History AnachronismStew / Archer

* In "Bloody Ferlin", Archer mentions that whoever is in the armory could be "building a Franchise/{{Gundam}} suit with bazookas for hands." The [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam first Gundam series]] was created in 1979, but the franchise was Japanese-only until the English dub of Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing premiered in 2000.

''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', according to WordOfGod, is deliberately an AnachronismStew because they wanted a ''Series/MadMen'' feel, but also wanted cell phones so characters wouldn't have to find a payphone to call someone. The show subsequently contains cars from the '50s to the '70s; computers from the '80s that are capable of internet access, reel-to-reel mainframes and dot-matrix printers; décor, clothing and hairstyles from the '60s; and modern cell phones, pop culture references and racial and gender treatment. Some fans have managed to ascertain (based off Archer's stated birth date) that the time period is, at its most coherent, a very strange alternate version of TheSeventies or TheEighties.

** Practically all airliners seen in the series are Boeing [=707s=]. While the 707 was still in widespread passenger service as recently as the early to mid Eighties, the overwhelming predominance of [=707s=] heavily suggests TheSixties or early Seventies. In particular, "Pipeline Fever" shows a 707 (or possibly the 720 short-haul version) on a New York-New Orleans flight where by the mid Seventies a more fuel efficient short-haul type such as a Boeing 727 or 737 or a Douglas DC-9 would have been much more likely, while "The Papal Chase" shows a 707 on a New York-Rome flight where a higher-capacity widebody such as a Boeing 747, Douglas DC-10 or Lockheed L-1011 would have been more likely by the late Seventies.

** In RealLife the last veteran of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI passed away in February of 2012. (Most of the characters' backstories and ages also contradict an AlternateHistory contemporary setting, but Woodhouse is perhaps the strongest argument for the setting still being earlier than TheNineties, despite all the modern references).

* Also in "Diversity Hire," [[spoiler: Conway]] says that the Chinese will pay "five times" as much as "those broke-ass Cubans," which implies a recent (i.e. at least TheNineties, if not later) setting, after China's emergence as a major economic power and Cuba's loss of Soviet patronage.

* In "Swiss Miss," Anka is seen playing a handheld videogame of some kind, suggesting the episode takes place at least as recently as TheEighties. Of course, the same episode features (presumably) Spanish terrorists heavily implied to be Communist-aligned as the main antagonists, which strongly suggests that the episode doesn't take place any ''later'' than TheEighties.

* According to IMDB, "TV's Michael Gray", of ''Series/Shazam1974'', has been in retirement from acting since 1976 yet Archer instantly recognizes his name. Moments before Archer mistakes TV's Michael Gray for ''Series/SlimGoodbody''. Mr. Goodbody: Created in 1975, last seen in 2014.

** Pam calls Krieger "clone wars" (''zing!'') during a SnarkToSnarkCombat. Though the wars are referenced in the original trilogy, it was not a common term until after 2002's [[Film/AttackOfTheClones Episode II]] and 2008's ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars''.

** Police cars in New York are 1963 Ford Galaxies but have the modern "blue on white" livery that the NYPD has used since the early '70s, license plates are the current (April 2010-on) "Empire Gold" pattern -- black band and orange NEW YORK at the top, orange background and black letters in the middle and EMPIRE STATE at the bottom.

* Krieger is explicitly stated to be a fan of the band Music/{{Rush}}, who didn't form until 1968, and his van murals are based off the albums ''Caress of Steel'' (1975), ''Fly by Night'' (1975), ''Hemispheres'' (1979) and ''Exit: Stage Left...'' (1981). In season 11, his van is based on Music/JudasPriest's ''Music/ScreamingForVengeance'' (1982).

''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', according to WordOfGod, is deliberately an AnachronismStew because they wanted a ''Series/MadMen'' feel, but also wanted cell phones so characters wouldn't have to find a payphone to call someone. The show subsequently contains cars from the '50s to the '70s; computers from the '80s that are capable of internet access, reel-to-reel mainframes and dot-matrix printers; décor, clothing and hairstyles from the '60s; and modern cell phones, pop culture references and racial and gender treatment. Some fans have managed to ascertain (based off Archer's stated birth date), the time period is, at its most coherent, a very strange alternate version of TheSeventies or TheEighties.

** In a later episode, Pam and Archer have a conversation where they mention the Creator/MarvelComics superheroes Cypher and Comicbook/{{Gambit}}. The two characters were created in 1984 and 1990, respectively.

* In "Honeypot," Archer briefly talks about the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk, a character created in 1962.

* Creator/BurtReynolds appears with silver hair, like he has in the present day.

''Archer'', according to WordOfGod, is deliberately an AnachronismStew because they wanted a ''Series/MadMen'' feel, but also wanted cell phones so characters wouldn't have to find a payphone to call someone. The show subsequently contains cars from the '50s to the '70s; computers from the '80s that are capable of internet access, reel-to-reel mainframes and dot-matrix printers; décor, clothing and hairstyles from the '60s; and modern cell phones, pop culture references and racial and gender treatment. Some fans have managed to ascertain (based off Archer's stated birth date), the time period is, at its most coherent, a very strange alternate version of TheSeventies or TheEighties. Here are some more specific examples, though:

** "Lowjacked" takes place on an airplace not unlike an Airbus A380, which began production in 2003.

* A truly bizarre juxtaposition in ''Archer Vice: Baby Shower'' involves the mention of Krieger using cryptocurrency, which the world was introduced to in 2009...on computers that look ridiculously ancient by today's standards and appear to just consist of green text on a black background.

