The Season 2 premiere of “Archer” airs tonight, and if you’re like me you have been releasing tiny anticipatory urine leaks throughout your day. In an effort to make sure the hilarity of the first season has been fully appreciated before we move on to the second course, here are a few jokes in slo-mo replay to make sure you got whatever lofty reference show-runner Adam Reed and the boys were tossing your way:
1. Johnny Bench Called (S01E01)
A little extra research shed quite a bit of light on this doozy. In the pilot episode, Archer drops the phrase “Johnny Bench called” in order to let his mother know he caught her doing some fuzzy flounder fishing. But where exactly was he going with that?
Johnny Bench is a Hall of Fame catcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds. According to Adam Reed the joke was to imply the next line: “He wants his mitt back,” thus comparing Malory’s vajayjay to a well worn in catcher’s mitt. Funny. Decent. But the story continues.
After the initial episode aired Adam Reed was informed that Johnny Bench was also known for having giant fingers and was famous for a parlor trick he did where he held seven baseballs in one hand. This made for a reemergence of the Bench reference aimed at Lana Kane’s monster hands (Truckasaurus!) and her “Johnny Benchian fingers” (S01E04). I feel like the second Johnny Bench joke revises the first, like a humor time loop.
2. Greenmantle by John Buchan (S01E10)
In the Season 1 finale, Malory Archer is shown grabbing a gun from under the book Greenmantle by John Buchan. There isn’t really a joke here as much as Adam Reed is paying homage to one of the books that inspired the Archer character to begin with. Says Reed:
I read tons of books all the way back to Greenmantle by John Buchan. And I read a lot of the James Bond novels, which are a lot darker than the movies. They really sort of put a smile on that guy’s face. In the novels he’s pretty misogynistic. There’s definitely some racist tones in those novels. And so that was part of the inspiration… trying to see how much of a jerk I could make this guy and still make him likable. I don’t know if “likable” is the right word. Maybe “sympathetic” – even though he’s a total tool. [source]
That is probably the end of the intended reference there BUT if one were to look a little deeper… There was once a famous racehorse named Greenmantle that was ridden by jockey John Cutts. Cutts is best known for winning several Australian horse races in the 1860s. And what was the name of the horse he rode for the majority of his wins? Archer! Coincidence? Yes. That is the definition of a coincidence right there.
3. Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa
What can she say? Malory Archer has a thing for drummers. She may be a little hazy on who exactly planted the seed that would become her son Sterling, but she is sure clear on liking men who know how to beat the skins. While it makes more sense for super spy Sterling Archer to actually be spawned from either Len Drexler or Major Nikolai Jackov, we need to remember to keep these two famous beat-boys in the mix.
Just so you don’t have to Google them yourself, here are videos of Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, doing what they do best: banging.
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/tumblr_m4bjkorWgS1rw6l1no1_400-150x150.gif)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/sterlingarcherdraperpryce-pirateking-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/everyone-speaks-swedish-in-the-artsy-its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-season-9-trailer-uproxx1-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/bawk-150x150.gif)
I actually got about half of these the first time through. In some ways, it’s impressive. In more ways it’s pathetic.
I think I got 7 out of 10, with Johnny Bench called being the only one I actively googled (and failed to uncover anything).
Fuck you for trying to slip in a Crispin Glover clip!
I liked this show until the bartelby the scrivener joke.
Then I loved it.
oh and I liked the season 2 premier.
Better than trying to crisp in a Slipin Glover clip.
The Checkhov Gun also refers to the underwear gun Archer suggests always carrying with you, even though the safety slips off, for like no reason.
What? Don’t make it weird.
I’m with you, Don Turtuccio. That joke sealed the deal.
Nice work on the list. I’d always assumed “Bridge of Spies” was a play on the Bridge of Sighs, and never even noticed the Greenmantle thing. And yeah, the original Ian Fleming books have some dark, disturbing shit.
And dog in a manger? Never heard of it. We had paved roads where I grew up.
oh and I liked the season 2 premier.
Are you accessing this site from the future?
Can you tell me the next MegaMillions numbers?
I’m pretty sure Smaug is spelled with an a, and Frodo never met Saruman, so how could a shirt of armor protect him?
