The Strange Controversy Over 'The Simpsons' Episode ‘A Star is Burns’
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- With the critical and financial success of ‘The Simpsons’ throughout the 90s, it wasn’t long before numerous other animated shows, specifically made for adults, went into production. One such show was ‘The Critic’, about the life of film reviewer, Jay Sherman.
On paper, show seems like it would’ve made for the perfect series to springboard off of the success of ‘The Simpsons’. However, ultimately, ‘The Critic’ only consisted of 23 episodes, over 2 seasons,.
‘The Critic’ was created by ‘Simpsons’ writers, Al Jean and Mike Reiss, who’d been the show-runners for the 3rd and 4th seasons of 'The Simpsons'. So, given the links between the 2 shows, it makes perfect sense that when ‘The Simpsons’ inevitably did a crossover with another show, the series in question would be ‘The Critic’.
However, although the episode in question was relatively well received by fans a critics, it was controversial for a number of reasons, most notably for the outrage it generated from ‘Simpsons’ creator, Matt Groening, and the lingering bitterness between the two shows, that was understandable… but also kind of ridiculous.
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It took me a long time to realize that guy was a character and not a real person
Goes to show how much the critic is one hell of a character!
Me too, I assumed it was just another celebrity cameo with someone I'd never heard of before.
Same with Whoopi Goldberg for me.
@@the_original_Bilb_OnoWhoopi Goldberg is real though
@@dreye3215 This is indeed a disturbing Universe
Always loved the commentary where Lovitz had a dig at Groening about his behaviour around the cross over and you can feel Matt squirm in his response.
He hated this crossover that was actually a really good episode
Yet Groening gave the okay to the trash fire family guy crossover okay yeah sure.
Because Groening is all for crossovers that benefit _him_ , but ones that help others? F*ck that noise!
Funfact: Barney's movie in the german dub was actually called "Pukethousand and one", a homage to Kubrick's "2001 - a space odyssey"
That's about 5 times as funny of a title
It's hard to believe The Critic only got 2 seasons...it felt like I was watching it constantly throughout the 90's and early 2000's!
It was a hell of a lot funnier than Family Guy or South Park.
The power of reruns
@@GrosvnerMcaffrey 🤣
I’m surprised there were so few as well. I liked the show quite a bit
it's like Mr bean. You could swear there were loads of episodes.
Nope. Only 15 episodes.
The more I learn about Groening's conduct, the more he seems like a petulant child that let the success of The Simpsons go to his head.
That's not even getting into the fact he was named riding Epstein's plane.
The Critic: Is said to be a Simpsons clone, but is actually relatively original. Gets canceled after two seasons.
Family Guy: Is a blatant Simpsons clone and is still running.
It's the Flintstones formula. It works.
@@OpinionParadePlus wasn't The Flintstones basically a cartoon caveman version of The Honeymooners? I think I heard that somewhere.
@@JWD1992 Roger Meyers Jnr. pretty much claimed that while ranting about how animation is based off plagiarism in the episode where it turned out his father didn't create Itchy.
"Are you saying, boo or boo-urns?!"
"I was saying Boo-urns."
Loved The Critic back in the day and loved this episode. To be honest it didn't really need Jay Sherman in it to work but the interactions between him and The Simpsons were amusing but he didn't dominate the episode like he could have
I liked the Critic a lot. I remember loving it when I was kid and watching it those 2 seasons and be sad when it was no longer around. I actually bought the DVD set when it came out and showed it my friends in the Army. Super underrated.
At least it went out with us wanting more, unlike a certain show that should have died a long time ago.
Yeah me and my mom looked fondly on this show as well I was so young I wonder if it was because of the Simpsons we watched it or not I didn't know he was on the Simpsons till I was older and had the sixth season on DVD. 🤔
This episode actually did introduce me to The Critic. When the show's reruns ended up airing on my local cartoon channel (Teletoon), I would end up tuning in every week to watch its episodes. It was weird seeing Jay Sherman being portrayed as a loser compared to how he was depicted in that Simpsons episode.
In Mexico, The Critic and Duckman had a lot or reruns on Cable and Open TV during the late 90's and early 00's, what's interesting is that it was broadcasted between children shows, basically marketed for children becuase it was animated.
Both shows i watched alot.
A Star is Burns is one of my favorite episodes of the Simpsons. And I absolutely adored THE CRITIC back when I was a kid. I was so sad when it was canceled.
