Sometimes the best television shows are the ones that you’ve never heard of. This is probably because the show never had a chance. Meet Jay Sherman, a 36-year-old divorcee who makes his living as a film critic on cable television. The show only lasted two seasons, but it may be one of the most underrated animated shows ever made. Here's a glance at what made the show great and where you can catch old episodes.
Jon Lovitz Roles
The show stars Jon Lovitz as the voice of Jay Sherman. The show originally aired on ABC and was created by the creators of The Simpsons. Incidentally, the Jay Sherman character once made an appearance on and episode of The Simpsons after The Critic was cancelled. Sherman’s character was short and overweight which, much like Homer Simpson, became the root of many jokes.
Jay works for Duke Phillips, a network owner that is a spoof of Ted Turner. He is the adopted child of Franklin and Eleanor Sherman, a wealthy couple who live outside of Manhattan. He has a younger sister named Margo who is a biological child of the Shermans. His mother implied that Jay’s uncle is Jay Edgar Hoover.
Cartoon Sitcoms
In spite of Jay’s outward appearance—and seeming repugnance to his ex-wife and numerous other women—he finds himself in several sexual situations with beautiful women. However, he has no substantial romantic relationships during the show’s run.
The show itself often parodied well known movies, either through the movies that Jay Sherman reviewed, or by the situations in which Jay found himself. For example, it would show clips from sequels that were never made in real life, such as Home Alone 5. The clip shows a much older Kevin McAllister with a cigarette and a 5 O’ clock shadow.
Politics in Cartoons
The Critic also touched on many political situations, though not necessarily taking sides. For example, frequent references to the Jewish faith were mentioned in the show’s short run. Jay’s son Marty attends a ‘UN School’ with kids of a variety of nationalities. Jay also travels to Cuba and meets Fidel Castro who is the grandfather of Marty’s Cuban girlfriend.
After one season on ABC, the show moved to FOX where it was cancelled after its 1995 season. However, it can still be seen as a rerun on various cable channels and has gained a cult following since its cancellation. In 2004, a complete DVD set of c was released and is useful for anyone who wants a great laugh.
Derek Clendening - I'm a freelance writer and have combined writing with my love of football. I'm very opinionated about football, which you can learn more ...