/gives self wedgie/swirlie/noogies
there was a preview at my college
I know John Buchan wrote “The Thirty-Nine Steps” or “Step up 2 Da Streets”. One of those two. Never heard of Greenmantle. There’s a plethora of examples of Checkov’s Gun on the TV Tropes site.
I’ve heard the dog in a manger thing before. But I come from a long line of NC farmers, and they say all kinds or weird stuff. Uglier than the south end of a northbound possum, more mouth than a jaybird has tail, etc.
Aaaaanyway, so excited this show is back!
You got me on the spelling of Smaug’s name. I guess I mixed him up with the lovable cartoon dragon Smoug Funny. However Frodo definitely met Saruman. Frodo decides to spare Saruman’s life and Saruman reciprocates by trying to kill him. It’s not in the movie but it is in the book. NERD OUT!
I’ll change the Smaug spelling now.
This for some reason wasn’t popping up in my DVR. So, uh, you’re doing the lord’s work, Kirk.
I got all of these jokes the first time when I watched the entire series before it premiered on TV, since I don’t have cable.
*polishes monocle, flips scarf, chokes secretary*
@Kirk
Touche. I forgot the Scouring of the Shire. Off to ComicCon to turn in my inhaler.
@burnsy
is this before or after you get head from a 5 year old pageant girl?
Obscure Alert – There’s an awesome Robert Klein in-joke in Season 2. Lost my shit, I did.
You guys didn’t get these jokes? Seriously, its like Eggs 101.
So the diner thing could be a riff on the fact that many small diners & family restaurants are owned by Greek immigrants and their families. I know in Chicago it is common for these places to have Greek recipes on the menu like souvlaki and Greek chicken. I could be wrong.
So the diner thing could be a riff on the fact that many small diners & family restaurants are owned by Greek immigrants and their families. I know in Chicago it is common for these places to have Greek recipes on the menu like souvlaki and Greek chicken. I could be wrong.
Explaining jokes: you’re doing it wrong.
That got really dark.
Give me back my greek diner joke. It was a good joke.. and I liked it.
no mention of quadroon? I had to google that one. maybe I just don’t have enough old rasicts in my family.
Did anyone think that Conway Sterns was actually Kan-weh (Kanye + Yahweh)? no? Just me. Okay.
@austin
I did start to do one entry just for vocab: Quadroon, Perfidy, Penis Ensmallment. It’s like an SAT prep course!
Another aspect of the Chekov Gun explanation is missing: the reason it is a facile argument is because it would have been too obvious to use the physical Chekov gun Archer shows off earlier in the episode for the Chekov gun element of the story. It truly is woefully esoteric and awesomely hilarious.
I did not know the Chekhov’s gun reference before about 3 minutes ago, but I apparently have been using something like it for years. I always use the example of the Simpsons where Homer does the voice of Poochie, and they show the fireworks factory, but never get to it so that itchy can kill scratchy, presumably by blowing him up. When ever I see something that never pays off in a movie or TV show, I say something to the effect of, “But when are we getting to fireworks factory?”
I don’t think I can watch season 2 without Vodka. Liters of it. Not because the show isn’t funny without it, but because it was cheeper than beer and anything else for that matter. CAN’T WAIT!
I had the Johnny Bench reference wrong myself. I thought it had to do with the way catchers call pitches by dropping fingers down between their legs. That was funny enough for me, but I guess that doesn’t finish the “____ called and wants ___ back” joke.
My dad used to call me a dog in the manger with no explanation. He’s 70 and from North Carolina. I’m glad to finally get what that specific insult meant cleared up.
Nice- can’t wait for the premier. I have no problem saying I got only half of these. There was a joke in the 1st or 2nd episode about cosplay that I never picked up on, I think I just couldn’t hear it but if anyone has an explanation that would be great.
Also- The Chumguzzler inspired my fantasy football team name so I’m hoping for something just as funny / weird from season 2.
The call girl’s (hooker) name was Trunet actually, not “Triana”.
And I was 9/10 on these. YAY!