While James L Brooks is right the fact is Matt Groening is a monster he 100% created. Everyone knows Sam Simon actually FORMED the series with that original team of writers while Groening got the credit. Why? Cause that was a more marketable story for the shows publicity and that's on Brooks. For Groening to give a middle finger to the team that ran the show for two years just cause they needed a little bump for their show is so gross. What an ungrateful fraud. Again... Brooks should've seen this dummy spit coming.
He know how to parasite talented people.
On a similar note, this is sorta like how I feel about Danny Phantom. That show is CLEARLY Steve Marmell's baby. He was the one who was the main story guy from the story and kept the writing and ongoing storylines in check. Butch Hartman just stole credit and later the show itself from him after Season 2.
The Critic is a lot more like King of the Hill, though it never found the same success, probably because it was so far removed from the experience of the viewers.
Groening was such a baby about this. It really seems like he just didn't want to help because he saw other "animated sitcoms" and those involved with them as enemies. Unwanted competition. Otherwise it makes no sense to say The Simpsons were "above" such a crossover. First of all, since when are crossovers of any type inherently bad or cheap? That's ridiculous, it all depends on the writing but he was against the very _idea_ of it.
And if The Simpsons were above that, how were they not above "The Principal and the Pauper", "Simpson Safari" or any of the other wretched, unwatchable episodes they've had that were about as funny as baby AIDS? Why didn't you take your toys and go home when those were presented? And the show sure wasn't above merchandise whoring was it? Hell no, Bart's face was slapped on everything that existed in 1990/1991 (I still have the first Simpsons Collector plate my mom bought. Price in 1991: $30?, maybe more. Value now: $10-ish). Remember they even released a f*ing album? Why was all that okay Matt? I mean, sure you held on to the licensing rights rather than Fox but I know that wasn't a factor at all. Of course not, cuz that's not how "integrity" works, that's how being a sellout b*tch works.
God I wish Groening could read this. And that I could witness the ensuing temper tantrum.
Jon lovitz is so underrated. He is so good in sandler movies and the critic was hillarious. He was funny in loaded weapon too
His little part in The Wedding Singer is hilarious. "He's losing his mind... And I'm reaping the benefits"
Personally I love The Critic and was blessed to have thanked John Lovitz for his great performances! At least now, Jay Sherman is a happy resident in Springfield. 16:33
That episode does have one of the Simpsons' funniest-ever moments: "Man Getting By Foot Ball" staring Hans Moleman...
He should've got the $10,000
It was Jay Sherman. Not just Sherman.
That episode is one of my favorites, Barney short film is iconic, and who can forget man getting hit by football?
I effing LOVED The Critic!! Jay's dad was a hoot - in fact, every character was! "A peanut is neither a pea or a nut... oh wait, it is a nut" 😂
His Dad is unhinged...I just started reading watching it and can't believe I forgot about his Dad. He has had me spitting out my drink 😂
Groening seems to be bit difficult to work with. A lot of these adult cartoonists seem very opinionated and difficult.
I kind of agree with him not wanting to do a crossover though. It's funny looking back at it now considering The Simpsons have been around long enough that it is the show that everyone does crossovers with.
That's because cartoonists are secretly Incels.
Adult cartoonists as opposed to… child ones?
@@baileyayyy5085 😂 never noticed it that way
I wish I was born about 5 years earlier, so I could retain more memories of the 90s(I was only 5 when the critic was on tv). Sure, I'd be almost 40 now if that were the case, but it would be worth it. It's crazy that the Simpsons are still on TV, I was born only a few months before they debuted on Fox as a real show instead of shorts
many of the Simpsons voice actors were on the Critic. Plus, Jon Lovitz was on a good number of Simpsons episodes. these two would probably be some of the reasons for the crossover.
The Critic was phenomenal. In Latin America it was aired by HBO Olé. I was 8 or 9 when I saw it and loved it, really smart humour and amazing well developed characters.
Nice video mate but you have fallen into that trap that a lot of content creators do when they drag out the word at the end of each sentence they say... it honestly drives me insane and I'm unsure why people do it lol. Still A+ for effort, have a like.
That drama can be fun. But too many creators, who already have perfect cadence and content to hold up on their own, often use needless background music that's also often heard in those special VHS rentals that you need to be 21 or older to rent. Why is wallpaper music necessary?
The Critic is an absolute classic. Franklin Sherman is my all-time favorite character in any TV show. "There's a reason there is a banana in my ear. I'm trying to lure the monkey out of my head." 😆😂🤣
I understand the silverware, but I don't get the dog
I loved the critic. In some ways, it was both too intelligent and too ahead of it's time. Years later, shows like family guy would mimic some of the critics cutaway comedy style to great success.. but timing is everything in life. I really still appreciate the critic for what it was to my youth as a favorite cult hit, and now as a nostalgic throwback.
