The Critic is still an underrated animated masterpiece, and it’s streaming for free on Tubi
“The Critic,” a short-lived 1994 animated series, has earned recognition as an underrated masterpiece despite its initial brief run. The show features Jon Lovitz voicing Jay Sherman, a cynical film critic whose sharp observations and comedic misadventures form the basis for the series’ distinctive humor. Known for its sharp writing and absurdist comedy, the show features countless memorable jokes that have remained cultural touchstones for those who discovered it.
One standout example of the show’s comedic genius appears when Jay uses a life-sized cardboard cutout of himself to promote his memoir in stores, complete with a mechanical arm waving the book—a gag so perfectly executed that viewers instantly reference it whenever encountering overzealous book promotions in media interviews.
The series is now available to stream for free on Tubi, making this underrated gem accessible to new generations of viewers. The show’s clever writing, distinctive voice acting, and satirical take on film criticism continue to resonate, cementing its status as a comedy classic worthy of rediscovery.