FX has renewed Archer for a 13 episode second season. Though the ratings had been diminishing from the premiere, last week versus the Olympics, they rose for the first time since the premiere. FX says the episodes are averaging 1.2 million, but that must be through the magic of Live+7 where available. Here are the Live+SD results:
| Date | Net | Show | 18-49 Rating/Share | Viewers (Millons) |
| 14-Jan-10 | FX | Archer | .9/2 | 1.82 |
| 21-Jan-10 | FX | Archer | .7/2 | 1.23 |
| 28-Jan-10 | FX | Archer | .5/1 | 0.87 |
| 4-Feb-10 | FX | Archer | .4/1 | 0.62 |
| 11-Feb-10 | FX | Archer | .3/1 | 0.76 |
| 18-Feb-10 | FX | Archer | .4/1 | 0.87 |
Here are results comparing some of FX's first season shows (I'm pretty sure it's worthless to compare 2005 to 2009 results, let alone results from 2000, but here it is anyway):
| 18-49 (000) | 18-34 (000) | P2+ (000) | |
| Archer | 853 | 573 | 1,235 |
| The League (10/29/09-12/10/09 | 1,076 | 829 | 1,304 |
| Always Sunny (8/4/05 – 9/13/05) | 747 | 419 | 1,139 |
| Son of the Beach (3/14/00 – 4/18/00) | 693 | 326 | 1,018 |
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In any event, cause for celebration for Archer fans. Here's the full press release:
ARCHER HITS SECOND SEASON ORDER
FX Greenlights Second Season of Critically Acclaimed Animated Comedy Series
Increasing Order to 13 Episodes
Archer “Four-Play Marathon” Runs Thursday, Feb. 25 at 10 PM
Three All-New Episodes Remain in Season One with Finale Airing March 18
LOS ANGELES, February 22, 2010 – FX has given the go ahead for a second season of its critically acclaimed animated series Archer, announced Nick Grad, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, FX Networks. The network increased the episode order to 13 for season two, which is scheduled to debut in 2011.
Archer (TV-MA) has three new episodes slated for air this season. Through seven episodes the series is averaging 1.2 million Total Viewers, 853,000 Adults 18-49 and 573,000 Adults 18-34. This Thursday, February 25, FX will air the “Four-Play Marathon,” four episodes of Archer from 10-midnight. Archer will return with new episodes on Thursday, March 4 at 10 PM and the season-one finale airs on March 18.
“Executive Producers Adam Reed and Matt Thompson are delivering a hilarious series and it truly earned a second season,” said Grad. “H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell and Judy Greer comprise one of the best voice casts of any animated series on TV. We’re very happy with the audience response and critical acclaim for Archer and are excited to move forward with it.”
Archer was created by Adam Reed and Floyd County Productions and is executive produced by Reed and Matthew Thompson. The show is produced by FX Productions. FX ordered 10 episodes for its first season.
“We are incredibly excited about the opportunity to make a second season of Archer,” said Reed, “and grateful that FX has enough faith in the show to allow it to build an audience. Excelsior!"
Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy set at the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS), a spy agency where espionage and global crises are merely opportunities for its highly trained employees to confuse, undermine, betray and royally screw each other. The series features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin as suave master spy “Sterling Archer”; Jessica Walter as his domineering mother and boss, “Malory Archer”; Aisha Tyler as his ex-girlfriend and current co-worker, “Agent Lana Kane”; George Coe as his aging-but-loyal butler, “Woodhouse”; Chris Parnell as ISIS comptroller and Lana’s new love interest, “Cyril Figgis”; Judy Greer as Malory’s lovesick secretary, “Cheryl”; and Amber Nash as “Pam,” the director of human resources for ISIS.
-more-
Archer Hits Second Season Order
February 22, 2010
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Below are first season average ratings for all comedy series on FX to receive second-season orders (numbers in 000s).