The critic was a great show. Way ahead of it’s time.
Did Groenig take his name off the awful Futurama crossover, or was that after he stopped caring?
everyone can be a hypocrite for the right price.
Honestly, I think he mellowed out a bit, considering two seasons after A Star Is Burns they had David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson play Mulder and Scully on the episode the Springfield Files. Of course, it could've just been for the money on that one along with Simpsorama and the Simpsons Guy, though for me I liked Simpsorama.
@@Attmay Oh yeah, even I forgot about that, although it got me thinking. I would've thought that although the Simpsons is under 20th Century Fox and the Critic was under Columbia, they were both under Gracie Films and I thought that there would've been less tension due to that, but I guess not.
@@anarchistofmegadon2112 He didn't mellow out, he's just self-centered. The X Files wasn't competition, plus it was getting higher ratings so...sure, crossover! Same with Family Guy, though it was technically competition it was already a hit and The Simpsons was (and still is) dying in the ratings. And Futurama was his show. Crossovers that benefit Groening? Hell yeah! I bet they were all _his_ idea even. Crossovers that help others though? That's when he takes his toys and goes home.
@@zmbdog Yeah, I guess you're right. Their is a vibe that comes off of him that makes me think he's self centered.
New drinking game, take a shot everytime "A Star is Burns" is said
the critic is what we now, because i would love to see how jay would react to the whole will smith slap.
I thought "The Critic" was a really good show; I have the DVDs. However, I can see how it couldn't have gone much longer than another two or three season. It would have run out of ideas and the movie parodies would've become parodies of themselves.
I honestly love this episode screw Matt Groening he takes name off this episode but yet he lets his name on on truly awful episodes like The Boys of Bummer
Since he has so much influence now, he should grow a pair and make a Life in Hell show.
I enjoyed watching The Critic. I recently picked up the complete series on dvd a couple of months ago. The Critic should make a come back to Adult Swim or something
Peter Griffin: I'm Gene Shallot now!
This is easily one of the best,most quoted Simpsons episodes of all time. Crazy critics didn’t like it.
How petty. I do love hearing that 9 whole scripts for more of The Critic exist out there!
Damn
Huh. I never realized the episode was even a crossover. I assumed Sherman was just a parody of a real-life celebrity like so many other Simpsons characters are.
The Critic was so fucking funny, but it might have been a bit ahead of its time. I feel like a show like it would have done better these days.
I always loved both shows and I really never understood what the hell the problem was 🎉🎉
I loved "The Critic" for the most part but I got tired of the endless jokes that the critic was gay but it was part of that 90's
'idea of equating anything lame as "gay" and because the character was not an "alpha" male and the joke just went on and on and on. However, this equating was found on other shows and I even had to tell my gay friendly straight friends to find another word to describe something lame.
I liked The Critic.
Another problem I feel The Critic had was that it was sometimes TOO smart for it's audience. You know you're writing is something special when it's sharper than The Simpsons during it's golden years but also it felt like some of it went over the heads of much of everyone watching, partially due to the rather New York-centric nature of it. For example, some of the more New York oriented jokes (Mario Cuomo running in the marathon and Ed Koch in Ghost Chasers for example) you'd get if you're from New York City, but if you're not you'll probably see some that and go "Ooooooh kay then. I don't get it".
The satire on the hit movies at the time was rather spot on though, and the humor behind how Hollywood and the film industry was crooked and corrupt led to films being shit was considerably bold and daring, especially with the way society is now about not being able to handle criticism as easily. In fact you probably couldn't get away with redoing The Critic in this day and age without Hollywood directors, producers and such chimping out and tossing lawsuits around like it was nothing.
All in all it was a great show for it's time, and easily had at least another two to three good seasons behind it. I consider it the Elvis of T.V. The Critic died five years too soon and The Simpsons 25 years too late.
EDIT: Yeah, technically The Simpsons isn't officially "dead" yet but I can't see a good reason as to why it's still on.
I completely agree! It's still has some memorable points that still has me laughing out loud- 20+ years later!
Yes...Oh Yes..!!! They're even better Raw!!!
I agree with the assessment that it was too smart for a mass audience. If they waited until about five years later when basic cable started really producing quality material it would have been able to weather the ratings storms that were important up until the advent of first the DVR and later streaming both of which decouple shows from the tyranny of the Nielsen era.
