Who are the most important critics?

With all this talk of Rocky's demise with several rave reviews under its belt I'm wondering which critics are considered the most important ? Which have no impact? Is it truly an aggregate? Do the pull quotes mean more depending on who they come from?

I'm thinking these are the most important...

The NY Times
Associated Press - with the loss of local reviewers the AP review appears in many papers and on many sites across the country
Time Magazine - National
NY Daily News
NY Post
Newsday
Bergen Record these last four cover the metro area papers

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Corinne's Corner

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All kidding aside, I love the Eiz and have a tremendous amount of respect for his knowledge of the theater, which puts mine to shame. His reviews are extremely intelligent and well written. But having said that, I do wonder why he writes his reviews based on the first (or a very early) preview, and then does not go back and write a second review of the show once it's frozen. I am not entirely sure what the point is of his thoughtful reviews, as articulate as they are. If it is to influence others as to whether a show might be worth the investment of time and money, then I ask whether or not that's entirely fair. How many authors or composers would like someone to review their first drafts?

I understand that this is Wizzer's trademark, so to speak. But he is such a talented critic, at least in my view, that I wish that he would write reviews based on the show that opens, at least as a follow up. If he did, I'd certainly pay more attention to his ultimate opinions. Yes, The Wiz has carved out a nitch for himself here, but I'd hope he'd trust his own ability enough to engage in serious criticism. I know I trust his ability, but I just have trouble taking anyone's reviews of first previews seriously.

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Surely the biggest critic is the paying public??? Bad ticket sales then no show… Good ticket sales then guaranteed the show will have a long run.

Agree Oasis but they do help create the hype and form perception.

Look at Pippin the producers picked a very small theatre, 1000 seats, and you would have thought after the reviews it got every seat would have been sold at premium prices. There hasn't been a week where you couldn't find regular or or most times TKTS priced seats for Pippin. The last few weeks it hasn't broken even.

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I don't think critics make a show a hit with their praise. How many shows on the longest running shows actually got a critics pick by The New York Times, but on the other hand I think the critics will hasten the demise of a show that is poor.

I don't really think critics matter for the most part. People see a show, then talk to their friends and family about it. If it's good, they see the show, they tell people, etc. When someone wants to see a show because they liked the book, movie, or a particular performer, no critic will prevent that from happening.

The tourists make or break a show.

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