The 90s Adult Animated Sitcom On Streaming Was The Next Simpsons
When The Simpsons was at the height of its golden era, The Critic saw its 1994 debut on ABC and boasted a similar sense of humor to its yellow-skinned cartoon contemporary over at the Fox Network. In my personal headcanon, the Jon Lovitz-starring series functions as an unofficial Simpsons spinoff that was cancelled before it truly had a chance to flourish. While the Critic’s sense of humor can be attributed to Executive Producers Al Jean, Mike Reiss, and James L. Brooks, all of whom are associated with The Simpsons, this series stayed in its own lane while subtly satisfying Simpsons fans who needed a break from the typical family sitcom format.
Suspiciously Springfieldian
Executive producers aside, the parallels between The Critic and The Simpsons continue, as Jon Lovitz frequently made guest appearances in an ancillary capacity on the latter series as characters like Artie Ziff, Llewellyn Sinclair, and Professor Lombardo, to name a few.
The Critic centers on Jay Sherman (Jon Lovitz), a balding, overweight, and socially awkward yet elitist film critic living in New York City. Though Jay is a minor celebrity because of his review show, Coming Attractions, his personal life is an absolute mess. Recently divorced, Jay spends time with his son Marty (Christine Cavanaugh) on the weekends, and spends the rest of this time trying to forge a romantic relationship with anybody who’s willing to put up with his cynical countenance.
Occasionally, Jay will visit his eccentric, and exceedingly wealthy, adoptive parent’s estate for family dinner, where he either tosses jabs at or offers brotherly advice to their 16-year-old biological daughter, Margot, voiced by Nancy Cartwright (best known for her portrayal of Bart Simpson). Though a family dynamic is established in The Critic, the series mostly places focus on Jay’s failed romantic exploits, and his ratings-obsessed, body-building, loose cannon of a boss, Duke Phillips (Charles Napier).
Obvious Gag Overlap
The Critic has no shortage of sight-gags and running jokes that will remind you of The Simpsons if you didn’t already know the personnel involved in creating the series. From Jay’s secret conversations with his own rumbling stomach (reminiscent of Homer having conversations with his own brain) to the glances he takes at his daily planner, suggesting that his manic and depressive episodes are pre-planned, The Critic is a series that can’t be passively watched because visual jokes are just as prevalent as dialogue-driven humor in every single scene.
Similar to the chalkboard, saxophone, and couch gags found at the top of every Simpsons episode, The Critic’s introduction also features interchangeable gags in the form of short uncomfortable phone calls to Jay, and parody film reviews met with Jay’s signature catchphrase, “it stinks!”
Groening Complaining
But perhaps the most polarizing overlap can be found ahead of The Critic’s season 2 debut on the Fox Network in 1995 after its NBC cancellation. Before Jon Lovitz saw his Fox debut as Jay Sherman, he made a cameo on the legendary Simpsons episode, “A Star is Burns,” playing a yellow version of the same character living in the Simpsons universe.
Simpsons creator Matt Groening, who consistently tried to distance himself from being associated with The Critic, was not pleased when this episode was conceived, and refused to have any part in it. In fact, he made the request for his name to be taken off the credits, and he does not appear on the DVD commentary track for the episode. In Groening’s mind, he didn’t want the public to think The Critic was a direct Simpsons spinoff, and he didn’t want to tarnish his own legacy by promoting the series with a crossover episode.
It Doesn’t Stink!
GFR SCORE
The Critic may not be an “official” Simpsons spinoff, but it’s the closest thing we have despite its short run on network television. Groening may not want to be associated with the series in any way, shape, or form, but that can’t stop any of us from enjoying it anyway.
As of this writing, you can stream The Critic for free on Tubi.
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