Hollywood has since become even more like how The Critic portrayed it.
Yes and no. Fat jokes were rampant on The Critic, way more than even on the Simpsons. So while it was very smart it wasn't above low brow humour either.
@@jackflash8567 But that's a testament to the writing. yes there were low brow fat jokes but they put in where they were needed. It wasn't an endless string of low brow fart jokes and slob comedy. Best one by FAR is Jay getting into a "race" with Rush Limbaugh to get to the lobby first.
I don't think cross overs are inherently a bad idea, though they are almost inherently made for marketing purposes. The biggest movie of 2021 is basically a cross over movie to celebrate every cinematic incarnation of Spider-Man. And fans loved it, because it did feel like a movie that was made with a lot of love towards the character and towards the fans. Unfortunately, this is not how all cross overs get made. and the market can quickly become oversaturated with them.
Beauty and King Dork 😂❤
Amazing to know Peck was involved with the Critic. Definitely awesome. RIP to Everett Peck
I literally WAS saying, "Booourns"!!!
Critic > Bob's Burgers
Crossovers are usually contrived and stupid but this one works. Its weird that he briefly lived with the Simpsons.
I think that the critic was better than the simpsons, the humor was more mature, the jokes were funnier, like they had less restrictions, the show definitely ended way before its time, I didn't know that there were scripts for a third season, I would like to read those.
Shameless self promotion crossovers in an video about crossovers. This is some meta shit.
"Boooo-urns!"
Atleast this episode gave us “Man getting hit by football.”
I actually love the film festival episode, and that the Critic was okay dry comedy and different from the Simpsons.
I found it funny how a film critic was so completely out of touch with the general public.
A critic on a completely different page from the majoy of the audience.
If they were to make a modern version of the show, a satirical commentary about Hollywood critics working today, it would be called 'the Shill'.
Amazing video again. Hope this channel keeps growing because its awesome!
Omg The Critic!!! as a Kid I loved That Show soo sad It didn't get the credit and fame it deserved
To be fair, the show seems like a prototype for Family Guy. The art style became closer to how Family Guy looks
The episode was good; writing & jokes were overall solid.
They made fun of themselves when Jay appears. Bart is watching the tv and can be heard:
“Up next, The Jetsons meet the Flinstones!”
“Aw, I smell a cheesy crossover coming up!”
Eudora Welty burping,
loud part quiet/quiet part loud, pukahontas,
boo-urns,
football in the groin,
closer inspection these are loafers,
I can go on and on.
Solid comedy writing.
I don't know the reason but in Japan on Fox, which is a cable only channel there which continuously shows Simpsons reruns, this episode never aired (none of the others were skipped). Though it's possible something has happened in the last 20 years to change that. The Simpsons would also be syndicated over-the-air by local TV stations but I don't know if A Star is Burns ever aired or not on those
Awesome review and great tidbits, thanks! Loved this show bqck in the day and the first season felt stronger, despite season 2 having a lot of great laughs. Is there a place where we can read ths season 3 scripts, of any sre publicly available?
I love Mr. Burns "Shindler and I were like peas in a pod. We both were factory owners, we both made munitions for the Germans, but mine worked, Dammit"
The Critic was really an amazing show. Great vid!
This was amazing, bruh we need to get you more suscribers!
I enjoyed The Critic, also another animated series, Dr. Katz Professional Therapist.
The Critic was good but it always ended on a depressing note because Jay would always end up being alone at the end of the show. The Simpsons never had this problem because no matter how bad things got, the writers could always end the show with the family still being together.
fnny thing in that episode is that sherman doesn't want to do the film festival, but because Rainier Wolfecastle wanted to kill he fled out of hollywood to springfield..
"Oh you bad mouthed MacGyver." as Jay hangs by his shorts from the roof. Classic.
First!
Al Jean & Mike Reiss were also writers on ALF, The More You Know....
Barneys film has heart but "man getting hit in the groin with football" has mam getting hit in the groin with a football....😅
not controversial, if people are upset but something so irrelevant and meaningless they need help or removal from society
The earlier seasons of The Simpsons are crazy popular in Latin America, and I never heard anyone here complaining about this episode. Granted, people here probably didn't catch on it being a self-promoting crossover (I don't even know if The Critic was ever released here). Before the days of the internet we didn't know about this sort of thing until years later.