A18-49 A18-34 P2+
Archer (1/14/10 – Current) 853 573 1,235
The League (10/29/09 – 12/10/09) 1,076 829 1,304
Always Sunny In Philadelphia (8/4/05 – 9/13/05) 747 419 1,139
Son of the Beach (3/14/00 – 4/18/00) 693 326 1,018
Archer was one of three comedy pilots shot by FX in 2009 to receive a series order, along with The League and Louie (premieres in June). The League recently received a second-season order and it returns this summer for 13 episodes. FX’s acclaimed hit series It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia returns for a sixth season this summer with 14 episodes.
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from the Fox Networks Group. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 96 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series; an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other studios; and an impressive roster of acquired hit series. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com
I wonder how M18-34 looks, since that seems to be FX’s demo.
Congratulations to the cast and crew. I caught the first episode of FiveUSA in the UK, it’s quite funny.
This show it’s very edgy and refreshing, I’m glad it got renewed.
I was wondering what numbers FX needed for a renewal. Thanks for that comparison chart!
Thanks for the chart, that helps alot. All I kept reading was how the numbers were dropping for Archer but it’s actually doing quite well compared to the other FX comedies.
I hope the show stays good in value, I really enjoyed the first two episodes and the one with the gay guys but the other ones weren’t anything special. Glad it was renewed anywasys
Despite the lackluster ratings, I think F/X is betting on that this show could build in an audience eventually after they air reruns of the first season or see DVD sales, the show needs a good word-of-mouth advertising though
Great news. It’s not for everyone and at times is kind of sick but it’s different and has a great look and great voice cast.
Cimmer, as Robert mentioned, comparing Archer’s ratings to shows from 5-10 years ago isn’t the best comparison. Either the M18-34 is on par with the rest of their current ratings, or they are hoping it will grow.
Couldn’t the 1.2 million average be the first airing and the repeat the same night? I assume the Live+SD posted are live of the first airing and DVR of the first airing. I watch or DVR the second airing of the night because of other conflicts in the 10pm hour.
It’s funny that new episodes of “Archer” are in the same time slot as new episodes of “Important Things With Demetri Martin” since H.Jon Benjamin is the voice-over star of “Archer” but he’s also a live actor (and writer) on “Important Things”.
if a ridiculous show like this gets renewed, then DAMAGES better also!
Damages is probably MUCH more expensive to produce. But yay for Archer! Sometimes good things do happen to great shows no one watches.
Maybe FX is hoping it builds an audience like Family Guy did. That was pretty edgy for its time too…
I have a series recording set up for Archer. I don’t LOVE it… it’s not a must watch, but I put it on while cooking / doing things around the house…
and i find myself laughing a lot, at the … 18yr oldish humor? It’s amusing. Glad it got renewed.
I really happy about this its a ok show. i never thought i would like it but i decided to give it a try and it was very funny. Ill def. tune in for the rest of the season and season 2!
FX needs more good show now that nip/tuck is ending and they canned DIRT and THE RICHES!
John, do you still consider niptuck a good show this season?
I think the entire series started on a horrible downward spiral when they moved to california. I don’t know why i watch it anymore. probably because theres only like 3-4 left. I hate it. More than lost.
JUSTIFIED is a new FX series soon i think? It looks great.
Yeah, I agree with Eric. Archer is funnier than I expected. It’s puerile but amusing. (I also agree about Nip/Tuck. I abandoned that catastrophic mess after it moved to CA. It hasn’t gotten better near the end, eh? I wonder if “Glee” will slip this badly too.)
H. Jon Benjamin is very funny; he’s probably the key element that makes it come alive. I probably wouldn’t dig the scripts by themselves at all, or the show in comic form.
I hate Justified on principle because the typography on the billboards is so horrible.
I agree that H. Jon Benjamin is really the key. The deadpan delivery of some of the most outrageous lines on tv is hysterical to me. I haven’t even heard of “The League” until this article so I wouldn’t be surprised if tons of people just didn’t know Archer existed at all.
I’m kinda surprised they renewed it but I’m certainly glad they did.