Todd Gilchrist called it a masterpiece, stating it "could easily be packaged and sold by "Planet Simpson" author Chris Turner describes the episode as "the most contentious and direct counterattack "The Simpsons" ever unleashed on its fans" and "[harsh satire of the working world of big-time TV production". Robert Canning of "IGN" said it was "laugh-out-loud funny" and describing the introduction of Roy as "a hilarious parody of a classic, overused television device." Alan Sepinwall of "The Star-Ledger", in a review printed two days after the episode originally aired, praised the writers for not airing a "very special" episode to celebrate the milestone of overtaking "The Flintstones". He noted "episode is so self-aware it put the best in-jokes on "St. Elsewhere" to shame."