I’ve been using “Johhny Bench called” in everyday speech since I saw the first epi, and I had no idea what it means! I made up my own interpretation. I’m still going with mine, though now I feel fulfilled in life.
Awesome show.
What? Everyone knows about Judge Crater?
@Jbeks
Damn it! I was watching Venture Brothers recently. Triana Orpheus and Trunet the Hooker. Work better brain!
i learned about “liking greek” from prostitutes.
fuck this site for requiring me to click next after 5 seconds of reading, you just want more pageviews for your advertisers
go screw
I had to read Bartleby and for some stoned reason watched the movie and completely forgot until now and my be more amused while rewatching the Archer episode (your finger).
The Coat of Dwarven Mithril is just for Hobbits sexy time.
I did not get any of these but enjoyed both the underage and cut dick jokes in the premier.
(woefully) esoteric
Sorry, meant “(woefully) exoteric”
This list is missing one.
Gillette’s name.
Remember the brand name Gillette? The one that makes razors? What was their motto again?
“Gillette: The Best a Man Can Get.”
Are Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa really that obscure? I mean, hell, even the Beastie Boys have referenced Buddy Rich in the song Sabotage.
I’m surprised that the Alex Karros reference from when Lana decided to chew Cyril’s carpet didn’t make the list. As a Detroit Lions (and Webster) fan, that joke put me in the hurt locker!
Bartleby The Srivener. Actually, a scrivener is a person who used to work in a law firm back in the 1800s. You know how the Xerox machines take documents and duplicate them. Yeah, law firms in the 1800s had no Xerox machines. I need 50 copies on my desk by 5 p.m. was really annoying.
I’m still stuck on the Greek thing… I get the “you’re obviously into Greek,” but what does it have to do with the diner??? Is the diner Greek???
Christy, Diners are often owned by greek families or at a minimum serve greek food.
and they invented poopysecks…get it?
Thanks For clearing up the greek thing cause I didn’t get it either.
There’s also a good Chekhov’s Gun reference, albeit not by name, in the episode from Season 1 of Party Down with the fake investors’ dinner.
I dont know maybe because Greeks own a lot of diners? Most of the diners around here are greek owned for some reason.
and they like buttsecks, cause they are responsible for it, in which, I mean they invented it…get it?
Do they do it Greek from the Classical Period or the Hellenistic Age?
and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.
Becwause pweeple should not bwee in those mwean pwisons so mwuch. It’s not fwair.
Sorry…the W sticks on this damn keyboard.
Sadly, many girls don’t get the Greek thing….
I liked th season 2
Frisky Dingo is packed full of more funny and in less time. Quicker, smarter and just better. Adam Reed’s best work still, by far.
Then look at my avatar and be happy…you should see when they skin ‘em……..serooisly you puke your guts out.
Do “10 most obscure Frisky Dingo references” next!
Ok, can anyone explain the Robert Klein reference? My friend said it’s because he has a condition where he can’t control his leg. If it is, that is damn funny, but I’m not sure that’s right.
Robert Klein is a stand up comedian who had a bit about “his leg can’t stop…” (so gay) but it was funny cause Kreiger hit a button and made Rabbert’s leg “not stop” thumping. Rabbert Klein.
[www.funnyordie.com]
I’ll pitch the frisky dingo article soon. I love that show more than huffing paint thinner. And I LOVE huffing paint thinner.
I always assume the Chekhov Gun argument was not so much “not a perfect fit” as much as it was meta: what’s going on is that the minute Archer mentioned that the gun was fatal, the writing demanded it kill someone, and the characters are in on it.
Most obscure references?!?! At least three of these should be painfully obvious. And how the hell did you miss the William S. Burroughs reference with Woodhouse in the herion den from “Blood Test”? Now THAT is esoteric!! And fucking brilliant I might add.
I think we could maybe add to the “You’re obviously into Greek. *bark* Thank you, Abelard,” explanation. Peter Abelard was a medieval French philosopher. Here’s a quote from the intro to the Letters of Abelard and Heloise:
“He remained a dedicated humanist and scholar, seeing that he could use his knowledge of Greek philosophy to lead his pupils on to the ‘true philosophy’, as the great Origen had done. There was a general interest amongst twelfth century scholars in Origen’s works through Latin translations, and Abelard had a close personal feeling for Origen, also a eunuch, though self-inflicted. He draws the comparison explicitly in a letter to Heloise. Abelard’s continued interest in Greek philosophy was one the charges against him by St Bernard, who said that Abelard proved himself a pagan by attempting to turn Plato into a Christian.”
