Andy Barker R.I.P.

I'll keep this brief. NBC is silly to get rid of Andy Barker P.I. This show is amazing and funnier than most all other comedies on TV. It's just too bad it didn't get far enough to reach the heights shows like Scrubs and The Office.

Just watched the last two episodes and they were the two best of the series (Ed Asner guest spot, Tony Hale on fire and better cinematography than any half-hour show I can remember).

Sadly, they go out on a Saturday night, when the only people watching television are either asleep or not cool enough to understand how good the show really is. Take care Andy. Sorry to see you go.

Six more Fridays and Andy's last gasp

From Hollywood Reporter:

A day before the freshman series' season finale, the network on Tuesday ordered six additional scripts of the critically praised but low rated series. While this is short of the early second-season order NBC recently bestowed on another struggling rookie, the comedy 30 Rock, the order does strengthen Friday's chances for a return next season.

Friday is the second NBC series on the bubble to receive a six-script order this week, following a similar pickup for veteran Medium Monday.

Way to commit to your good shows there NBC. Yes, they're not huge ratings winners, but they're good shows. Something networks are caring about less and less. I'll be saying the same thing five years from now, too, I'm sure.

Meanwhile, NBC completely gave up on another well done show -- probably the best of those mentioned in this blog. From Zap2it:

NBC has bumped Andy Barker P.I. from its Thursday schedule this week and moved the show's final two episodes to the barren wasteland that is Saturday night network primetime. The remaining two episodes of the show will air back-to-back at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Scrubs will take over Andy's 9:30 p.m. time period a week earlier than originally planned. The veteran hospital comedy is switching spots with 30 Rock for a few weeks and will move back to 9 p.m. in early May.

If there's any positive news in the Andy Barker move, it's that all six produced episodes will now air on the network. NBC had initially scheduled only five for air, with the sixth, "The Lady Varnishes," slated to appear only on the network's Web site.

The first three episodes of Andy Barker, which stars Andy Richter as a CPA-turned-private eye, averaged about 5.2 million viewers. Those numbers give the show, which earned a fair share of critical praise, the unwelcome distinction of being NBC's lowest-rated series this season.

There's not much to say as it seems no bit of defense can help Andy anymore, stuck without even a Friday slot (to protect Raines perhaps?). It's really too bad.

I'm looking for a way to put the power back in the hands of the intelligent TV watchers. It's too late to save Andy, but there has to be a way to start showing NBC and all the other networks (though NBC is probably the biggest offender recently as far as trashing its good shows -- Studio 60, Twenty Good Years, Black Donnellys, now Andy) what a bunch of dummies they are.

"Barker's" beauties

Expectations don't get much lower than mine were as I sat down to watch NBC's Andy Barker, P.I. As far as I've been aware, star Andy Richter hasn't been funny since leaving Conan, and he has (or doesn't have, depending on your point of view) two failed sitcoms as proof. But Barker's got a lot going for it -- not the least of which is a big NBC push with a cushy Office/Scrubs lead in tonight.

Andy is an accountant, just starting his own business. He moves into a second floor suite in a pleasant strip mall (above a video store and across from an Afghan restaurant). As you begin to get the feeling he'll never have an account, he's visited by a beautiful woman who needs his help finding her husband. (She's in his office because it used to be a private detective's.)

The show's filled with the goof factor that permeates Conan O'Brien on a nightly basis, and its feel and dialogue are that of a really good YouTube video (though, to be fair, I watched it through the free iTunes download, so it's possible my brain just made an odd connection).

It's funny, though. I know I sound wishy washy about it, but it's definitely strong, and it's filled with some great gags, making it easy to look past the convoluted case the reluctant investigator is looking in to. Andy's buddy Simon (Tony Hale -- Arrested Development's Buster), who owns the video store below the accounting office is an especially welcome, if not necessary, addition, and the gruff P.I. who used to work out of Andy's office is perfect.

Plus, it's not every day you see a chubby private investigator -- or any P.I. for that matter -- on a high speed chase in his Saturn. Veronica Mars at least has an XTerra.

Oh, yeah. The show premieres at 9:30 tonight on NBC.