the UK.  He arrives, only to discover the office he is running has a mere one employee named Dave (Blake Harrison, The Inbetweeners).  Todd continues to tell whatever lies he percieves will help him, and bluster around like he's important.  It seems that Dave sees through this, and so becomes an enabler, who likes to get Todd into hotter and hotter water.  Oh, and the energy drink is actually pretty toxic.

     In between ridiculous circumstances that left Todd ever more soiled and scarred, he pursues a romantic relationship with the owner of a local cafe, Alice (Sharon Horgan, Big Babies, Pulling).  Alice is hard to read, because she goes back and forth between being furious at Todd's antics, and somehow finding him sympathetic and charming.  It's not clear if she's sees through his crap, but if she does, she overlooks it.  Todd also keeps talking about feeling guilty about a girlfriend back home, who really, he just had a one night stand with.  Played by Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Joan of Arcadia), we have gotten a number of short scenes revealing that she isn't thinking about Todd at all.

     The episodes are framed by an opening with Todd in a courtoom, persumably charged with all sorts of crimes that he racks up during his time in London, although the list seems a little harsh, as while Todd is bumbling, he isn't malicious.  At the end of each, after the credits, we catch up on Todd's Portland, Oregon apartment, where his cat has died, and the place is being overrun by wild animals.

     The whole thing is so ridiculous, I can't help but frequently laughing out loud.  Cross has proven himself adept at comedy, and in the series that he created, he is at his best.  As a viewer, I do feel a bit bad for him, although he brings most of his troubles on himself.  With only four episodes left, I'm anxious to find out how everything comes together.  I don't know if this would work as a 22 episodes a season series, as Todd has already effectively destroyed his life in just two half hours.  It's probably better that it's a limited run.  If you haven't already, please check out The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.

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