FX Orders Two More Seasons of Hit Animated Series ARCHER

FX will stay in the 'Danger Zone' at least through 2016 by ordering two additional seasons of its Emmy and Annie Award nominated animated hit comedy series Archer, announced Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions.

FX has ordered 13 episodes for each of the series' sixth and seventh seasons. The series is produced by FX Productions. Seven all new episodes of Archer remain in season five with the finale slated for Monday, April 21 at 10:00 PM ET/PT. The additional season orders of Archer are unrelated to Floyd County Productions existing overall deal with FX Productions.

"Archer is one of the best comedies on television and has played a significant role in the growth of the FX comedy brand," said Schrier. "We're grateful to Adam Reed, Matt Thompson and their team at Floyd County, and also our incredible voice cast, and are looking forward to supporting their work for at least two more seasons."

Archer was created by Adam Reed and Floyd County Productions and is executive produced by Reed and Matthew Thompson. The series is produced by FX Productions.

When notified of the pick-up, Reed said, "I am figuratively over the moon."

In next week's episode, "Archer Vice: Smugglers' Blues" (Airs March 10, 10:00 PM ET/PT), Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) travels to Colombia on a secret mission that becomes not so secret after he gets drunk. [Written by Adam Reed]

In addition to being one of cable's highest-rated comedies, Archer has been one of the highest-selling DVD titles in the FOX library, and it spawned an extremely successful ongoing Live Stage Tour. This month, FOX distribution is selling the series into cable and broadcast syndication.

Archer ranks as the second highest-rated comedy in basic cable in delivery of Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34. Compared to its season four average, first-run episodes of Archer's fifth season are delivering a ratings gain of +2% in Total Viewers (1.93 million) to rep Archer's most-watched season ever. Versus season one, Archer has grown +118% in Adults 18-49, +125% in Adults 18-34, and +95% in Total Viewers. CY14 to date, Archer ranks as the most-watched scripted comedy series in basic cable in P18-49 and Total Viewers. The multi-run total for season five of Archer is averaging 3.86 million Total Viewers, 3.02 million Adults 18-49, and 1.99 million Adults 18-34 per week.*

Archer, an animated, half-hour comedy, revolves around the spy agency known as the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) and the lives of its employees. Although their work of espionage, reconnaissance missions, wiretapping and undercover surveillances has always been daunting and enigmatic, every covert operation and global Crisis is actually unmitigated occasions for the ISIS staff to undermine, sabotage and betray each other for personal gains and selfish pleasures. In season five, after discovering that ISIS activities were unsanctioned by the U.S. government, the crew was forced to set out in a new direction, attempting to cash in on a stockpile of cocaine and transforming "Cheryl" into country music's next big star, "Cherlene." What is in store for Archer and the rest of the ISIS crew in seasons six and beyond? Tune in to find out.

The series features The Voice of H. Jon Benjamin as the highly skilled yet incredibly vain master spy "Sterling Archer," a role which garnered Benjamin an Emmy(R) Award nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 2010. The ensemble voice cast also includes Aisha Tyler as fellow agent provocateur "Lana Kane"; Jessica Walter as Sterling's domineering mother and the rapacious CEO of ISIS, "Malory Archer"; Chris Parnell as the easily intimidated comptroller of ISIS, "Cyril Figgis"; Judy Greer as Malory's loquacious secretary and rising country star, "Cheryl Tunt/Cherlene"; Amber Nash as the discordant director of human resources for ISIS, "Pam Poovey"; series creator Adam Reed as the gay voice of reason at ISIS, "Ray Gillette"; and Lucky Yates as ISIS's possibly mad scientist, "Krieger."

About FX: FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel of FX Networks, a business unit of FOX Networks Group. FX Networks is comprised of FX, FXM and FXX, its newest channel, which debuted on September 2, 2013. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 97 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically-acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series, including Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans and The Bridge; the upcoming dramas Tyrant (June '14) and The Strain (July '14) the miniseries American Horror Story; the upcoming miniseries Fargo (April '14); the acclaimed hit comedy series Louie and Archer; the new animated comedy Chozen; and scripted comedies Married and You're The Worst both launching in summer of '14. The network's library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX's roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, Anger Management and, coming in 2014, Mike & Molly.

About FX Productions: FX Productions (FXP) produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, Legit, and Chozen, and the drama series The Strain (July '14). FXP co-produces the award-winning hit dramas Sons of Anarchy, Justified, and The Americans, the acclaimed drama series The Bridge, and the upcoming drama Tyrant (June '14). FXP is also co-producing the limited series Fargo starring Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, which debuts in April.

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