Tiki on TV: “Archer” on FX Edition

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By now I think we’ve had the following one-sided conversation with practically all our friends and acquaintances: “Do you watch ‘Archer’? You-have-to-watch-Archer-it’s-so-funny-you’ll-love-it-the-first-season-is-on-Netflix-Instant-go-home-and-watch-it-now!”

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There’s a warning before each episode telling you there’ll be violence, strong language and adult situations. What more could you want? The title character, Sterling Archer, is like James Bond in cartoon form but way more narcissistic and cocky. (Phrasing!) And also hilarious, as are the rest of the oddballs employed with him at the ISIS spy agency.

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There’s a mod 1960’s vibe to the show that I of course enjoy. The ISIS office looks straight out of “Mad Men” — and not just because these characters are also constantly boozing. Sterling’s mother/boss, Malory Archer, has a chair that looks like a variation of the Eames Lounge. The art director talked about his mid-century modern influences in this interview on the Archer production blog.

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You can also spot this Moai bookend on the shelf in a lot of the episodes. (There’s your tiki connection, my friends.)

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New episodes of “Archer” season three start airing Thursday, January 19 at 10 p.m. on FX. Tune in and spare yourself from me bugging you about it next time we meet. Then we can just talk about how great it is instead.

Tiki on TV: “What Happened Last Night?” Jack in the Box Commercial

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I’ll just admit that I’m phoning in this last post of the year (but I’ve got some awesome stuff in the works for 2012). I stumbled across this photo in my archives last night — it’s from a Jack in the Box commercial from several months ago dubbed “What Happened Last Night?” (Check it out on YouTube.)

Straight out of “The Hangover,” these two disheveled gentlemen wake up with no memories of the past night of debauchery. Their only clues are a receipt and the accompanying hamburger wrappers and trash. (I can only assume they were drinking rum, as there’s also a tiki mug on the table. Aren’t I a regular Sherlock Holmes?) Suddenly they realize they’re not alone…

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Out of all the fast food mascots you could find in your living room, I guess Jack wouldn’t be so bad. Anybody would be better than The King

Tiki on American Dad: Part Two

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Animators seem to enjoy sneaking tikis into scenes, and I enjoy spotting them. (A few examples include The Simpsons, South Park, a previous episode of American Dad, and MTV’s new show Good Vibes, which features a tiki bar decorated with art from Derek Yaniger and Tiki Tony.)

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On last Sunday’s episode of American Dad, entitled “A Ward Show,” Stan and Francine sign over custody of their teenage son to Roger, the Roswell alien that lives with them. In celebration of their empty nest, they head to Flash Flood Acres, the largest water park in the universe! The ticket huts were covered in thatch and bamboo and flanked by big tikis.

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But there is at least one tiki-themed water park beyond the realm of cartoons. According to James Teitelbaum’s Tiki Road Trip, our own Hurricane Harbor in Valencia has three Moai in an area called Tiki Falls. It’s been at least a decade since I ventured out to Magic Mountain so I don’t really recall. Perhaps a visit should be in store next summer?