* In ''Reignition Sequence'', Cheryl compares Lana to [[ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Groot]]. While Groot debuted in an obscure story in 1960, his entrance into mainstream pop culture didn't occur until around [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy 2014]].

* In "Shots," Archer claims to have blown the whistle on Charles Van Doren cheating on ''Series/TwentyOne'', which occurred in the 1956 season, but the scandal broke when the evidence came to light in mid-1958.

* In "Shots," Archer claims to have blown the whistle on Charles Van Doren cheating on ''Series/TwentyOne'', which occurred in the 1956 season, but the evidence came to light in mid-1958.

* In the Season 4 premier, Archer mentions the old ''Series/{{Shazam}}'' live-action show, which ran from 1974-1977. He also mentions ComicBook/SheHulk, who debuted in 1980.

* According to IMDB, "TV's Michael Gray", of ''Series/{{Shazam}}'', has been in retirement from acting since 1976 yet Archer instantly recognizes his name. Moments before Archer mistakes TV's Michael Gray for ''Series/SlimGoodbody''. Mr. Goodbody: Created in 1975, last seen in 2014.

* The RCMP officers in "The Limited" ask the passengers to have their passports ready, and Sterling is stranded in Montréal because he burnt his passport in "Midnight Ron." Passport checks on the Canada-US border were required starting in 2008. The RCMP also use Webley Mk. IV revolvers in .38 S&W. The RCMP never issued Webley Mk IV revolvers, instead using Colt New Service revolvers [[note]]chambered in .45 Colt, .45 ACP and .455 Webley, depending on the region in which it was issued[[/note]] from its formation in 1920 from a merger of the Royal North-West Mounted Police and the Dominion Police, which were replaced in the 1950s with Smith and Wesson Model 10 revolvers, which were replaced by SIG Sauer P226 and Smith and Wesson 5946 semiautomatic pistols in the late '80s.

* In "Bloody Ferlin", Archer mentions that whoever is in the armory could be "building a Franchise/{{Gundam}} suit with bazookas for hands." The [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam first Gundam series]] was created in 1979, but was Japanese-only until the English dub of Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing premiered in 2000.

* Police cars are 1963 Ford Galaxies but have the modern "blue on white" livery that the NYPD has used since the early '70s, license plates are the current (April 2010-on) "Empire Gold" pattern -- black band and orange NEW YORK at the top, orange background and black letters in the middle and EMPIRE STATE at the bottom.
* Cadillacs are all 1967 models, while Lincoln limos are 1966 Continentals, but also appear with 1974 Mark IV Continentals.

* Practically all airliners seen in the series are Boeing [=707s=]. While the 707 was still in widespread passenger service as recently as the early to mid Eighties, the overwhelming predominance of [=707s=] heavily suggests TheSixties or early Seventies. In particular, "Pipeline Fever" shows a 707 (or possibly the 720 short-haul version) on a New York-New Orleans flight where by the mid Seventies a more fuel efficient short-haul type such as a Boeing 727 or 737 or a Douglas DC-9 would have been much more likely, while "The Papal Chase" shows a 707 on a New York-Rome flight where a higher-capacity widebody such as a Boeing 747, Douglas DC-10 or Lockheed L-1011 would have been more likely by the late Seventies.
** A 747 is seen in the background in "Diversity Hire," implying that the episode takes place no earlier than the type's service entry date of 1970.

** And there’s a picture of Stalin on Jakov’s wall, which would be ''extremely'' surprising after 1956.

-->'''Malory''': What year do you think this is?\\

* Per "Deadly Velvet: Part 2," John Huston is still alive. He died in 1987.

** And there’s a picture of Stalin on Jakov’s wall, which would be _extremely_ surprising after 1956.

* Krieger is explicitly stated to be a fan of the band Music/{{Rush}}, who didn't form until 1968, and his van murals are based off the albums ''Caress of Steel'' (1975), ''Fly by Night'' (1975), ''Hemispheres'' (1979) and ''Exit: Stage Left...'' (1981).

* {{Flashback}}s to Lana's college years have a '60's-'70's hippie aesthetic, complete with Lana sporting bell bottom jeans and a [[FunnyAfro huge afro]].

* According to IMDB, "TV's Michael Gray", of ''Series/{{Shazam}}'', has been in retirement from acting since 1976 yet Archer instantly recognizes his name. Moments before Archer mistakes TV's Michael Gray for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slim_Goodbody Slim Goodbody]]. Mr. Goodbody: Created in 1975, last seen in 2014.

** Speaking Of New Orleans, Archer and Lana don't experience any harassment due to Lana by being black, indicating that it is probably the modern era, or close to it.

** Also in pipeline fever, Lana doesn't face any apparent racism when she and Archer travels to Louisiana.

''Archer'', according to WordOfGod, is deliberately an AnachronismStew because they wanted a ''Series/MadMen'' feel, but also wanted cell phones so characters wouldn't have to find a payphone to call someone. The show subsequently contains cars from the '50s to the '70s; computers from the '80s that are capable of internet access, reel-to-reel mainframes and dot-matrix printers; décor, clothing and hairstyles from the '60s; and modern cell phones, pop culture references and racial and gender treatment. Some fans have managed to ascertain (based off Archer's stated birth date), the time period is, at its most coherent, a very strange alternate version of TheSeventies or TheEighties.