Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

Watch Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

  • TV-PG
  • 1995
  • 6 Seasons
  • 7.6  (5,995)

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist was a half-hour animated series produced by Comedy Central from 1995 to 2002. It is a unique show that focuses on the life and work of Dr. Katz, a psychiatrist who treats patients like comedians, actors, and others as they confide their worries and anxieties in him. The show was a brilliant combination of stand-up comedy and animation that won the hearts of audiences worldwide.

The series was set in Boston and centered around the character of Dr. Jonathan Katz, who voiced himself in the show. He was a caring and understanding therapist who always ended up being a sounding board for his patients. The characters he treated were voiced by real-life comedians, including H. Jon Benjamin, who played his son Ben, Laura Silverman, who played his receptionist Laura, and many others who made guest appearances throughout the series.

The animation style used for Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist was unique and innovative for television at that time. The characters were drawn in a squiggly, loose-lined style that somewhat resembled a sketchbook or doodles. The animation was done through the process of Squigglevision, a term coined by one of the show's producers, Tom Snyder. The technique was achieved by drawing and tracing the characters in live action and then superimposing them on top of the backgrounds, which contained actual photographs of Boston.

Dr. Katz's therapy sessions played out like a series of comedic vignettes. The patients were almost always stand-up comedians or other funny people, and their conversations with Dr. Katz had a lighthearted and often irreverent tone. The show was partly scripted and partly improvised, giving it a fresh and spontaneous feel.

The show's pacing was slow and deliberate, with long pauses and drawn-out conversations that gave the impression of authentic therapy sessions. There was a lot of repetition, both in terms of the characters' quotidian episodes and the phrases and ideas they repeated throughout the show. This repetition contributed to the show's sense of realism while also providing ample opportunities for humor.

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist consisted of six seasons, with a total of 81 episodes. Over the course of the series, we see Dr. Katz work with a variety of patients, each with their own set of problems. Sometimes the dialogue was somber, and sometimes it was lighthearted, but it was always genuine and relatable. The show remained consistently funny throughout its run, thanks to the talented cast of comedians and the wit of the show's writers.

Dr. Katz's son Ben, voiced by H. Jon Benjamin, was a focal point for a lot of the show's humor. Ben was an underachieving slacker who always seemed to be at odds with his father. He had a talent for making disastrous decisions and getting himself into strange and absurd situations. His interactions with his father and his job at a video rental store provided the show with a lot of its comedic moments.

Laura Silverman's character Laura was the receptionist at Dr. Katz's office, and she was another of the show's recurring characters. Laura was sharp-witted and often exasperated by the other characters who came into the office, making her a great foil for the more zany patients. She frequently scolded Ben for his mistakes but also had a soft spot for him.

In summary, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist was a groundbreaking show that combined elements of comedy, animation, and improvisation to create a unique and much-loved program. Its focus on the lives of comedians and actors gave it a fresh perspective on the therapy process, and its unconventional approach to animation made it stand out from other shows of the time. The show has since become a cult classic, beloved by fans of all ages.

