The Critic

1994

The Critic

7.8 | TV-PG | en | Animation

The Critic is an American prime time animated series created by writing partners Al Jean and Mike Reiss, who had previously worked as writers and showrunners on The Simpsons. The show follows the life of a 36-year-old film critic from New York named Jay Sherman, voiced by Jon Lovitz. 23 episodes were produced, first broadcast on ABC in 1994 and finishing its original run on Fox in 1995.

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Seasons & Episodes

EP10 I Can't Believe It's a Clip Show

May. 21,1995

Jay is hosting his 10th anniversary show held at Carnegie Hall where he showcases a number of movie clips from old episodes such as Jurassic Park 2, Every Which Way but Lucid, and Rabbi P.I. The show is later held hostage by a number of terrorists who threaten to blow the place up with a bomb tied to Jay's waist. Fortunately, everybody is eventually rescued by Milton Berle.

EP9 Dukerella

May. 14,1995

Alice's sister, Miranda, comes to visit them which Alice is not comfortable with. Miranda must find work in New York so she joins "Mattress in an Hour" delivering mattresses. When everybody attends a party held by Duke, Miranda falls in love with Duke but is shy because of a wrinkle. She runs out on Duke at midnight and Duke must find the woman who fits her slipper. When it turns out to be Doris, Jay must get Duke and Miranda reunited.

EP8 Frankie and Ellie Get Lost

May. 07,1995

Franklin and Eleanor celebrate their 40th anniversary by going on vacation but the plane crashes and Franklin and Eleanor find themselves marooned on an island. Back in New York, Margo and Jay find out about their disappearance and discover they have willed Jay their entire fortune which Jay decides to put to use by cleaning up New York.

EP7 Sherman of Arabia

Apr. 30,1995

At Marty's slumber party, Jay is asked to tell his story in which he got caught up in the Gulf War. Jay tells how he was attending an Iraqi film festival and eventually was thrown in jail where he escaped and lead a troop of men across the desert.

EP6 All the Duke's Men

Apr. 23,1995

When Jay helps Marty become class president, Duke decides to have Jay help him become US President.

EP5 From Chunk to Hunk

Apr. 02,1995

Jay and Marty begin to feel a little big so they enroll in a weight loss camp. Marty loses a remarkable amount of weight which makes him feel more self- confident but when he is placed as the star in a school play, he doesn't feel his skinny self is right for him. Meanwhile, Jay receives a death threat from Belgian actor Jean Paul Le Pope whose movie he panned.

EP4 A Song for Margo

Mar. 26,1995

Margo gets a new neighbor, Johnny Wrath, who is the lead singer in the rock group, "Nuns in a Blender". Margo falls in love with him but doesn't feel the relationship is right when she finds him with another girl. Meanwhile Alice tries to find a suitable preschool for Penny.

EP3 Lady Hawke

Mar. 19,1995

When Jeremy Hawke's sister, Olivia Newton Hawke, visits New York, Jay meets her and is smitten with her which puts his relationship with Alice on the line when she begins to feel left out. So Jay then must decide who he really loves.

EP2 Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice

Mar. 12,1995

After Jay attends the Academy Awards, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert break up and each rope Jay to be their new partner.

EP1 Sherman, Woman and Child

Mar. 05,1995

Jay's ratings are not doing very well and Duke is about to fire him so Jay is feeling depressed. His feelings become better when he meets a new girlfriend named Alice and her daughter Penny. Alice gives Jay tips on how to improve his show and her advice works. Jay wants to get to know Alice better but discovers she has a boyfriend whom she wants to reject but can't.

7.8 | TV-PG | en | Animation , Drama , Comedy | More Info

Released: 1994-01-26 | Released Producted By: Gracie Films , Film Roman Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

Stream Online

The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

Jon Lovitz , Christine Cavanaugh , Park Overall

Director

Ken Tsumura

Producted By

Gracie Films , Film Roman

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Cast

Jon Lovitz

as Jay Sherman (voice)

Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute Extinct Agent Toby Barks Ace & the Christmas Miracle Lacy's Christmas Do-Over The Swing of Things Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls Bachelor Lions Paws P.I.

