Tonight marks the first half of “Space Race,” the two-part Archer season finale with guest star and UPROXX favorite, Bryan Cranston. We’ll be welcoming in our final special guest from the Archer team, Background Director Jon Bass, this evening. No special guest for next week’s final Season 3 live blog. Instead we’ll have a pretty amazing treat earlier in the week that you will not want to miss. Intrigued? You should be.
Jon — like our other guests — will be here later to answer any and all questions. Quick bio from Jon himself:
“I’ve been with the show since the fifth episode of the first season. Since then I have worked in character design, props design and digital painting. In Season 3 I took over as director of the background department on the episode ‘The Man From Jupiter.’
“This episode 312 was easily the hardest episode we worked on all season but it wasn’t without significant reward. We were ambitious and we were able to come up with some stunning visuals that made this finale episode one of our best episodes yet.”
Jon has also provided some special behind-the-scenes images that I’ll be sharing after the show.
Pre-show talking points…
- “Archer and his colleagues at ISIS voyage to the final frontier in an effort to prevent a catastrophe on the International Space Station.”
- Alderaan reference!
- Will the office crew get their own separate storyline?
- I got to check out the space model costumes when I dropped by the Floyd County offices last week. Jealous?
- Does Bionic Barry make a finale appearance? Can he breathe in space?
- “6 Enemas” would make a great band name.
- Odds on pop culture space references?
Open thread is open. Live blog with Jon Bass begins promptly at 10PM EST, but he may drop in beforehand if the conversation warrants. As always, everyone is encouraged to chat and GIF away well into the morning. I’ll put a cap on things in the AM.
Follow us @KDMaske, @TheCajunBoy, and @UPROXX for reminders. Images via FX and Floyd County.
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Massive Ordinance Air Blast?
That was deliriously brilliant. So, what’s a mohab (moab?) and where can I get some?
Thanks to everyone for last night’s participation. Especially Jon for his insight and Creed/Two and a Half Men comparisons.
Chet, as always, you outdid yourself. Great, great work.
And we do have something seriously kick ass coming early next week to get primed for the finale. Get excited.
You know what this episode was missing? Barry. [/Things no one says]
Convinced you’re trolling now more than ever.
Ok, I admit that comment was trolling, but the first two weren’t.
R2-double-D2
Welcome to the DAAANGer zone!
This episode really rocked!
I nearly Cyril’d in my pants when I made this!
Jon I don’t know if ur still here but I was wondering if next season there will be some difficulty with H.Jon Benjamin’s schedule cuz he’s doing Bob’s Burgers now or is voice acting not really as time constricting?
btw Kristine Schaal would be a great addition to the Tunt family
aww too late
Verified
No worries sir HJ is guaranteed for this next season.
f’sho thanks
Verified
Guys I am outta here but I wanted to just shamlessly promote for a bit if I could…. production on Season 4 will be starting VERY soon so sit tight- we have some GREAT material lined up for you guys already! That said I have to thank my team for all their hard work all season.
Kat Shoe, Duncan Burless, Kim Fingerbang (sp?), Andre Simple, and Mary Stemburgents….seriously great work this year guys!
Aside from sending you guys money directly to keep the show going, we applaud you guys! Best show on TV!
Awesome! Its been great with you guys hanging out and obviously Archer is the tits.
How many of those names did you just make up?
Verified
Here’s their weblinks for my teams portfolios. Lots of really great work here.
KAT SHEA: bunnysparkles.net
DUNCAN BURRIS: duncanburris.com
ANDREA SIPL: andreasipl.com
KIM FEIGENBAUM: [www.darktreestudios.blogspot.com]
IRENE STRYCHALSKI: [reniestrychalski.com]
Check them out!
You could have dropped the Creed line alone and killed it. Great work to tonight. Many thanks.
Verified
Pleasure was all mine- thanks again supporting the show. It is truly humbling to get a chance to speak with the fans at this level. You guys are AWESOME.
Taking requests.
YES! I have to do the “10 Best Thursday Night TV GIFs” tomorrow for this alone.
Who could want more than this? Though Archer riding Cyril into a pile of puke would be cool too….
Archer shooting Cyril?
just this week’s episode? idk im new here…
Bravo monsieur,bravo.
Hooper, I’ve been doing GIFs of the most recent episode in the live blogs, just because.
Zap!
What font is that? I don’t want to have to search?
The font is called Baveuse. Simple to Google.
Thanks Chet.
Can we get zero G post coital pam and the ping pong paddle?
YES!
Million Mile High Club
Any more of the vomit comet?
Sure.
You’re a saint. The kind of saint that spews animated vomit on all of us. And we love you for it.
Cyril’d
And I’m done for the night. Might get some before work.
We need one of Archer choking in his space suit.
Well I’m leaving for work soon. So, that’ll be a few hours.
Also this.
Well, I’m dying a little inside knowing last week is it for the season, but this was another awesome episode. Jon (and your lurking cohorts), thanks for hanging out with us.
*Next week. Dammit, I Cyril’d myself.
I can’t wait to work that in to every conversation I have from now on!
Verified
Pleasure was all kine. Thanks for having me hang out guys!
Verified
I Cyril’d too dude! It’s ok!
Can Jon guest host everything?
Took me a while! I need to get a faster method!
And now for some serious inside baseball. You’ll remember these from a few episodes back. Click in sequence.
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Oh, man, the Pam graffiti is epic! I need to know who Twan and Scooby are.
Smooth like cheddar.
