Review: Archer ‘Baby Shower’

 

Spoilers Below

This Archer really doesn’t need an introduction, other than to simply say it was the Kenny Loggins episode. If you didn’t know there was going to be such a thing, you must have missed the 28 stories we did in anticipation of it, and that’s downright impossible. In fact, there’s probably a link to a story about it right above this article. Go check; I’ll wait.

Anyway, the episode began with the gang assisting Cherlene in recording a song. However, a very irritated (and tired) Lana came in to yell at them, leading everyone to surmise that she might be pissed no one has thrown her a baby shower yet.

Meanwhile, Krieger invented a way to anonymously sell the cocaine on the internet, and already turned a profit of $800,000. Just when he seemed like he might be a normal, sane person for a second, in came the holographic Japanese girlfriend, who was clearly not able to package the coke shipments due to the fact that she isn’t real. Malory instead recruited Cyril and Ray to help Krieger (and were apparently told they had to work in their underwear because, “Eh, don’t worry about it,” according to the doctor.)

Sterling then, after seeing an article in the newspaper, decided to attempt to persuade Kenny Loggins to play Lana’s party, since he was already in town to play a concert. Pam came along to help. When they spotted Loggins in his hotel lobby, Sterling got a bit too close and was repeatedly tasered by Kenny’s bodyguard.

The duo made another attempt to gain access to the singer while disguised as room service waiters, only to be caught in a fight with the bodyguard and “K-Log” himself, who for some reason thought Archer was working for a guy named Borgnar and was after his weird glowing briefcase.

After Sterling saved Kenny’s life, the singer agreed to play Lana’s shower and a “Danger Zone” duet with Cherlene.

In case you missed it:

1) Lana response to Malory asking if she is bothering Cherlene & Co. (“I am. And also, Happy Opposite Day”) might be the only funny “opposite day” joke in the history of humor.

2) I had no idea “Golden Hour” (the time(s) of day when the sun is near the horizon) actually had a name.

3) “These taste like calluses,” is a disgusting but absolutely clear & understandable description of a gross food.

4) Was this the first time someone other than Krieger spoke to the anime hologram chick?

5) Sterling really knows his Loggins shit. I mean really.

6) Why is everyone in amazing shape? I was always shocked by Cyril, an accountant, being in top physical form, and then Pam slimmed down, and now even Kenny Loggins gets in on the action? This show can really kick one’s self esteem square in the marbles.

7) This episode saw the return of Sterling’s amazing bullet-counting skills…Loggins style!

8) The glowing briefcase totally reminded me of the gold-shining one in Pulp Fiction, which I suppose also could have contained “either plutonium or a human soul.”

9) Lana, unaware of whom Kenny Loggins was, asked if he’s from “Kenny Loggins Roasters,” which is (or was) a chicken-based restaurant chain actually called “Kenny Rogers Roasters.” (Remember the Seinfeld episode with the extremely bright red neon light?)

10) On that same topic: did anyone else ever confuse Loggins with Rogers or vice-versa? I was totally guilty of this as a youngster.

When evaluating this episode, it’s worth initially noting that obviously any Krieger-heavy episode is a success, and the good doc had some great lines and scenes in this episode. From his constant forgetfulness during the recording session, all the way to his creepy breast pump gift, the man really shined.

The only man that shined brighter was Mr. Loggins himself. He was given a complex and exciting role, a semi-douchie personality, and some funny lines, making his contribution to the storyline much more than a mere cameo. Not only that, but the real Kenny Loggins is clearly a talented voice actor. Nice work.

However, in the end this was totally a gimmick episode. The plot was not advanced at all (hell, even Krieger’s cocaine selling system turned out to be a complete sham) and it was obviously just an excuse to put Kenny Loggins on Archer. And why not? The “Danger Zone”/Top Gun thing took off like a jet and managed to stay amusing all throughout Season 5 thus far. But to avoid needing Mr. Loggins to return in the future, he was kept out of the overall story arc.

It reminded me a bit of Mel Gibson’s appearance on The Simpsons. He was given a huge role throughout the episode “Beyond Blunderdome,” still one of the largest guest roles in the show’s history, but was never mentioned again after this Season 11 episode. The difference between these two episodes, is that everything is supposed to go back to normal after every Simpsons episode, but this isn’t usually the case with Archer – especially in regard to the current season.

Still, there were a lot of big laughs, and a killer acoustic duet of “Danger Zone” to close it out. Not one of the best installments this season, but it will definitely become one of the more memorable ones in the show’s run.