ASimpsonsshowrunner provided an exciting update on a beloved90s animated seriesthat fans have been hoping to see return for decades. The veteran writer revealed just how close the canceledcult classicis to finally making acomeback.
Al Jean recently provided an update on The Critic revival during an appearance on the Four Finger Discount podcast. The Simpsons writer confirmed that he, co-creator Mike Reiss and voice actor Jon Lovitz are actively working toward a reboot. Jean shared unprecedented optimism about the project’s chances of actually happening this time around.
“Well, I can say we’re closer than ever – Jon Lovitz, and me, and Mike Reiss – to getting The Critic back as a reboot. So, that’ll be wonderful,” Jean said. “I think now, first time I’ve ever said this, I think it’s more likely than not that it’ll happen. Jon is very into it, and we were talking about who we would cast.”
Meanwhile, the proven success of other revived 90s animated series also helped build momentum for the project. Notably, Hulu scored wins with its King of the Hill reboot, while Futurama thrived across multiple comebacks on the platform. Additionally, an unexpected moment at the SNL 50th anniversary party further fueled Lovitz’s passion for returning.
“One of the things that helped us was Jon was at the SNL 50 party and someone walked up to him and said, ‘You know, The Critic is the best show ever,’” Jean recalled. “It was Jesse Eisenberg. So, we realized that there’s a generation now, [who] loved it the way I loved the Bullwinkle cartoons as a kid.”
The Critic originally ran for two seasons across ABC and Fox from 1994 to 1995. Jon Lovitz starred as Jay Sherman, a sharp-tongued film critic who hosted the fictional show Coming Attractions. Jean indicated the revival would modernize the concept to fit today’s media world.
“I would think, actually, just, he’s on a podcast, and he’s got nobody watching, and he’s down at the bottom,” Jean explained. “I think my guess would be, we’d age him a little. We’d have the son be grown.”
Fans can currently watch the original series for free on Tubi.
