Recap / The Critic

This is the list of episodes for the animated series The Critic, which aired on ABC from January 26, 1994 to July 20, 1994. After which it then moved to Fox, where it aired from March 5, 1995 to May 21, 1995. After which, it had a brief revival as Webisodes on Atom Films/Shockwave, which aired from December 2000 to September 2001.

The series centers on Jay Sherman, a fat, ugly, miserably divorced film critic trying to be a good father to his son, Marty, a good son to his adopted parents, and stay sane in a world where people's taste in entertainment is spiraling the drain.

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Season One (1994)

1. "Pilot": A short, balding, overweight, divorced film critic named Jay Sherman gets a second chance at love when a gorgeous movie star named Valerie Fox falls for him, but it may all go to pieces if Jay doesn't give Valerie a glowing review for her latest movie, the Basic Instinct-inspired erotic thriller, Kiss of Death.
2. "Miserable": Jay has a relationship with a film projectionist, who ends up abducting him.
3. "Marty's First Date": While at career day with Jay, Marty falls for a Cuban girl named Carmen.
4. "Dial 'M' For Mother": To improve his image with TV audiences, Jay is featured in a TV special, but things fall apart when he yells at his mother.
5. "A Little Deb Will Do Ya": Margo is forced into participating in a debutante ball. Jay gets into a ratings war with Humphrey the Hippo.
6. "Eyes on the Prize": After getting fired, Jay attempts to save his career by winning the Pulitzer Prize.
7. "Every Doris Has Her Day": Jay befriends his make-up artist Doris, and the two wonder if she's the mother that gave him up for adoption.
8. "Marathon Mensch": After his masculinity is called into question when Doris rescues him from a burning building, Jay participates in the New York Marathon.
9. "L.A. Jay": After writing a screenplay, Jay heads to Los Angeles to get it pitched, but the executive who buys his screenplay (voiced by Billy Crystal) wants him to write the third part to the famed Ghostchasers franchise.
10. "Dr. Jay": Jay must find a cure for Duke after he's been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
11. "A Day at the Races and a Night at the Opera": After Marty bombs during field day at school, he takes up guitar.
12. "Uneasy Rider": After being forced to plug chewing tobacco on his show, Jay quits Coming Attractions to be a truck driver.
13. "A Pig Boy and His Dog": In the first season finale, Eleanor (who feels her life has become dull and meaningless) writes a children's book called "The Fat Little Pig," featuring a character based on Jay. Meanwhile, Jay adopts a Great Dane puppy, who grows up too fast and becomes a nuisance.

Season Two (1995)

1. "Sherman, Woman and Child": In the second season premiere, Jay worries that he may be fired due to Coming Attraction's low ratings and Duke suddenly being nice to him. He then befriends a single mother from The South named Alice, and develops feelings for her after she tries to help him improve his life (and he, hers). However, Alice's adulterous, country-singing husband Cyrus has returned and wants her back.
2. "Sherman of Arabia": At Marty's slumber party, Jay tells the story about his experiences in Iraq during The Gulf War (the early 1990s one).
3. "A Song for Margo": Margo starts dating rock star Johnny Wrath. Alice tries to find a new preschool for Penny.
4. "From Chunk to Hunk": At weight-loss camp, Marty loses a tremendous amount of weight, which makes him one of the most popular kids in school. Meanwhile, Jay fears for his life when an action star threatens to kill him.
5. "Lady Hawke": Jay dates Jeremy Hawke's sister Olivia, which causes some strain in his relationship with Alice, whom realizes she loves Jay.
6. "Frankie and Ellie Get Lost": After Frank and Eleanor are presumed dead in a plane crash, Jay uses the inheritance money to make New York a better place.
7. "Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice": Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert split up, and both attempt to rope Jay into being their partners.
8. "All the Duke's Men": After Jay helps Marty win student council president with his speech, Duke decides to run for President of the United States^note even though, at the time, it was odd for a businessman with no political experience to run.
9. "Dukerella": Alice's sister, a Southern belle named Miranda moves to New York to find a rich man to marry, where she meets Duke at a costume ball^note even though "I Can't Believe It's A Clip Show" is broadcast as the final episode, this is actually the final episode produced. "I Can't Believe It's A Clip Show" was temporarily banned because of the Oklahoma City bombing.
10. "I Can't Believe It's a Clip Show": A Clip Show where Jay hosts a 10th anniversary show for Coming Attractions, where everyone gets held hostage by terrorists.

Season Three (2000-2001)

1. "X-Men": Jay discusses the rise and fall in his career and introduces his new make-up woman, Jennifer.
2. "Mission: Impossible 2, Gladiator, Gone in 60 Seconds": In a beach theme show, Jay reviews the best movies from 2000 and Arnold Schwarzenegger stops by.
3. "Pokemon 2000, The Patriot": Jay shows a nicer side so he can get a date with Jennifer while reviewing movies with Pikachu.
4. "Perfect Storm, Star Wars, Titanic, The Sixth Sense": Jay takes Jennifer on a date where he talks about the movies he missed out on reviewing.
5. "Out of Africa, Silence Of The Lambs, On the Waterfront": Jay gives his take on the Oscars.
6. "Sleepy Hollow, Pulp Fiction": Jay discuss Sleepy Hollow (1999) and Pulp Fiction with Jennifer at her apartment.
7. "Cast Away, The Legend of Bagger Vance": Jay reviews the best movies of 2000.
8. "Harry Potter, Planet of the Apes": Jay talks about upcoming films and goes on a nice romantic date with Jennifer.
9. "Broadway": Jay gives his take on shows on Broadway.
10. "Pearl Harbor": Waiting in line at a theater, Jay reviews Pearl Harbor and gets mistaken for Shrek.

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