Andy Richter steps into comfy comedy territory in the new NBC series, “Andy Barker, P.I.”
The fictional Andy is an accountant-turned-detective; the real one is a mere actor. Still, they are kind of the same guy.
“The character (has) sort of fundamental decency,” said Jonathan Groff, the show’s co-creator.
That’s clear after someone lies to him, thumps him on the head and is about to shoot him. “He’s angry that he’s been lied to,” co-creator Conan O’Brien said. “He has kind of a Midwestern (sensibility).”
He’s an everyday schlub, a nice guy who gets overlooked. The real-life Andy knows the turf.
“I’ve sort of been cursed with a toddler’s body and a face to match,” Richter said. “I’m not going to get a lot of leading-man roles.”
It’s a useful curse. It has taken Richter from being O’Brien’s late-night sidekick to small roles in many movies and lead ones in three situation comedies.