What do you think? Sorry if someone said this already, and thanks, Google Books.
–Meagan
I’m not going to read every post, so this may be an irrelevant comment, but for the Chekhov Gun reference, I feel like you missed something important. Cyril was given two items, the pen, and a GUN CALLED A CHEKHOV GUN. Therefore, he’d assumed that the item named for its impending use was the one to cause the damage, where in fact the pen was the real “Chekhov’s gun”. That didn’t seem to be addressed in your article above.
I think the Greek thing has to do with the paddling. Kinda like hazing. When he says it she has a huge paddle mark on her sweet cheeks.
I was absolutely sure the Greek joke was in reference to Archer’s presumably uncircumcised penis. Greeks are historically averse to circumcision.
Yeah, but it wouldn’t make sense cause Archer is self-absorbed and circumcision is taboo. It’s certainly buttsecks.
Seems like a layer of the “Johnny Bench called” explanation was left out. It is often used when leaving as a substitute for “catch you later” (because Johnny Bench was a catcher) and the characters said frequently in the context of “I’m outta here”.
Skipped my favorite! In the episode “Killing Utne”, where Malory is holding a dinner party – the KGB head Jackov sends in one of his agents and she leaves her compact/communicator in the bathroom. Archer walks in and sees it, with Jackov on the screen – there’s some confusion and he asks, “What’s the frequency?” to which Archer asks, “Kenneth?”
Theres another literary one in the first season, can’t remember which episode though, Archer describes something ironic as being like ‘O Henry and Alanis Morisette had a baby’. O Henry was known for his short stories which tended to employ ironic twist-endings, and Alanis Morisette wrote the song ‘Irony’
Also, most recent episode S2E11, Pam has stanza 3 of Byrons ‘The Destruction of Sennacherib’ tatooed on her back
Goddamn it people! The Greek line is about buttsecks!!
to expand on the Greek line – it’s actually slang from Newspaper classifieds for singles/meetups. Because you can’t straight up say filthy stuff in the newspaper, a sort of code language has developed, to secretly advertise what you are into/looking for.
So – when someone says they like ‘greek food’ in a newspaper singles ad, they are saying they like anal.
This article just blew mah mind!
J. Bench baby! Always laugh at Bill Cosby’s Bench joke in the delivery room.
[oscarandozcar.com]
Yes, I know the Greek line was about anal sex. I’m saying there was yet another dimension to it. Like the French philosopher who was very interested in Greek philosophy, of course Abelard the dog would get Archer’s joke about the Greeks being into anal sex. It’s a multi-layered joke. That’s why I love Archer. You could watch it and never even recognize that there are multiple levels to the humor – and still laugh. It’s just so well-written.
Kinda surprised you didn’t go with the “Hanging from the lampshade” line from the Skorpio episode. Great post all around though! Looking forward to the season 2 version!
The “Obviously into Greek” reference is a reference to Abelard, the dog’s name. Abelard and Heloise are a famous pair of ex-lovers, and Heloise was a nun that was known for her love of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Also, Abelard was castrated for abandoning Heloise to a life of nunning, but I think that might be stretching the reference.
What was the line Lana gave to Cyril after he told her about his last girlfriend moving in after three months. “Was she a lesbian?” Not up on that joke. Fill me in.
She’s calling Cyril a girl.
Lesbians are famous for rushing relationships.
There’s an old joke- what do lesbians do on a second date? Rent a u-haul.
What about the “The Graduate”(1967) reference in S01E10 at 9:30. Cyril says “Ms. Archer your trying to seduce me, arnt you?” directly from the movie “Ms. Robinson your trying to seduce me, arnt you?”
Link
[www.youtube.com]
Also the title of the episode is a reference top the movie “Dial M for Murder”(1954)
….why one might meet at the Bridge of Spies....
