‘It’s never been closer to actually happening’

Twenty-three episodes. That’s all we got of the 1990s animated series The Critic, which followed gluttonous, self-important film critic Jay Sherman on his Siskel and Ebert-like movie review show. The series starred Jon Lovitz as Sherman and was created by The Simpsons writers and showrunners Al Jean and Mike Reiss. It lasted for one season on ABC before it was canceled, then did a season on Fox before it was canceled again.

In the early 2000s, the duo returned to The Simpsons. Reiss became a part-time consultant and producer, while Jean became showrunner in 2002, a position which he remained in for 23 years until stepping back in 2025 to a consulting producer role. But with less to do at The Simpsons, Jean turned his attention back to The Critic, a show which still enjoys a cult following. Both creators are convinced the animated series is ripe for a reboot, so when I spoke to Jean and Reiss recently about how an episode of The Simpsons helped inspire the movie Obsession, I also checked in on the progress of the reboot of The Critic.

“The hurdles are passed with me making my deal,” says Jean. “John definitely wants to do it, but his deal isn’t closed. That’s the honest, very up-to-the-minute fact. I’m sure he’ll do it, although I can’t say I’m absolutely 100% sure, but I’m confident that his deal will close. It’s never been closer to actually happening.”

Jean’s even got episodes in mind, adding, “I’ve been thinking about ideas for it. I think a Critic would be very funny with Jay going to a Mets game and he falls in love with Mrs. Met, who’s hitting on him.”

As for Reiss, he says, “I’m sort of on the sidelines. I’m not running it, but I think I’ll be a little part of the thing. I’ll keep a hand in it.”

Reiss is also confident the reboot is coming though, saying, “I can’t imagine it not selling because every reboot seems to sell. So why not that?”