http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989250.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 Ebert, Roeper exit the balcony Film critics to leave 'At the Movies' By ASSOCIATED PRESS Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert says he's cutting ties with the television show that he and the late Gene Siskel made famous. In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday, Ebert said Disney-ABC Domestic Television had decided to take the show "in a new direction" and he won't be associated with it. His announcement came a day after Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper said he was leaving the nationally syndicated "At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper." Roeper said in a statement Sunday that he had failed to agree on a contract extension with Disney-ABC Domestic Television so his last appearance on the show will air the weekend of Aug. 16-17. "Several months ago, Disney offered to extend my contract, which expires at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season," Roeper said. "I opted to wait. Much transpired after that behind the scenes, but an agreement was never reached, and we are all moving on." A message seeking comment was left for a spokeswoman for Disney-ABC Domestic Television early Monday. Roeper said he intends to "proceed elsewhere ... as the co-host of a movie review show that honors the standards established by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert more than 30 years ago." "I will be free to share the details on that program in the near future," he said. He also said he wishes Disney "the best of luck with their new show, whatever form it may take." Roeper joined Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert on the show in 2000, after Ebert's original co-host, Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel, died of a brain tumor in 1999. Siskel and Ebert had begun reviewing movies on television together in 1975 on Chicago public broadcasting's WTTW, which eventually took their program national. The pair jumped to commercial television through the Tribune Co.'s TV syndication wing in 1982, switching to Disney in 1986. Roeper was chosen from among a large group of contenders to be the permanent replacement for Siskel after his death. Ebert has been sidelined the last two years because of health issues that have robbed him of his voice. "Over the last two seasons, as Roger has bravely coped with his medical issues, I've continued the show with a number of guest co-hosts," Roeper said. "It's never been the same without Roger, but I'm proud of the work we've done and I'm grateful to all the co-hosts who stepped in -- and to the viewers that stayed loyal to the show."
Ebert is pretty much the only movie critic I can remember paying attention to as far as either seeing/not seeing a movie goes based on the opinion of another...
Am I the only person who does NOT give a **** what ANY critic says? If I want to go see a movie, I go see the movie.
for the most part i dont. but that rottentomatoes site seems to generally give a good sense of what a movie may be. but overall i like darker crazier stuff and that usually doesnt do too well review wise.
<IMG SRC="http://ebimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=EB&Date=20070423&Category=PEOPLE&ArtNo=70423001&Ref=AR&Maxw=438"> I still watch the show, but its been different without Roger Ebert. He's been battling cancer for some time and had his jaw removed. He cant even talk. So its sad way to end the show. You would think that two men, Siskel & Ebert, watch movies for a living and both still get cancer. It's like there is no way to avoid it. Hopefully Robert Ebert recovers just fine.
File this under who cares. I never paid much attention to either of them or Roeper's replacement host after he passed away.
Wow didn't know that he had cancer...Hope he fights through it, I really like Ebert. He's a critic that likes a lot of movies that other critics hate. He brought up the fact that Oscars should go to ANYONE in ANYONE. He wanted to see Vince Vaughn win a supporting for Old School.
Roger Ebert knows his stuff... Been reading, watching, and listening to his critiques since the 80s....
Disney owns the show, they are just going to turn it into an Entertainment Tonight clone. Ebert and Siskel's widow own a copyright on "thumbs up or down" as a movie review score, so they may just start a whole new show elsewhere.
I read Ebert's reviews every week in the Sun-Times and he's one of the best writers around. He has a blog, as well. If you or your kids are ever interested in studying newspaper columns, he's a great one. It's a shame the guy's had such severe health problems; this is obviously a guy who loves thinking and talking about movies, to lose his voice must have been agonizing.
I generally agree, but if I find myself (dis)liking the same movies as someone else (critic, friend, etc), it's useful to hear their opinions.
Bad reviews won't dissuade me from seeing a movie. But overwhelmingly good reviews may convince me to consider watching a movie that I might not otherwise see.
That's what he said. On topic, well-written reviews are a delight. I love reviews in, say, the New Yorker, because they're entertaining and interesting, even if I never see the movie, (and I don't see many anymore). Ebert always included way too much plot overview for my tastes, but he made very good points as well. I loved his reviews of bad movies in particular.
But seriously, how does a show that is called "Ebert and Roeper" go on with the namesake guys leaving? Thats like "Bevis and Butthead" starring without Bevis and Butthead..... Epic Failure anyone?