The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The bridge name, given by Lord Byron in the 19th century, comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. In reality, the days of inquisitions and summary executions were over by the time the bridge was built and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals. In addition, little could be seen from inside the Bridge due to the stone grills covering the windows. The bridge is currently covered by advertisements and the view is disappointing.
A local legend says that lovers will be granted everlasting love and bliss if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge.[1]
Regarding the dog in the manger: I am from North Dakota. We had that picture hanging up in our house but I had no idea the origins of it–I think my Mom just thought it was cute!
HAHAHAHA!!!! oh my God. I’m kind of sorry, but too sorry.
I just noticed that in the season 2 episode “pipeline” the guy that Archer steals the fanboat from has two dogs named after the coon dogs from “where the red fern grows”.
Could I get this one explained [www.youtube.com] ?? Is it just that he is drunk, or is there something more to it?
Specifically the “I love you Santa Claus” part. I get the Bacon thing.
The Santa Claus part I think was just because he’s a jolly fat guy with white facial hair and Archer was drunk, so his mistook him for Santa Claus.
The Johnny Bench joke is funnier (in my opinion) because catchers signal the pitcher by placing some number of fingers right in front of their crotch (to stop the opposing team from seeing) which looks similar to a woman masturbating. Perhaps also because 1 finger is usually a fast-ball and there might be some reference there to Archer walking in on his mother and her having to quickly stop what she’s doing. That’s definitely attributing more to the joke that it deserves.
That’s how I interpreted it- catcher’s signs in front of the crotch.
How I interpreted the Greek joke: He tells her to go to a diner for breakfast. Diners are often owned by Greek people. She will like the diner because they had anal sex (Greek) and she obviously liked that.
i think they got the greek joke wrong. I think her dogs name, Abelard, is a greek name. I may be wrong but thats what I got from the joke.
Abelard, along with the stewardess, Are both french. Abelard is a french name. The joke refers to liking Greek, a.k.a. liking the Greek activity of anal sex, which is why since archer is pissed he kicked her out and and says ” ‘Why don’t you try a diner, you’re obviously into greek! Get it?’ -woof- ‘Thank you abelard’ ” And every diner in NYC in owned by a Greek family. C’mon you’ve have two and a half seasons two fingure that one out.
Abelard is a reference to Peter Abelard, 12th Century French theologian, logician and notorious nun-fucker. “Abelard and Heloise” is one of the classic tragic romances (at least in terms of him ending up castrated by her angry uncle). [en.wikipedia.org]. W
hy name the dog that? No clue.
You overlooked a reference that probably goes way over the heads most people under 60 years old. I can’t remember which episode it was in, but I think it was first season, and I think it was spoken by the mother, in reference to Archer being missing.
[en.wikipedia.org]
Also, come on people, the Greek thing is obviously Archer implying that he and the woman just had anal sex.
It was in reference to a bartender serving another drink in the blimp episode…that’s hysterical now that I know it.
S02E04 Blood Test – In a cutaway gag about Mallory getting Woodhouse out of trouble, Woodhouse says “Alright Burrows, let’s liven things up, [X amount] says I can shot an apple off your wife’s head.”
This is a reference to Williams S. Burrows, author of Naked Lunch, who is famous for accidentally shooting his wife in the head while trying to shooting to shoot an apple off of it. The implication being that Woodhouse actually killed her, and Mallory framed Burrows.
*S02E03 My bad.
OK, I need to die knowing this joke’s meaning…Season 3, “The Limited” The porter is carrying Mallory’s bags to the train (a dozen of them) and he said “We really need to get these bags on ma’a'm” Mallory says “I heard HIM, George.” Lana: Hey, don’t call him that!” The Porter says “Actually, my name is George.” and Lana AND Mallory both so “REALLY?” WHY, WHY, WHY? I know it’s hysterical but I’m to young to get it I’m sure. SOMEBODY HELP
I think ALL Black railway porters were called “George.” I think it’s maybe from the early 1900s??
I haven’t watched the dog in a manger episode yet but I got the reference as soon as I saw it here. It was in a book of Aesop’s Fables I read as a kid.
