Ep 1. Pilot

The Critic is an animated sitcom series that originally aired in the mid-90s. The first episode of the show is titled "Pilot" and it introduces the audience to the main character, Jay Sherman, who is a film critic.

Jay is a bit of an oddball, with a distinct look and a love for all things cinematic. He's a divorced father of one, and he's attempting to balance his personal life with his career as a critic. Jay works for a questionable newspaper that's run by a somewhat sleazy boss, Duke Phillips.

The episode begins with Jay reviewing a terrible film called "Dr. Danger's Descent Into Madness". He tears the movie apart, but it's clear that he's becoming jaded with his job as a critic. He wishes he could see something good for a change.

As luck would have it, Jay is invited to a preview screening of a new film called "The Empire Strikes Back Again". He's excited, thinking that it will be a great movie, but as he watches it, he realizes that it's just another terrible film.

Jay is disillusioned, and he decides to quit his job as a critic. He seeks refuge with his friend, Ronnie, who's a comedian. Ronnie takes Jay to a bar where they run into Jennifer, a woman Jay used to date. She's now a successful businesswoman, and she offers Jay a job as the head of the film division at her father's company.

Jay is ecstatic, thinking that this could be his chance to review good movies and get out of the rut he's been in. However, his new boss, Duke Phillips (yes, that Duke Phillips), is the head of the company. Jay is disappointed because he thought he was escaping his old job.

But, Duke has a proposition for Jay. He wants him to review a new movie that's coming out soon called "Mephisto vs. The World". Jay agrees, but he's immediately skeptical of the film. As he watches it, he's pleasantly surprised. It's actually a good movie, and Jay is excited to give it a positive review.

However, Duke has other plans. He doesn't want the movie to succeed, so he orders Jay to give it a bad review. Jay is torn because he finally found a good movie to review, but he doesn't know what to do. In the end, he sticks to his morals and gives the movie a positive review.

The episode ends with Jay feeling good about his decision and excited to start his new job. He's ready to review good movies and leave the bad ones behind.

Overall, "Pilot" is a solid introduction to the world of The Critic. The characters are introduced well, and the humor is sharp and witty. The episode sets up the premise of the show and gives the audience a taste of the type of humor they can expect from the series.