To be fair to the showrunners, Groening seems to be more or less the villain of the story. Like other creators (such as Shigeru Miyamoto) his obsession for control and refusal to entertain others' ideas even if they're good is annoying and hypocritical considering the stuff they accept. If Groening had any self respect he would have taken his name off the credits for the last dozen or so seasons of The Simpsons.
It seems matt changed his mind over the years. He allowed Simpso-rama and The Simpsons meets Family Guy.
@@icecreamhero2375 He didn't change his mind, those were OK because they were to _his_ benefit. Futurama was his show and Family Guy was getting higher ratings and younger viewers, which The Simpsons desperately needed (and still does). This crossover would've helped someone else though and Groening ain't got no time for that.
@@zmbdog Can you really hold someone to opinions they had 20 years ago.
@@icecreamhero2375 What do you mean "hold him to it"? Those opinions are still held. He specifically informed us how he felt so he would inform us if that ever changed. This wasn't "backstage" stuff that leaked out, it's a public matter because he _wanted_ it to be.
@@zmbdog But he let the Futurama and Family Guy crossover happen.
Love The Critic have both Seasons on my phone 😎
I only know the character from the Simpsons. Didn't know he had an own show
A krusty the clown spin off like better call saul could work lol
11:15 I lol'd so hard
LOL Dennis, the TRUE Menace to society.
… “the closest thing The Simpsons ever got to a spin off”…. ??…. Man. Wait until someone tells this dude about the existence of Futurama.
Futurama is not in any way a spinoff of the Simpsons. Sure both series contain a couple small references to each other, but that doesn't make a spinoff. Canonically the Simpsons is a (20th century) TV show in the Futurama universe.
The best episode of the Critic is his rant on the status of Hollywood.
I always thought this Character was a character in the show and not The Critic
I enjoyed that show, but what it was missing was the cross over appeal. The Simpsons was well placed to be funny for adults and kids, the Critic was only for adults.
I never could understand why this was the only crossover where they actually put the effort in to match the animation style. When crossing over with every other show, even Archie (though not official), for some reason they all have that freaky looking peach-colored skin that just looks weird. With Family Guy, they tried to address it, implying that there must be something in the water; but we've seen every major country in the Simpson's universe, and everyone has yellow to dark orange skin.
Apu and hibert are definitely not yellow or orange though lol
@@jr2904 First of all, brown is literally dark orange... and there's some sort of overly long pretentious video about why here on RUclips... maybe a couple of them. Second, those are hardly the only two 'black' characters. Finally, when compared to a quote-unquote normal show, Simpson blacks are... IDK orange-shifted? However you want to say it. Look, don't make this weird...
The Critic is a major classic.
The Critic is AMAZING!!!
'When did this become a democracy?'
Jon Lovitz was great on the Critic I liked the parody of movies of the time As for the Simpsons It stinks 😁
I loved this Show and Jon Lovitz
1000th subscriber
never knew that canned Krusty spin-off got repurposed into the Critic
Don't care what people say, this episode was great!
I Remember when the Critic Came out The Year was 1994 I was 6 Years Old and I was Lying in Bed Watching TV when I came Across the Critic I Thought the show was Entertaining not so Much Funny It had good stories to tell, way better then the Simpsons which is now in Season 34, The World is a Retarded Place when Good Shows like the Critic Only Have 1 Season and a Crap Show Like the Simpsons is going on it's 35th Season.
I’m sure you got this already, but there are 3 full seasons of the Critic+webisodes, so good news for new fans! Sadly, webisodes are missing Duke and other major characters, so didn’t recapture the magic for me.
Just considering Homer's "Communism works in theory" line out of context. The joke reads both ways. That's funny in my opinion.
It stinks!
Now I get the "hello handsome" joke! It's because all those characters are played by the same guy. Just like when Bleeding Gums Murphy died, there appeared with him Mufasa from the Lion King before other James L Jones characters started showing up too.
As an adult I can see Groening's problem with the portrayal, but I was 5 or 6 when this aired and it was one of my favorite episodes. I had never watched The Critic and only recognize the title.
I loved the episode (88/100) but i don't find this to be a controversy at all, maybe slightly.
Definitely in the top 10 best episodes for me, its probay my secknd favourite actually, it has my favourite line ever "i was saying boo-urns" and it had the man getting hit by football short film
I still love the critic that I even have the original dvd box set of the series even jon lovitz has become jay Sherman to me I even have it favored of crackle I also prefer the abc design of jay better than the fox design what makes the show good is that it’s not a typical cartoon it feels more like a sitcom only animated unlike the Simpsons that I also love that’s more joke heavy either by dialogue jokes or visual jokes in the background of scenes