The Critic 

Jay Sherman is a New York film critic who has to review films he doesn't like for a living.

Creators:

Al Jean, Mike Reiss

Stars:

Jon Lovitz, Nick Jameson, Maurice LaMarche

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jon Lovitz	...	Jay Sherman / ... 33 episodes, 1994-2001
Nick Jameson	...	Various Characters / ... 33 episodes, 1994-2001
Maurice LaMarche	...	Jeremy Hawke / ... 33 episodes, 1994-2001
Nancy Cartwright	...	Various Characters / ... 23 episodes, 1994-1995
Christine Cavanaugh	...	Marty Sherman / ... 23 episodes, 1994-1995
Gerrit Graham	...	Franklin Sherman / ... 23 episodes, 1994-1995
Doris Grau	...	Doris Grossman / ... 23 episodes, 1994-1995
Judith Ivey	...	Eleanor Sherman 23 episodes, 1994-1995
Charles Napier	...	Duke Phillips / ... 23 episodes, 1994-1995
Kath Soucie	...	Various Characters 23 episodes, 1994-1995

Storyline

Jay Sherman is an overweight and somewhat snobbish New York TV movie critic who is forced to review the most pathetic films to which is he always says, "It stinks." In addition to the film parodies, the show also deals with his professional life working for his tyrannical media mogul boss and his personal life with his friends and family. In a world that seems determined to snub him both in the asinine arts he has to endure and his own difficult relationships, Jay gets along as best he can, while enjoying life's bright spots.

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Plot Keywords:

critic | jay sherman | talk show host | movie spoof | movie review | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Atomshockwave

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

El crítico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Television, Film Roman Productions, Flinch Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

522 min 30 min (23 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert famously turned down offers to guest star on TV shows and in movies because they felt it would have been a conflict of interest. But this turned out to be the exception and this is the only show in which they guest starred together. The episode was called "Siskel and Ebert and Jay and Alice" and the story is a parody of Sleepless in Seattle (1993) in which Jay and Alice attempt to patch things up between the duo when one of their verbal feuds causes them to split up.

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Quotes

[End Credits]
Usher: Excuse me, sir. The show's over.
Jay Sherman: Is the snack bar still open?

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Crazy Credits

At the beginning of each episode (just before the opening sequence) there is a scene of Jay in bed asleep. The phone rings or the alarm clock goes off and a different person is on the other end to say something that ruins Jay's morning. For example, in the first episode: "Jay this is your mother, your father and I are taking you out of our will. We feel you already have enough money. Oh yes, and happy birthday."

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Connections

Featured in Atop the Fourth Wall: 22 Brides #1 (2009)

User Reviews

How could they take this off the air?

I can't believe this only lasted a few years. This was, hands down, one of the best animated shows I have ever seen. The comedy was somewhat remniscent of "Sienfeld", the only differences being that "The Critic" is not painfully boring and actually has a plot to it.

The entire cast is given good lines, much kudos to the writers. And I love the cameos by Orson Welles. Especially the fishsticks thing.

"They're even better raw!"