Adam Reed
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}{{Infobox person
| name = Adam Reed
| image = Adam Reed at San Diego ComicCon.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Reed at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con
| birth_name = Adam Brooks Reed
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|01|08}}
| birth_place = Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
| occupation = Voice actor, animator, screenwriter, producer, director
| alma_mater = University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| years_active = 1994–present
| notable_works = Sealab 2021, Frisky Dingo, 12 Oz. Mouse, Archer
| homepage = {{URL|floydcountyproductions.tv}}
}}
Adam Brooks Reed (born January 8, 1970){{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VHFD-DJP |title=North Carolina, Birth Index, 1800-2000," index, FamilySearch), Adam Brooks Reed, 1970 |publisher=Familysearch.org |access-date=2016-01-09}} is an American voice actor, animator, screenwriter, television producer and television director. Reed created, writes, and voice acts the FX/FXX adult animated comedy series Archer, which premiered in September 2009. He also voice acted, wrote, directed and produced the television series Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo, with his co-creator and creative partner Matt Thompson.
Early work
Reed graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992 with a degree in English.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/tv/article35698614.html|title=Adam Reed, cartoon man of mystery}} He was hired as an intern at Turner Broadcasting thanks to his sister's connections, where his first job consisted of reviewing episodes of The Flintstones to be distributed on VHS as part of a promotion with Little Debbie, developing both an encyclopedic knowledge and appreciation for the series in the process.{{cite web |author1=Adult Swim Podcast |title=Adam Reed (Co-creator of Sealab 2021) (14:23)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyELlzR8q80&t=863 |website=youtube.com |publisher=Adult Swim |language=en |format=video |date=September 11, 2019}} Reed would eventually meet his future creative partner Matt Thompson, who was working in the on-air department as an associate producer at the time. The two soon collaborated on various Cartoon Network On-Air projects where they were credited together as "Butterbean."{{cite web |author1=Adult Swim Podcast |title=Adam Reed (Co-creator of Sealab 2021) (25:06)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyELlzR8q80&t=25m06s |website=youtube.com |publisher=Adult Swim |language=en |format=video |date=September 11, 2019}} In 1994, Thompson pitched High Noon Toons as a mid-day programming block for the network. High Noon Toons was hosted by cowboy hand puppets Haas (Thompson) and Lil' Jo (Reed), both referencing characters on Bonanza. This culminated in a primetime special series, Hoot'Nanny, where Reed and Thompson traveled to various European cities to shoot footage for the special as Haas and Li'l Jo. The two were frequently drunk during filming. Once in 1995, the duo were reprimanded for lighting one of the prop sets on fire.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dw8AAAAAMBAJ&q=high+noon+toons+haas&pg=PA140 |title=Atlanta Magazine, Oct. 2005, pg. 140 |date= October 2005|access-date=2014-05-29}}
In 1995, Reed was told to write the live action segments for Carrot Top's A.M. Mayhem, a two-hour morning block of cartoons hosted by Scott "Carrot Top" Thompson. Reed described the experience as "a nightmare," placing most of the blame on Thompson's manager, who he described as "an unfunny person approving your jokes."{{cite web |author1=Adult Swim Podcast |title=Adam Reed (Co-creator of Sealab 2021) (25:49)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyELlzR8q80&t=25m49s |website=youtube.com |publisher=Adult Swim |language=en |format=video |date=September 11, 2019}} It was during this time where he and Matt Thompson came up with the idea for what would eventually become Sealab 2021, but the network wanted Reed to continue writing for A.M. Mayhem. In response, Reed resigned from Turner. Thompson resigned shortly after.{{cite web |author1=Adult Swim Podcast |title=Adam Reed (Co-creator of Sealab 2021) (24:16)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyELlzR8q80&t=24m16s |website=youtube.com |publisher=Adult Swim |language=en |format=video |date=September 11, 2019}} Prior to leaving, both stole the source footage material for Sealab 2020 from the network.
Reed and Thompson moved to New York, where they would spend a year working production in the "sordid underbelly" of daytime talk shows.[https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/archer/s6-media-guide.pdf Official Archer Season 6 Guide PDF] Soon they were working for Showtime, and "making more money than we ever thought possible," according to Reed. During this period, the duo produced two amateur pilots for Sealab in their spare time using the stolen footage, which they would later send unsolicited to Cartoon Network's then vice president of development, Mike Lazzo. Due to their boss at Showtime having an unforeseen accident, Reed and Thompson suddenly find themselves unemployed. In response, Reed booked a getaway trip to Europe. As he was about to leave for the airport, Lazzo called Reed wanting to greenlight Sealab.{{cite web |author1=Adult Swim Podcast |title=Adam Reed (Co-creator of Sealab 2021) (28:04)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyELlzR8q80&t=28m04s |website=youtube.com |publisher=Adult Swim |language=en |format=video |date=September 11, 2019}}
Companies
Reed and Thompson formed 70/30 Productions when they created Sealab 2021, one of the first original series for Adult Swim. The company's name came from the plan that Reed would do 70% of the writing and 30% of the producing, with Thompson doing the reverse.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dw8AAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110 | title=Atlanta Magazine, Oct. 2005, pg. 110 | date=October 2005 | access-date=2020-02-13}}
The pair became known for their work on a number of other Adult Swim projects, including Frisky Dingo, which aired for several years after Sealab 2021 was cancelled.{{cite web|url=http://www.fanbolt.com/headline/10837/Exclusive:_Adam_Reed_On_The_Origins_Of_FX%27s_%27Archer%27|title=Exclusive: Adam Reed On The Origins Of FX's 'Archer'|publisher=Fanbolt|date=March 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822100227/http://www.fanbolt.com/headline/10837/Exclusive%3A_Adam_Reed_On_The_Origins_Of_FX%27s_%27Archer%27|archive-date=August 22, 2011}}
In 2009, Reed and Thompson closed 70/30 Productions and formed Floyd County Productions to produce Reed's new project, the FX/FXX series Archer. The company not only develops exclusive programming but also creates content for other media, including the television shows Atlanta, Legion, Fargo, Goliath and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In 2020, After numerous years of hard work, Reed decided to officially retire and sold the remainder of the company to Thompson.
