Archer is an American adult animated sitcom created by Adam Reed for FX. The show follows the exploits of a dysfunctional intelligence agency, led by Sterling Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) and seven of his colleagues—his mother Malory Archer (Jessica Walter), Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler), Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell), Cheryl Tunt (Judy Greer), Pam Poovey (Amber Nash), Ray Gillette (Reed) and Dr. Algernop Krieger (Lucky Yates). Archer's history is distinguished by continual reinvention, evolving from the standard setup of a workplace sitcom mocking spy film to an anthology with self-contained mythologies. The show returned to its spy parody roots post-tenth season.
Reed conceived Archer shortly after the cancellation of his Adult Swim comedy Frisky Dingo. His experience vacationing in Spain, and the influence of media franchises such as the James Bond series, shaped his vision of the show. Some of the hallmarks include pop culture reference-heavy humor, rapid-fire dialogue, and meta-comedy. Archer's limited animation style draws visually from mid-century comic art. Actors record their lines individually, and the show regularly employs a recurring cast for supporting characters. Since its premiere on September 17, 2009, 118 episodes of the show have aired. New episodes of Archer have been broadcast on sibling network FXX since 2017.
Archer has received positive reviews from critics and won awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards and four Critics Choice Awards. It has also received 15 Annie Award nominations, among others, for outstanding achievement in animation, writing, direction, and voice acting. The show has spawned various forms of licensed merchandise, including books and an album, as a result of the sustained success.