Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

From living with his deadbeat son, Ben, to his day-to-day dealings with his stunningly sarcastic secretary, Laura, join therapist Jonathan Katz as he picks the brains of your favorite stand-up comedians.

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995-2002) is an American adult animated comedy created by Jonathan Katz for Comedy Central. Jonathan Katz voices the title therapist, a self-absorbed Manhattan-style clinician whose sessions are constantly interrupted by his deadbeat son Ben (H. Jon Benjamin), his stunningly sarcastic receptionist Laura (Laura Silverman), and his bartender friend Julie (Julianne Bond). The engine of each episode is the loose, rambling talk between the therapist and his patients, who are often real stand-up comedians such as Mitch Hedberg, Steven Wright and Kathy Griffin voicing themselves as guests. Their conversations about their jokes, careers and personal neuroses drive the half-hour format, with the domestic and office clutter of Katz's life running alongside. Across six seasons and eighty-one episodes, the show runs as a loose, episodic comedy rather than a continuing story, with each installment built around a new conversation. The spare, minimal animation looks like a sketch over recorded talk, and the tone is deadpan, wry and warmly awkward, with a hint of melancholy beneath the jokes. Fans of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Home Movies and Curb Your Enthusiasm will find the same mix of improvisational banter, cringe-tinged humor and affectionate mockery of self-importance.

Viewers broadly rate the animated talk-therapy comedy as a positive, idiosyncratic series that rewards fans of stand-up comedy.

• Mr. Show with Bob and Davidshared deadpan talk-based comedy and animated adult humor centered on a conversational host
• Space Ghost Coast to Coastshared stand-up comedian guest appearances and crude animated adult humor
• Home Moviesshared adult animated sitcom tone with awkward dysfunctional family dynamics
• Curb Your Enthusiasmshared improvised-feeling conversational comedy built on awkward characters and sharp dialogue

Created by

Jonathan Katz

Release Date

1995-05-28

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.7 / 10 (67)

What is Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist about?

An animated comedy in which therapist Jonathan Katz, voiced by himself, counsels his deadbeat son Ben and sarcastic receptionist Laura while interviewing stand-up comedians about their craft.

What is Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

What did critics think of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist?

Viewers broadly rate the animated talk-therapy comedy as a positive, idiosyncratic series that rewards fans of stand-up comedy.

Which shows are like Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist?

Shows with a similar feel include Mr. Show with Bob and David, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Home Movies, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

How long is Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist?

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist: 6 seasons, 81 episodes.

Is Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist still running?

No, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist has ended.