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The Critic

1994 – 1995Show2 seasons23 episodesTV-PG

AnimationComedy
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic786.8Rotten Tomatoes85%81%

A nostalgic, campy animated series about show business and pop culture, with standout dialogue.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares, warmth or suspense.

Shows with

Episodes

2 seasons · 23 episodes · best: S2E2 "Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice" 8.6

Episodes

7.7
7.8
6.2

Story

It stinks!

Jay Sherman is a TV movie critic who is forced to review the most pathetic films which he always rates as "It stinks." In addition to the film parodies, the show also deals with his personal life: working for a tyrannical media mogul boss, his lovelife and his family.

Feels like

  • Hollywood Satire
  • Sharp Wit & Wordplay
  • Adult Animated Comedy
  • Meta-Cultural Commentary
  • Cynical Industry Critique
  • Pop Culture References
  • Character-Driven Humor
  • Provocative & Irreverent

Cast

24 of 39 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Bret Haaland, Lauren MacMullan, Rich Moore
Written by
Mike Reiss, Al Jean, Steve Tompkins
Produced by
James L. Brooks, Mike Reiss, Al Jean
Music by
Alf Clausen

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 26, 1994 · May 21, 1995 · Ended

First aired
January 26, 1994
Last aired
May 21, 1995
Status
Ended
Length
2 seasons · 23 episodes
Age rating
TV-PG
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content, Violence, Drug Use
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
3 countries

Tropes

There Was a Door, Chained to a Bed, Samus Is a Girl +9

  • There Was a Door
  • Chained to a Bed
  • Samus Is a Girl
  • "Lion King" Lift
  • Bait-and-Switch
  • Always a Live Transmission
  • Sealed with a Kiss
  • Lighter and Softer
  • Island Help Message
  • Epic Fail
  • Not Distracted by the Sexy
  • Diet Episode

12 of 285 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Critic?"

Questions about The Critic

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Critic?

The RokuPlexTubi TVHowdy

In the United States, The Critic streams on Howdy, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Plex, and Tubi TV. It also streams in 1 other country.

Is The Critic worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 78). Season 3 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 6.2 against 7.8 for the best season.

Which season of The Critic is best?

Season 2, with an IMDb average of 7.8. Season 3 is the weakest at 6.2. The highest-rated episode is Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice (season 2, episode 2) at 8.6, and the lowest is I Can't Believe It's a Clip Show (season 2, episode 10) at 6.4.

Is The Critic okay for kids?

TV-PGStrong languageSexual contentViolenceDrug use

Better for older viewers: it's rated TV-PG in the United States for strong language, sexual content, violence, and drug use, and the viewing guide lists it for adults.

How long does it take to watch The Critic?

8 h

About 8 hours: 23 episodes in 2 seasons of about 22 minutes each, aired from 1994 to 1995.

Will The Critic make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly sharp wit (9 of 10) and satire (9 of 10).

Is The Critic plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (7 of 10) more than on its plot.