Ep 17. Bobby and the Critic

Bobby and the Critic is the seventeenth episode of the third season of the classic American sitcom, Taxi. This episode originally aired on April 7th, 1981.

The episode focuses on Bobby (Jeff Conaway), one of the taxi drivers who works for the Sunshine Cab Company. Bobby is a struggling actor and playwright who is excited to hear that a local theatre critic, Walter Kiperman (played by Martin Balsam), is coming to see one of his plays. However, Bobby is quickly dismayed when he finds out that Kiperman has panned the plays of several of his friends, and worries that his play will be next.

Meanwhile, the other characters deal with their own problems: Louie (Danny DeVito) tries to convince Alex (Judd Hirsch) to go to a strip club on his birthday, while Tony (Tony Danza) struggles with the fact that his daughter is growing up and starting to date.

As the night goes on, Bobby becomes increasingly anxious about the impending review. He and the other drivers try to come up with ways to influence Kiperman's opinion, ranging from giving him free rides to threatening him. However, none of their plans seem to work.

After the play, Kiperman comes to the garage to meet Bobby and give him his review. Bobby listens nervously as Kiperman explains that while he didn't think the play was perfect, he saw a lot of potential in Bobby's writing and performance. Bobby is thrilled by the review, and the other drivers congratulate him on his success.

Overall, Bobby and the Critic is a charming and often funny episode of Taxi that showcases both the humor and heart that made the show a classic. The storyline featuring Bobby is particularly touching, as it highlights the struggles and passions of artists who are trying to make it in New York City. The episode also features solid performances from the ensemble cast, with each actor getting moments to shine and display their unique comedic talents.