Product Details

• Actors: Andy Richter, Paget Brewster, Irene Molloy, Jonathan Slavin, James Patrick Stuart
• Directors: Andy Ackerman, Bryan Gordon, Jay Chandrasekhar, John Fortenberry, Lee Shallat Chemel
• Writers: Bryan Behar, Dave Jeser
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Dubbed: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: March 24, 2009
• Run Time: 417 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001PKHS6I
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,467 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Andy Richter Controls the Universe: The Complete Series" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The DVD universe is now a far brighter and happier place with the long-awaited release of this absurdly funny workplace comedy. Andy Richter Controls the Universe was sadly short-lived, but it has amassed a cult following arguably as devoted as the Arrested Development crowd. Andy Richter stars as Andy, a Walter Mitty-esque writer who lives the surreal life as a writer of technical manuals for a Chicago conglomerate. Andy is prone to fantasies, daydreams, flashbacks and inspired non-sequitor bits of nonsense, such as wearing a coat stuffed with puppies in a bid for audience acceptance, putting "King of the Penguins" on his list of career goals, or conjuring up the "Broadway version" of a boring office conversation. The lightning in a bottle ensemble puts a fresh spin on stock office characters. Paget Brewster manages to be wonderfully funny while not sacrificing authority as Jessica, Andy's tightly-wound, career-oriented boss ("Coffee should be drinking me"). John Patrick Stewart is Keith, whose Jude Law-like handsomeness affords him all of life's little perks (in one of Andy's reveries, Keith is presented with an envelope full of money from admiring co-workers). Jonathan Slavin is Byron, a socially awkward illustrator who shares Andy's office. Irene Molloy is Wendy, the sweet and lovely new receptionist, whom Andy adores, but who is dating Keith. They are exceedingly likable company. Andy Richter Controls the Universe deftly skewers corporate culture, as in the episode, "We're All the Same, Only Different," in which Andy must take sensitivity training after making remarks about the Irish that offend a black Irish-American co-worker. But the show really takes flight with its sillier plots, as when cash-strapped Wendy participates in a drug-testing program that lowers her voice to intimidating Demi Moore levels, or when Andy is blackmailed by Jessica's bratty nephew over a Marilu Henner sex tape. "Crazy in Rio" boasts an hilarious guest turn by Conan O'Brien as a deranged executive given to gloves made of cotton candy and duct-tape weddings. A boon for this series' devoted fans are four very funny unaired episodes as well as a retrospective featuring new interviews with all of the core cast members. Andy Richter Controls the Universe is thrillingly off-center. The original series title was "Anything Can Happen," and in this series, it's true. There is perhaps no better series epitaph than words spoken by Jessica in the Conan episode: "I feel truly privileged to have witnessed whatever that was." --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

Andy Richter Controls the Universe was touted as “the funniest new sitcom of the spring” (2002) by TIME magazine and declared by US Magazine to have “scaled new heights.” Set in Chicago, the half hour comedy chronicles the day to day happenings of Andy Richter, an aspiring short story writer working for a large corporation writing “how to” manuals. Andy is constantly thinking about possibilities and how every moment in life could just as easily go another way.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the all-time best sitcoms January 27, 2009

By Ross Morrison

I also never thought this would see the light of day, after it was timeslot-mangled and unceremoniously canceled by FOX. When I tell people it's in my list of top 10 sitcoms of all time they look at me like I just landed in a spaceship, but it's true (not the spaceship part, the top 10 part.) Fantastic cast, great writing, great use of gimmicky concept. I can't wait to get my hands on this.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Shows Ever February 12, 2009

By Katyna K. Smith

It's hard to describe Andy Richter Controls the Universe. It seems as if several shows that have sprung up on television in recent years have "borrowed" mightily from Universe. Scrubs, Arrested Development, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 30 Rock...I think all these shows owe a debt to Universe.

Andy Richter is the most average fellow on the outside, but what goes on in his head is so bizarre and hilarious that words cannot do justice to this gem of a show. Fox did its usual job of switching the show to several different nights, never allowing an audience to develop. For the few of us that did watch the show, it was a delight and a treat.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray! January 27, 2009

By Kent J. Smythe VINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

I never thought this would be released on DVD but thank goodness it will be. The first episode of this series is the best first show I've ever seen,it just blew my mind and even though it would seem hard to follow up,they did a great job with the rest of this wonderful short lived series. I can't wait to own this! Another example of one that the masses just missed and it's their loss.