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
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Seasons
Lerapy
18. Lerapy
February 13, 2002
Conan O'Brien steals a couple of Dr. Katz's jokes, and Katz becomes obsessed with the incident. After recounting the events to Ben and Laura, Ben plots to sell some of his own jokes to Conan O'Brien.
Uncle Nothing
17. Uncle Nothing
February 13, 2002
Ben and Dr. Katz meet at Julie's bar for a fun night on the town, but Dr. Katz reveals some startling news: Laura is engaged. Ben insists he's fine with it, but his actions (and words) prove otherwise.
Bakery Ben
16. Bakery Ben
February 3, 2002
Ben starts working at Steve's Bakery, his very first job. He has to get up at 4 A.M. to start work, and he gets fired on his 3rd day, for being 4 hours late.
Expert Witness
15. Expert Witness
December 24, 1999
Katz is called to testify as an expert witness in the trial of a boy named Roger who broke into an elderly couple's home, tied them up, then wrote with permanent markers all over their walls. The issue is whether he's mentally competent to stand trial, and it's up to Katz to determine that. Ben wants to know why Katz is doing this, instead of the "charlatans" they usually get ("They were busy," Katz says), but when he learns that it pays $400 an hour, he encourages this new pursuit of his dad's. Eventually, Katz finds Roger not competent to stand trial.
Radio Katz
14. Radio Katz
December 24, 1999
Katz's friend Carlton Campbell, host of radio show "Campbell's Couch," has asked Katz to fill in for him one night ("Does he know you well?" asks the typically supportive Ben
You're Belinda
13. You're Belinda
December 24, 1999
Ben hears about a new system of therapy called "brief therapy," wherein the patient is cured with only 10 questions. Katz is skeptical, of course, citing the example of Jonas Salk, which he then realizes is a bad example, since what he did worked. Laura brings up the Meyers-Briggs test, and Katz refers to them as "vaudeville."
Vow of Silence
12. Vow of Silence
December 24, 1999
When the paper doesn't get delivered for a few days, Ben observes that Katz is hooked on the news. Katz denies it and bets him that he can go longer without news than Ben can go without talking.
Big TV
11. Big TV
December 24, 1999
Tragedy strikes when the family TV dies ("Maybe you should give it mouth-to-mouth," offers Katz). Ben, of course, is most stricken by this event, unable to live even a day without it. He also can't wait for Katz to get home so they can go buy one together; instead, he has a 72-inch TV delivered to the house.
Garden
10. Garden
December 24, 1999
Katz comes in, having just gone for a walk.Ben points out that for old people, everyday things like walking, chewing and swallowing become hobbies. Katz wants to get a plot at the municipal gardens. Ben finds this odd, until Laura says that lots of old people do it.
Snow Day
9. Snow Day
December 24, 1999
Neighbor Mr. Graham (whose wife either died or left him, depending on who you ask) has asked Ben to take care of his pigeons on the roof for a week.
Ball and Chain
8. Ball and Chain
December 24, 1999
Katz goes on three dates with best-selling author and gastrointerologist Alice Webber, and -- surprise -- Ben over-reacts, fearing his dad will get married again ("I don't mention her name in the house," he says cattily).
Used Car
7. Used Car
December 24, 1999
Laura tells Katz she wants to buy a used car, and Katz says he can help her out by asking the dealer the right questions ("How much is this car? How much is that car?").
Walk for Hunger
6. Walk for Hunger
July 20, 1999
Laura tells Katz she'll be participating in a "Walk for Hunger" this Saturday, and asks him to sponsor her.
Ben's Partay
5. Ben's Partay
July 13, 1999
Ben hears from an old friend named Bruce (at 1 in the morning), who tells him that he and some others will be in town over the long weekend. Ben decides to throw a party, and when Katz threatens to bring his guitar, Ben tells him he's not invited.
Past Lives
4. Past Lives
July 6, 1999
Looking through the P.U. class catalog, Katz encourages Ben to take an adult education course.
Wisdom Teeth
3. Wisdom Teeth
June 29, 1999
Ben's wisdom teeth hurt, which he shows his dad (along with a mouthful of cereal). He fears going to Dr. Zelbar because of his violent history with him -- apparently, Ben used to fight him.
Pullman Square
2. Pullman Square
June 22, 1999
Ben calls Katz at work with the shocking news that Berman's is closing, the latest casualty in a renovation of Pullman Square -- Ben's old hangout. He wants to do something about it, natch, though he does it in a misguided way.
Sissy Boy
1. Sissy Boy
June 15, 1999
While picking up a box of donuts one morning, Ben is harassed by an old bully from school, Jimmy Solaray, and by Jimmy's son. They call him a sissy; Ben retorts by saying he's going to join the military.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    May 28, 1995
  • IMDB Rating
    7.6  (5,995)
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