Running jokes are, of course, pure fan service, but they’re the right kind that speaks to fans who watch every episode and spot every call back. Archer, which is coming back to our assorted screens on March 31, masterfully pulls this off, and being that the end of March is so very far away, we thought we’d remind you of some of the great running jokes that only true Archer fans can fully appreciate.
Lana… Lana?… LANNAAAAA!!!
In many ways, Sterling Archer is still a child. You can choose to blame that on him missing out on a proper childhood if you want to. But the fact of the matter is that he often does things no adult should. For example, doing whatever he can to get someone’s attention and, in many cases, that person is Lana. Over time, Sterling’s developed a habit of yelling her name whenever he wants her to notice him doing something that’s nowhere near that important. You should definitely not try this at work or in life.
Burt Reynolds
Archer has spent most of his life emulating his hero, Burt Reynolds. But after two seasons of obsessing over the original Paul Crewe, Archer ran into Reynolds at a bar in season three. His bubble was quickly burst, however, after he realized Reynolds was dating his mother. This was, unfortunately, just seconds after he had made a corny, “Gonna give her the Longest Yard? *wink wink*” joke.
Phrasing
Remember the whole “That’s what she said!” joke that got run into the ground a few years ago? Well, Archer’s “Phrasing!” gave it some much-needed life. The good thing about “Phrasing!” is that it’s gender-neutral and can be used more freely. It’s also perfect for fitting into tight spaces without a lot of work… [Editor’s Note: Phrasing!]
Brett the Bullet Magnet
No matter where he was, if someone fired a gun in the International Secret Intelligence Service headquarters, Brett was likely to get shot. I wouldn’t be surprised if Krieger put a magnet in his body or something. If you’re wondering why this is all in the past tense, let’s just say Brett was only so lucky. His eighth time getting shot was his last – and somehow still Archer’s fault. It’s a shame, too. He was one bullet away from coming out with a chart-topping rap album.
Woodhouse’s Mistreatment
The closest thing Archer ever had to a real father was Woodhouse, who was there when he was born, helped name him, and cared for him all the way into adulthood. To repay that debt, Archer endorsed his heroin addiction and threatened him with violence over minor incidents and annoyances. It’s a classic father and son tale, really.
Archer’s Mother Issues
Archer and Mallory clearly care for each other, but they have the hardest time showing it through all of their verbal jabs and sarcastic remarks. On one end, Malory was cold enough to not pay a ransom to a group of pirates holding Sterling hostage, but also sheltered him enough to take him out of school and boot camp whenever he wasn’t doing well. But there are also some really confusing feelings going on. Why did Archer get an erection at the thought of Mallory’s death?
Crazy Cheryl/Carol/Cristal/Cherlene
Christian Grey ain’t got sh*t on Cheryl Tunt. Cheryl’s obsession with the rough stuff goes so far that she leaps at the opportunity to get choked or tazed to get her rocks off. But her interest in the rough stuff is only one of the many things that makes Cheryl certifiably insane. There’s also her ongoing identity crisis, the fantasy of abandoning a baby, and an infatuation with fire.
Plus, she dated Krieger. Which no sane person would do.
Voicemail Pranks
By now, everyone’s probably experienced the, “Hello?…. Ha, it’s my voicemail!” prank at least once. But Sterling is the undisputed king of it for taking it to new heights and always outdoing himself with the use of air horns and kitchen supplies. Malory’s fallen for the same trick numerous times with each one being more detailed than the last.
The Danger Zone
The ’80s was, clearly, a very important time for Sterling. The ’80s was, clearly, a very important time for the Earth.
Ray’s On-And-Off Paralysis
Ray first ended up in a wheelchair back in season three. But then it was revealed that he faked his paralysis for half a year before he really got paralyzed. Then he got bionic legs from Krieger that would stop working at any moment with the flip of a switch. But most of those were because Sterling did something like crashing a plane or shooting his gun when he shouldn’t have. However, at the end of season six, Ray made the mistake of undoing his seat belt on a moving plane and injured himself again. So, we’ll see how long it is before he can walk again and then become paralyzed again, and then walk again, etc.
Krieger Being A Weird Nazi Clone
If Carol’s the second oddest character on Archer, Krieger is sitting comfortably at the top spot. The only thing keeping him from becoming a mad scientist is… I have no idea why he isn’t one. He often drugs his coworkers without their knowledge, designed a virtual girlfriend because he couldn’t keep a real one, makes multiple human-pig hybrids named Pigley, and has a collection of deformed clones growing in test tubes. Oh, and he’s a second generation Nazi scientist. Season seven should be about what happens when Krieger realizes he could take over the world if he wanted to.
