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Andy Barker, P.I.
SERIES: NBC, Thursday 9:30p (30 minutes)


7.8

based on 24 reviews
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based on 37 votes
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Get more information on this show at TV.com.

Official Show Site

Starring Andy Richter, Clea Lewis, Tony Hale, Harve Presnell, and Marshall Manesh

Hard-working accountant Andy Richter inadvertently stumbles into a career as a private investigator working out of an office in a strip mall in this sitcom co-created by Conan O'Brien.

GENRE(S):	Comedy
CREATED BY:	Jonathan Groff Conan O'Brien
FIRST AIR DATE:	March 15, 2007

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

USA Today Robert Bianco

Granted, this new Andy may not be as inventive or subversive as Universe, but it is just as funny and probably a bit more accessible.

New York Daily News David Hinckley

It's as quirky, original and funny a comedy as "Universe."

Entertainment Weekly Gillian Flynn

Andy Barker isn't as complete a comedy as Andy Richter Controls the Universe — the first three episodes feel like a series of very funny bits that have been welded together. But so did 30 Rock when it first started, and that's now the best comedy on TV.

Orlando Sentinel Hal Boedeker

This amusing series is likely to leave you smiling rather than guffawing.

Kansas City Star Aaron Barnhart

With all the crazy gags, pitch-perfect dialogue and a fresh hero at the center, it’s hard not to see “Andy Barker” as the spiritual successor to “Police Squad!”.

TV Guide Matt Roush

Nerdy sweetness and deep silliness flow effortlessly from Andy Richter.

Newsday Diane Werts

It's hard to convey all the ways that this tightly directed show goes right: quietly observant character detail, solid sleuthing, play-it-straight absurdity and sneaky "Airplane!"-style parody riffs.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Melanie McFarland

The show could be almost too funny to be appreciated on normal television, in the same way "Arrested [Development]" was.

Philadelphia Inquirer Jonathan Storm

The show is equal parts silliness and satire.

Washington Post Tom Shales

What it lacks in edge, it makes up for in charm.

Detroit Free Press Mike Duffy

[A] sly spoof.

San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman

"Andy Barker, P.I." is a joyous, ridiculous, warm, affecting and silly comedy that is tone specific (read: Not everybody is going to get the vibe, and thus the jokes).

People Weekly Tom Gliatto

This show has a light, charming sense of the ridiculous. [19 Mar 2007, p.39]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

Like "30 Rock," "Barker" is more absurd and goofy than it is broadly funny, but it's definitely not as mainstream.

Variety Brian Lowry

Another clever single-camera comedy.

Hollywood Reporter Barry Garron

The show has a complex rhythm involving characters, satire and sight gags. You can watch "Barker" again and find things you missed the first time.

Los Angeles Times Robert Lloyd

It's funny, but it doesn't go for big laughs so much as a mood of whimsical parody.

The New York Times Virginia Heffernan

This peculiar series seals NBC’s new role as the skinflint’s HBO. The shows “30 Rock,” “Friday Night Lights” and now “Andy Barker, P.I.” are all so engrossing and so creatively untrammeled that it’s almost suspicious.

LA Weekly Robert Abele

Don’t get me wrong, I like the new show: its workmanlike verve, its professionalism. But its joys are simple, the kind of laughs that don’t feel new so much as pleasantly old-fashioned.

New York Magazine John Leonard

You may be surprised to hear that it works.

San Jose Mercury News Charlie McCollum

A smart, sophisticated spoof.

Chicago Sun-Times Doug Elfman

NBC should consider scrapping Thursday's first episode.... But then come the second and third installments -- inspired, taut and funny.

Chicago Tribune Maureen Ryan

Everything about "Andy Barker"... is lovingly created. And there are some laughs, but the show fails to truly catch fire.

Newark Star-Ledger Alan Sepinwall

Unfortunately, the idea's a little too thin to support a weekly sitcom.

The average user rating for this tv show is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Marcus W gave it an8:
Good stuff. The episode with the chickens was hilarious. Other than that one I didn't laugh out loud that much, but the show is charming, funny, witty, and pleasant to watch. More than I can say about most sitcoms on TV.

Raisa J gave it a9:
Fresh and funny. Refreshing!

Bob Loblaw gave it a9:
funny, not brilliantly written, but very entertaining diversity of characters and shining moments.

Travis M gave it a10:
This show was so great... Bring it back NBC!!! Andy Richter's acting plus the writing of Conan O'Brien. This was amazing.

Jonathan P gave it a10:
Although I've loved every episode thus far, I come with the sad news that NBC has decided to cancel the show already. The 6 episodes that have been available online will represent the sum total that they'll broadcast. Sorry folks. =(

Blake gave it a4:
Just not that funny. Clever at times, but I just don't find myself laughing all that much. I find myself saying... Oh that was clever and smiiling, but there it never pulls that big laugh out of me. No comparison to say Wedding Bells as far as recent releases are concerned.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Its really funny!

Andy Barker, P.I. SERIES: NBC, Thursday 9:30p (30 minutes)

Andy Barker, P.I.
SERIES: NBC, Thursday 9:30p (30 minutes)