Andy Barker, P.I. - TV-PG

Accidental detective has lucky knack for the job.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: NBC Cast: Andy Richter, Tony Hale, Clea Lewis Genre: Comedy
Available on: Download

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this sitcom (which was co-created by Conan O'Brien) is relatively light fare by modern prime-time standards. Quirky characters and unlikely scenarios (like a novice P.I. confronting armed Russian mafia thugs in an abandoned building and using a talking Sandra Bullock doll to outsmart them and save their victim) account for most of the show's laughs. If your tweens are begging to watch some adult-oriented TV, this one's a pretty safe choice, since sex, language, and violence are kept to a minimum. Star Andy Richter's superb timing and great delivery help overcome the far-fetched plots and sometimes uneven writing.

Families can talk about comedy on TV. Do you find this show funny? How does its comedy style differ from other series you've seen? What type of comedy do you prefer? Families can also discuss career choices. What draws people to their chosen field? How difficult do you think it would be to change careers later in life? Do you think people are defined by what they do? To what degree does money determine people's career paths?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Emily Ashby

Andy Barker (Andy Richter) looks every bit the sensible, straight-laced CPA that his polished brass nameplate says he is. He's most relaxed when he's crunching numbers, he sweats if he drives over the speed limit, and he's got a snug little suburban home, complete with a trimmed yard and a front walk where his sugary-sweet wife, Jenny (Clea Lewis), sees him off to work each day.

The well-worn pattern of his life suits him well, and with a new office in a local strip mall to call his own, Andy's sure the sky's the limit on his future. But, much to his chagrin, independent accounting isn't the booming business he thought it would be. His disappointment turns to intrigue when his first walk-in client gives him $4,000 to find a man long presumed dead. Turns out, the office's previous occupant was a private investigator, and people are still seeking his services.

Bitten by the curiosity bug -- and for lack of anything better to do -- Andy straps on his gumshoes and follows the clues to find the missing man. He's pleasantly surprised to discover that he has a knack (and a lot of luck) for connecting the dots and outsmarting the bad guys, and the entire process gives him a rush not unlike that of working a problem on a calculator and finding that the end result matches the number he worked out on paper. (Yes, that good.)

As the cases roll in, Andy's success rate remains impressive, though he owes it more to dumb luck than actual skill. He's assisted on cases, stake-outs, and mustachioed disguises by his downstairs mall neighbor, Simon (Arrested Development's Tony Hale) -- a video store owner who can relate any life experience to a movie plot -- and Wally (Marshall Manesh), the proprietor of a nearby Afghan kabob joint. Retired P.I. Lew Staziak (Harve Presnell), the previous occupant of Suite 210, also drops in and out to add his own unique brand of guidance to his accidental protégé.

Co-created by late-night funny guy Conan O'Brien, ANDY BARKER, P.I. is a comedy of twists and turns, over-the-top scenarios, and quirky characters. Richter (O'Brien's former sidekick) makes the far-fetched stories work, but a lot of the show's comedy is of the quirky, bone-dry variety. If you're looking for a grown-up show that's safe to share with older tweens, this one might fit the bill, since it's light on the iffy stuff (sex, violence, language) that often douses other prime-time series.

Fans might also enjoy Monk and Psych.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Sex-related talk includes assessments of a person's sexual desirability and terms like "boobs," "wood," and "nipples." Andy and his wife sit in bed together in pajamas; some mild kissing.
Violence Andy is sometimes in peril, though most of it is played for comedy. Bad guys carry guns, though shooting is minimal. Physical fights (punching, kicking, etc.) sometimes result in bruises or scrapes. Supporting characters have died in connection with Andy's cases, but it's never graphic or gruesome.
Language Words like "ass," "hell," and "slutty" are infrequent (Andy prefers terms like "fudge" and "Mother Hubbard").
Message
	Social Behavior Stereotypes are sometimes played for laughs, as in a scene showing an obese man running in slow motion with a large ham sandwich in his hand, or Andy and Simon claiming to be stymied by Wally's accent. Lew is often rude and/or confrontational, and he takes particular delight in taunting Simon. Not much diversity in the cast. But Andy is an earnest, well-intentioned hero who wants to help people.
	Commercialism Plenty of references to pop-culture figures, but no notable product placement.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Some supporting characters smoke, despite repeated objections from Andy.