Christine Cavanaugh

as Marty Sherman (voice)

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie Belle's Tales of Friendship Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip The Rugrats Movie 101 Dalmatians: The Series Dexter's Laboratory Cave Kids Babe Beethoven

Park Overall

as Alice Tompkins (voice)

Beer for My Horses When Andrew Came Home Katie Joplin Fifteen and Pregnant The Critic Undercover Blues House of Cards The Vanishing Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story

Reviews

gjmille When Jon Lovitz appears on screen or in cartoon character form (with good writing), the results are hilarity. Why? Because Jon is a talented performer--he can act and sing. But he's best at playing a nebbishy guy that isn't terribly lovable. It worked in the Benchwarmers, it worked in A League of Their Own, and it certainly worked in The Critic. When you steal a few Simpsons writers and actors, change the skin color of the characters, and make the humor more entertainment themed, you basically have this cartoon. Certainly those in the "Tribe" religion will also get some more of the jokes--like when Lovitz's Jay Sherman sings in Yiddish, but nevertheless The Critic was an unfortunate victim of ABC and FOX's quick dismissal of this very funny and underrated show.I will note one thing about The Critic's DVD (there were so few episodes made, the DVDs are all in one purchase): why wouldn't Lovitz be in the commentary? He was in the commentary for The Simpsons episode when Jay Sherman was on the Simpsons! And that episode's commentary was mostly focused on The Critic TV show! I don't get it. BTW--that commentary was also too funny. Lovitz unsuccessfully flirting with the episode's director, numerous product references for Jim Brooks (of which Lovitz had no stake in), and merciless mocking of Simpsons writers Al Jean and Mike Reiss. Too funny.

joan6350 The Critic was a very good show!I was so sad when it was taken off the air because I was a big fan of it and it was one of the very few shows I looked forward to seeing every single week. I am a Canadian and I try to watch Canadian TV but a few shows have come along like The Critic and The Simpsons that I thought were very good and just had to watch. Plus a lot of Canadian TV stinks so if there's nothing to watch (which happens sometimes, seems to be happening more often the last few years but that's how it goes) I'll try the U.S. stations.Jon Lovitz was great as The Critic, a fat balding slobby guy who is trying to raise his likewise fat slobby son in New York City. His mother was very domineering and his dad was crazy. His boss was a take on Ted Turner, a network owning, southerner lunatic who only cared about his bottom line.I'm sad it didn't last longer but got the DVD box set for Christmas and still haven't gotten tired of them.

sportellos The tagline for this show is one that most certainly does not apply the content.The Critic, an animated show for the older crowd, was an original and entertaining series that was shut down before it's time. It follows the story of Jay Sherman, a short pudgy, balding film critic who's job is to review bad movies for a living. Stuck with a growling boss, rich clueless stuck up parents, and almost no self-esteem, Jay tries his hardest to seem cool. This show is full of great Hollywood references, guest voices, and very funny film parodies such as "Apocalype Wow: The Musical", "A Few More Good Men" and "Forrest Gump 2: Gump Harder" just to name a few. Though there were only two seasons, this show was funny and entertaining and is most certainly worth a watch. It's available on Netflix if you're looking for it.

strife82 A few years into the Simpsons' existence (back when it was still a slightly painful family show) and before Family Guy attacked the air-waves, The Critic was launched onto an unsuspecting audience on ABC. Upon first witness, I found it to be a very funny and sarcastic show that was satirical to the bone. It took The Simpsons' humor style, threw out the sugar-coating, and added a touch of bitterness aimed at all things celebrity and New Yorkish, in the form of a cranky film critic named Jay Sherman. The movie and celebrity parodies were top-notch (the made-up films were a lot funnier than what they did at atom films.com), the humor was biting as well as sometimes a bit warm, and Jay even a cameo on the aforementioned Simpsons...all in all it was one of the best cartoons I've seen. Sadly, ABC, and subsequently FOX, didn't seem to think so and the show was sadly canceled. A while later, I was over-joyed to see it appearing on re-runs on Comedy Central, until they decided to stop showing cartoons altogether save for South Park, and, after a brief stint on atom films.com, it can live in immortality on DVD for all to see. If there are any people out there who haven't watched it, you're missing out on a great show. Back then, I'll admit, it was easily funnier than the Simpsons, and I relished every minute of it (and still do).