Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that revolves around the spy agency known as the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) and the lives of its employees. Although their work of espionage, reconnaissance missions, wiretapping and undercover surveillances is daunting and enigmatic, every covert operation and global crisis are actually unmitigated occasions for the ISIS staff to undermine, sabotage and betray each other for personal gains, pleasures and prosperity.
The series features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin as the highly skilled yet incredibly vain master spy “Sterling Archer”; Aisha Tyler as fellow agent provocateur “Lana Kane”; Jessica Walter as Archer’s domineering mother and the rapacious CEO of ISIS, “Malory Archer”; Chris Parnell as the easily intimidated comptroller of ISIS, “Cyril Figgis”; Judy Greer as Malory’s loquacious secretary, “Cheryl”; Amber Nash as the discordant director of human resources for ISIS, “Pam Poovey”; and George Coe as Archer’s elderly and always exploited butler, “Woodhouse.”
After just a 10-episode debut season, Archer has gained critical exaltation, a fervid fan base and clear reverence within the television industry. In 2010, H. Jon Benjamin received an Emmy® Award nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for his work as the show’s title character, the New York Daily News declared that “Creator Adam Reed showers us with a cascade of twisted comedy that invites everyone to come in and gasp” and the Boston Herald noted that “This spy spoof hits a bull’s-eye with risqué snark and one of the best vocal casts assembled for any animated series.”
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