The Critic is genuinely funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. It is currently available in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, so there is no reason to keep putting it off. A 7/10 rating means the audience agrees — and those who disagree tend to be in a clear minority. The production does not waste your time: every episode earns its place in the run, and the pacing is calibrated to keep you watching rather than checking how much time is left. The run length is exactly right for the story being told. Jon Lovitz is the anchor, but the depth of the supporting cast is what elevates it. Start it tonight and see for yourself why the ratings are where they are.

Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate The Critic from the crowd. 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. Jon Lovitz and Christine Cavanaugh lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. The series ran for 2 seasons (1994–1995), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and The Critic holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-season curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Ideal for when you want something light without wanting something stupid. The Critic respects its audience — rarer than it should be. The writing assumes you can keep up and rewards you when you do, with jokes that have layers and callbacks that make rewatches genuinely worthwhile. The complete run is available and short enough to finish before the weekend is over. The kind of comedy that you recommend to someone who claims they do not really watch much TV, and then check back in a week to find they have finished it.