The Critic Is Very Gay (Even If Jay Sherman Is Not)

"Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice" (March 12, 1995)

Finally, we get around to discussing one of our more formative comedic experiences, and it’s one shared more or less exclusively by elder millennials: The Critic, which somehow managed to be both more grown up and more juvenile than The Simpsons. In this episode, we discuss how the two seasons of this cult favorite repeatedly insinuated that the title character was gay, and how and episode guest-starring Siskel and Ebert manages to be the gayest episode of all.

The Mr. President episode of our bonus series The Fox Files is free to listen to on Patreon, even if you're not pledging money!

Listen to Talking Simpsons discuss Capitol Critters so you don’t have to watch it yourself.

And listen to us guest on Talking Simpsons to discuss the other Al Jean & Mike Reiss effort, Teen Angel.

And finally, The Critic’s famous “peepee poopie” joke, which you think is going to make a hard turn into transphobia before veering instead into something very different.

Episode artwork by Ian O’Phelan.