Andy Barker, P.I.

What’s the Story?

Andy Barker (Andy Richter) looks every bit the sensible, straitlaced 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. But it turns out that Andy's new 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 discovers that he has a knack (and a lot of luck) for connecting the dots and outsmarting the bad guys. Andy's success rate is impressive, though he owes it more to dumb luck and the help of his friends, downstairs mall neighbor Simon (Arrested Development's Tony Hale) -- a video store owner who can relate any life experience to a movie plot; Wally (Marshall Manesh), the proprietor of a nearby Afghan kabob joint; and the previous occupant of Suite 210, retired P.I. Lew Staziak (Harve Presnell).

Is It Any Good?

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.