Also, is Woodhouse not named after P.G. Wodehouse, who wrote a lot of stories about butlers?
He wrote the best butlers! As well as valets, or gentleman’s personal gentlemen, like Jeeves, who is perhaps his most iconic creation. I’d say this Woodhouse is more a valet than a butler, since he doesn’t have charge of a house and dresses Archer.
Just wanted to say, this article cleared up alot of blurry jokes and made me laugh post-humously. Congrats! About the “what’s the frequency, kenneth?” did some research, and apparently, Dan Rather was attacked from behind in Manhattan in the ?80′s? by some random asshole who, while he was kicking Dan’s ass, kept saying “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?”. Rumormill had it that the man who assaulted Dan Rather was a KGB operative. Also, REM made it a song…and it sucked.
The word “posthumous” – I do not think it means what you think it means.
Did nobody catch that the 25 caliber “underwear gun” is manufactured by Chekhov? I mean, the reference is still to the theatre term, but I always thought Cyril’s argument was “I just assumed if anything bad happened, it would be the gun accidentally going off (slippery, safety off),” not “I’m not culpable because it’s the writers’ fault.” The argument is still facile because that’s still very likely to be deadly. Woodhouse’s comment is the only one specifically referencing the theatre term, but he may not be aware of the presence of a literal Chekhov gun.
The Greek comment is actually pretty simple. The dinner comment is correct that Greeks are stereotypically known for small diners in big cities. But the “you are obviously into Greek,” is actually just for the fact that her dogs name was Greek. No simpler than than.
I thought “Chekhov’s Gun” might have been in reference to the Star Trek episode where the crew is in the Wild West, and when a cowboy pulls a pistol on Chekhov, he tells Sulu he isn’t worried because the primitive bullet is so slow, he’ll simply step out of the way. He’s then shot and killed. (“He’s dead, Jim!”)
Greek immigrants founded more than 600 diners in the New York region in the 1950s through the 1970s.
[en.wikipedia.org]
I know the dog in the manger fable and I’m from New Jersey. And not the part with the farms. But I’ve also read Bartleby the Scrivener, am familiar with the gun on the mantlepiece concept, and have not only read The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but the Silmarillion as well. So . . . Maybe I’m not the best litmus test for antiquated fable familiarity.
The one that went right over my head is:
Pam: This time really get in there. All you’ve been doing is giving one side hell.
Can somebody explain that one?
the Greek diner comment refers to a “Greek Kiss” which is an anal kiss given, in this case (in my opinion) by the woman into the guys ass, so he’s making a play on words assuming that because she liked kissing his butt she would also like a greek dinner, the theme is revisited in Space Race 2, when Pam tells archer she gave him the “Moab” which stands for Mouth on Ass and Balls, great show!!!
@wilsonja2010: Abelard is a French name and doesn’t even sound remotely Greek. Obviously the joke is that he had anal sex with her. I am baffled at how many people didn’t get such an obvious joke. The reference really is not that obscure at all. Greek people stereotypically own diners in NYC, so she should eat at the diner because she’s “into Greek” (i.e. they had anal sex). Really not complicated.
I still think my favorite was the leader board at the Le Mans Grand Prix that read Bell, Bivens, and Devoe, and then the three singers in Appolonia 6!
@Joe D. – Another joke that people can’t seem to understand:
Cyril was given an underwear gun and a poison pen. He assumed that the poison pen wouldn’t kill anyone, because if any weapon was going to affect anything, it would be the gun. Because writers usually follow the rule of “Chekhov’s Gun,” in which they don’t bother to mention a gun unless it’s going to go off.
That’s the joke.
The underwear having the word Chekhov on it is just another reference to the “Chekhov’s gun” rule.
Let me clear up the “obviously you like going Greek” that means one thing and one thing only. ANAL SEX USING OLIVE OIL AS LUBE. If you do not believe me it is because you have no sexual prowess or experience. Also Abalard was a really smart Frech scholar.
Also did anyone else know Salvatore Dali had an Ocelot named Babou?
You didn’t fully explain #9. He tells her to go to the diner because diners are often owned by greeks. Yes “being into greek” is a reference to buttsex.