FX’s Archer Finally Goes Full Danger Zone in New Promo

Well, they finally went and did it.

After four solid seasons of douchebaggy secret agent Sterling Archer bellowing "DANGER ZONE!" in a Logginsy falsetto, FX has re-created the hilariously self-serious music video of the action theme from Top Gun. Archer is (of course) Tom Cruise's Maverick, evil psychopath Barry is Val Kilmer's Iceman, Archer's on-again-off-again girlfriend Lana is the Meg Ryan character, and his secret friend with benefits, Pam, is Kelly McGillis. And, of course, poor Cyril is Goose.

The crème de la crème, though, is disturbingly perverted IT guy Krieger as the great Kenny Loggins, leering at the camera in a fashion that seems parodic and over-the-top until you see the actual music video (see below the FX clip).

I wish I could remember the exact moment when Archer became a show I admitted I loved. It was probably around the time Archer started talking about how he "didn't invent the turtleneck, but I was the first to recognize its potential as a tactical garment." It's consistently one of the best-acted shows on TV, especially H. Jon Benjamin as the lead character. And the jokes … well, just watch to the end of the clip.


    

ESPN Calls on Kennys, J.J Watt for ‘Monday Night Football’ Spot

The end of August means football season, and football season means ads for football audiences, which eventually leads to Super Bowl commercials. But before we go down the rabbit hole of beer spots, Subway ads, and…twins, we have an ESPN commercial promoting the actual games.

W+K New York handled the creative legwork for “It All Comes Down to Monday Night,” which shows Houston Texans defensive end/athletic monster picking up a fumble and thinking about how everyone is watching him on television. For comic relief, he starts to run down a checklist of some people named Kenny who could be watching: Ken Norton Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Kenny Loggins (who makes a quality cameo). According to ESPN, there will be two more similar spots on the way as the regular season draws closer, so start thinking of celebrities with the same first name who might like to watch football.

Unfortunately, as much as ESPN would like you to believe that it all comes down to Monday night, the truth is that MNF has taken some hits in the ratings over the past few years. These goofy thirty-second spots always play with the same stringy background music, and even if a few of the quips make you smile, they always feel a little dated. Maybe the program could use a tune-up before “It All Comes Down to Monday Night” turns into “Ratings Come Down on Monday Night.”

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