Poovey Farms 4 Life
Verified
Yeah just to explain whats going on here these are the shots where we in the background department do the most painting from scratch. In most cases we have a computer render of the environment we draw over basically like the crumbled stall you see the biped version of Cheryl squatting on above. In this case we had to paint up all the elements surrounding her- lava, volcanos, melty TP roll etc. Krieger’s Van murals are the exact same where we have to use a reference photo as a base and paint and draw our own unique version for the show.
Verified
I love this first version. I mean C’MON! Pammy did a little Fafi character to go along with her version of the JEM logo.
Jon, please tell me you get to come up with the Krieger van themes.
Verified
Oh yes…every single time. Can’t wait for the day the ‘Fly By Night’ version shows up.
Jon,
1. Do you know if the trailer park boys will come back next season? I would sploosh all over myself if Archer took a rampage to those Nova Scotian terrorists.
2. How cool is Bryan Cranston?
How cool is Bryan Cranston? Answered
Verified
1. I’m sure if we have another episode in/ or around Canada I would think so.
2. I believe Casey and Adam recorded him from LA so we at the studio never met him- so on a personal level no idea. However, every podcast I’ve hear him on and his recent body of work really points to an amazing wealth of talent and charm. I am personally a HUGE fan of Breaking Bad so having an opportunity to add a little blue meth to space was amazingly cool.
I will be buying a pair, except they have The Walking Dead with a zombie and they’re all torn up…it’s a toss up!
[tauntr.myshopify.com]
Love that Archer had Hudson’s dagger through a skull image on his chest protector. Outstanding.
Jon was of course cool enough to provide some kick ass art for tonight’s episode to help you guys level off. Links take you to the full size.
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The space guns were essentially FAMASes, right?
[world.guns.ru]
Verified
We are usually VERY specific with references for guns on the show- mp40s, AKs, M14s……but in this case we actually we drew over reference photos of some heavy duty nerf guns.
Looked like pulse rifles from Aliens.
Verified
Also very true. A lot of our design inspiration for this finale was from Aliens and the Duncan Jones film Moon.
Russian Roullette using the six shooter nerf is an awesome drinking game. If you get shot you gotta take a shot
Where’s Chet?
Encoding…
You worried me for a minute.
Archer is Siiiiiiick!
I have to wait 7 f’ing days?
SEASON FINALE? What? but… but… aaaAAAAROOOOO!!!
“Welcome to….. the danger zone.”
SPLOOSH!
Welcome to the Danger Zone GIF stat!
Now THAT’S how you do a cliffhanger.
Bryan Cranston saying “Danger Zone” may have just made my life
It demands the glory of a GIF.
/INSTANT AWESOME
Second that
AWE-SOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
do not want danger zone!
Motherfucker.
It’s a trap!
Jon, was dog in a station wagon a Mitt Romney joke?
Seamus!
Verified
Someone else asked me that over here and honestly I don’t know. I would suspect not since Archer rarely riffs on contemporary topics THAT specific.
R2-Double-D2!
Archer actually had something for that…
R2DD2 HAHAHAHA
We need a gif of Gillette shooting with “GET SOME”
All it needed was a “Game over, man! Game over!”
I like Malory mixing her own space screwdrivers!
I think Cyril shot Bret somehow with that volley…
Re: Bryan Craston…I freaked out recently watching an old Seinfeld episode when he was on as Tim Whatley, the dentist. Totally never connected that Walter White was that guy.
You’re such an anti-Dentite. I bet you think they should have their own schools, right?
Am I that transparent?
Haha I saw that the other day
Ok, so I’m on the west coast so I’m a bit behind everyone else. Unfortunately, I’m spoiling the episode for myself by coming on here.
Just as I’m wondering how Archer is sitting down in space, I realize that he’s not actually sitting, he’s just in a sitting position, which causes me to wonder about the physics of tossing a baseball into one’s own glove over and over (glossing over why Archer brought a baseball and glove with him to space), and as I’m wondering why he doesn’t bounce it up against a wall like MOST prisoners do, the show answers me, and answers the age-old question, “Is this the best show ever?”
Yes. Yes it is.
hahahaha
Jon, do you guys do a Pam/Cheryl/Krieger countdown like the audience does when they don’t appear early in an episode?
Verified
Not exactly…..but Pam by far and away is the studio favorite. I really hope Adam writes a Pamcentric episode at some point.
I liked Wrath of the Titans better when it was God of War 3…
Steve McQueen reference? Just splooshed myself.
Followed by Kate Upton Carl’s Jr. commercial? FX needs to tone it down. Could get messy.
Would never eat one of those but Jesus I love that commercial.
Steve McQueen scene has me DYING laughing over here.
Fuck you Space.
PAM!
CHERYL!
SPACE STOWAWAYS!
Early GIFquesting of Cyril getting stunned.
Was actually waiting to see Pam stow away somehow…
Sploosh.
Grossly overweight on cue!
You. Win.
You called it.
excuse me, but WHO called it??
I think Bionic Barry or Odin is behind this somehow….
Jon: 3 Commercial Questions:
- Favorite recurring character?
- Favorite single episode?
- Favorite running gag/joke/reference?
Verified
1. Tough question because I really love some that have disappeared….like Scatterbrain Jane especially. But honestly I’d have to give it to Dave Willis as Barry.
2. That would be a tie between ‘Jeu Monegasque’ and ‘White Nights Part1′ I really think those were some of our best episodes in both writing and execution.
3. The ping pong paddle…….the back story is just getting creepy at this point.
Jon, do you or any of your colleagues lurk on these liveblogs even when you’re not guesting?
We would never.
Verified
probably.
No. Never.
Shhhhhhhh!!