''Archer''
After the cancellation of Frisky Dingo in 2008, Reed took a vacation to Spain to brainstorm ideas for a new project. His experience traversing the Vía de la Plata, and people-watching in Plaza Mayor in nearby Salamanca, enabled him to conceptualize his vision of Archer.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/11/new-fx-series-archer-puts-animated-twist-on-spy-genre/|title=New FX Series "Archer" Puts an Animated Twist on the Spy Genre|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=January 11, 2010 | first=Jamin | last=Brophy-Warren|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110003250/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/11/new-fx-series-archer-puts-animated-twist-on-spy-genre/|archive-date=January 10, 2018|url-status=live}} Reed recalled in an interview:
{{cquote|So I sat on the Plaza Mayor for three days{{snd}} drinking either coffee or beer or gin, depending on the time of day{{snd}} surrounded by these Spanish women who seemed both unaware and completely aware of their beauty. Occasionally they would glance over{{snd}} and catch me gaping at them{{snd}} and just smile at me like, "I know, right?" And for three days, I couldn't even splutter "Buenos dias" to any of them{{snd}} not once. And thus was Sterling Archer born{{snd}} he would've absolutely sauntered over to a table full of those women and sat down and ordered an entire case of cava or whatever.{{cite news| title = 'Archer's' Adam Reed: If Spanish Women Liked Me, I Never Would Have Created This Show | date = May 14, 2014 | first = Adam | last = Reed | work = The Hollywood Reporter | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/archers-adam-reed-spanish-women-703487|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110003538/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/archers-adam-reed-spanish-women-703487|archive-date=January 10, 2018|url-status=live}}}}
Nevertheless, he believed developing a sitcom with the theme of global espionage was inevitable given his proclivity for adventure-driven comedy. Archer was originally pitched under the working title Duchess.{{cite book |last = Holman |first = Neal |title = The Art of Archer |date = December 6, 2016 |publisher = HarperCollins |isbn = 978-0062484130|page=3}}
Archer draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including the James Bond franchise, OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006), and The Pink Panther franchise.{{cite news| title = Adam Reed| date = February 24, 2011 | first = Vlada | last = Gelman | work = The A.V. Club | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/archers-adam-reed-spanish-women-703487|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110003538/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/archers-adam-reed-spanish-women-703487|archive-date=January 10, 2018|url-status=live}} [https://www.avclub.com/adam-reed-1798224349 Alt URL] The show's hallmarks include reference-heavy humor, rapid-fire dialogue, and meta-comedy. Archer is produced using limited animation and takes its visual style from mid-century comic art. The cast members record their lines individually, and the show regularly employs guest actors and actresses for supporting characters. There have been 145 episodes broadcast in the show's history.
Archer has received positive reviews from critics and won awards, including four Primetime Emmy Awards, four Critics Choice Awards, and three Clio Awards. The series has also received 15 Annie Award nominations, among others, for outstanding achievement in animation, writing, direction, and voice acting.
Filmography
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1994–95
| Lil' Jo | Also writer and producer |
| 2000–05
| Dr. Virjay, Mardock, Various | Also co-creator, writer and executive producer |
| 2005–07; 2018
| Shark | Actor; 22 episodes |
| 2006–08
| Killface, Xander Crews / Awesome X, Ronnie, Wendell T. Stamps, Nearl Crews | Also co-creator, writer and executive producer |
| 2008
| {{N/A}} | Also co-creator, writer and executive producer |
| 2007
| Beauregard Beauxregard VIII | Pilot; actor |
| 2008–09
| King Randor, Tony Stark / Iron Man, NASCAR President, Jerry Lawler | Actor; 3 episodes |
| 2009–23
| Archer | Ray Gillette, Bilbo, Captain Reynaud | Also creator, director (season 1–6), writer (season 1–10) and executive producer |
| 2012
| rowspan="2" {{N/A}} | Executive producer |
| 2014
| Chozen | Executive producer |
Awards and honors
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0994488}}
- https://www.floydcountyproductions.tv/
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, Adam}}
Category:20th-century American artists
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:20th-century American male writers
Category:20th-century American screenwriters
Category:21st-century American artists
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:21st-century American screenwriters
Category:American comedy writers
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male television writers
Category:American male voice actors
Category:American television directors
Category:American television producers
Category:American television writers
Category:Animators from North Carolina
Category:Male actors from North Carolina
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners
Category:Screenwriters from North Carolina