Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

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7/23/08 at 4:17am

Coressel
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Lyons, Mankiewicz named 'At the Movies' hosts - CNN.com

Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz will be the new hosts.

One thing the news story doesn't mention is that Jeffrey Lyons (Ben's dad) was, along with Michael Medved, the first to replace Siskel and Ebert back in the early 80's when S&D left PBS.

This is certainly the end of an era, but also reminds me that this show has gone through many, many transitions for the better part of 30 years now.

#2

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7/23/08 at 6:35am

DaveF
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

It's sad to see the final end to Siskel and Ebert's show. But I've not seen Ebert on air in five or more years. And when I was last watching, it was on at midnight! Aside from graduate students, who stays up that late for movie reviews?

I like Roeper. I was pretty dubious about his choice, and didn't understand why Ebert chose him as the new co-host at first. But they had a good dynamic, and I thought Roeper's practicality balanced Ebert's "oooh! shiny!" attitude towards thumbs-upping otherwise sucky movies.

Oh well. The show's relevancy plummeted years ago, when it was relegated to the late-late slots, if even aired.

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7/23/08 at 8:16am

Martino
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I understand what you are saying....it can be hard to find, if you can find it at all. I have been watching the online presentations instead...the shows are updated on Wednesdays of each week - and they have an archive feature that allows you to look up any review...

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#4

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7/23/08 at 8:46am

Bryan^H
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Well, I'm done with it.

At the Movie was one of my all time favorite shows. I love movies, and watched the show like clockwork since the early 90's. It was tragic when Siskel passed on(his last apperance on the show was excruciating to watch) and I was very sad to see Ebert go. I was hoping for a suitable replacement for him alongside Roeper.

Mankiewicz may be alright, but Ben Lyons......no. I've seen him on the E! network, and his movie reviews are quite possibly the worst I have ever seen. Most if his comments about movies are used in a slick urban dialect(much like rappers) that unless your of his generation, you won't know what the hell he's saying.

Nice try Disney, but this is a horrible decision.

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7/23/08 at 9:29am

Marty M
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveF

It's sad to see the final end to Siskel and Ebert's show. But I've not seen Ebert on air in five or more years. And when I was last watching, it was on at midnight! Aside from graduate students, who stays up that late for movie reviews?

I like Roeper. I was pretty dubious about his choice, and didn't understand why Ebert chose him as the new co-host at first. But they had a good dynamic, and I thought Roeper's practicality balanced Ebert's "oooh! shiny!" attitude towards thumbs-upping otherwise sucky movies.

Oh well. The show's relevancy plummeted years ago, when it was relegated to the late-late slots, if even aired.

I agree wholeheartedly. I used to watch this show every week, but must admit that I have only watched in occasionally in the last couple of years. I started to lose interest when Roger left the show, but really stopped watching when they had to give up the thumbs gestures.

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#6

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7/23/08 at 10:00am

Bob Turnbull
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Speculation has been that since Disney lowballed Ebert in initial renegotiations (he even took away the rights to use Thumbs Up/Down from the show for awhile since he felt Disney was not negotiating fairly) they were looking to dump the current incarnation and retool as more of an advertisement for movies than strictly a review show.

Given that Ben Lyons reviewed I Am Legend as "One Of The Greatest Movies Ever Made", I think Disney found their guy. I don't know about Mankiewicz.

By the way, that's not meant as a slam on I Am Legend - I thought parts of it were quite well done, but I didn't like where they took the story at the end - but calling it one of the greatest ever made is a desperate plea to become a quote whore.

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#7

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7/23/08 at 11:07am

Ken N.
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveF

It's sad to see the final end to Siskel and Ebert's show.

According to both Ebert & Roeper, the review show with thumbs will continue, it just won't be associated with Disney.

Here's the excerpts from them that confirm they plan on continuing the show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Ebert

We are discussing possibilities, and plan to continue the show's tradition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Roeper

I wish Disney the best of luck with their new show, whatever form it may take. In the meantime, it is my intention to proceed elsewhere with my ninth year 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.

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#8

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7/23/08 at 1:26pm

Chris Lockwood
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I forgot years ago that this show existed since it was always on at some weird time.

What show is Roeper talking about?

Interesting that Ebert has a trademark on thumbs up/down. I didn't know you could trademark a gesture.

Off to trademark the middle finger...

#9

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7/23/08 at 1:37pm

DavidJ
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

The trademark is actually co-held by Ebert and Siskel's widow.

#10

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7/23/08 at 2:12pm

Mikah Cerucco
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I lost a lot of interest in the show when Gene Siskel died. I lost more interest in the show when Ebert became ill (no slam on Roeper, but the show was Siskel and Ebert to me). No plans for Ebert (or even Roeper) to come back? I've 0 interest. I'll read Ebert's on-going reviews in the Chicago Sun-Times.

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#11

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7/23/08 at 2:25pm

Jon Martin
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

As someone who has barely missed an episode since the PBS days in the 1970's, I'm not THAT worried about the new show.

Yes, it is sad to see the show go, but Ebert has been gone for a few years now. The show really ended when he left.

While I've grown to like Roeper, I think it is safe to say that most of us posting here know more about film than he does. He wasn't a movie fan, but a guy talking about movies on TV.

While I'm unfamiliar with Lyons (other than seeing him once on his fathers show REEL TALK), Roeper has also become a bit of a blurb whore recently, each week saying at least one film on the show is "one of the best of the year".

Mankiewicz is a smart guy, so that is a safe choice.

And, the new format, with a "Critics Round Up" could in fact give more of a voice to the dwindling number of film critics than Roeper and Phillips could ever have.

As mentioned, most people aren't even aware the show is on the air now. It airs at midnight Sunday nights in my area. It was either retool it this way or cancel it altogether.

I'm willing to give it a chance.

But then again, I think I've given every critics show a chance, from FX to AMC, to Nickelodeon, they've all tried.

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#12

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7/23/08 at 2:35pm

DavidJ
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I think Jon makes some good points, but I think I will still be more interested in the new show with Roeper and hopefully with Ebert involved in some capacity. That is if I can find it on the air anywhere. I'll give the new "At the Movies" a try and the "Critics Round Up" concept is intriguing, but I have my doubts about Lyons in particular.

#13

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7/23/08 at 5:08pm

Garrett Adams
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I've been a fan since it began on PBS as Sneak Previews. I'll check out the new Disney show, as well as whatever Ebert and Roeper develop. I miss my thumbs!

#14

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7/23/08 at 5:42pm

Jon_Are
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

From The Onion:

"And thus the sun sets on the golden era of opposable-digit-based art criticism."

Jon

#15

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7/23/08 at 7:22pm

David Norman
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Not that I've been able to find it for a while, but I haven't really searched at all since Roger became ill though I trace my roots back to the Late 70's Sneak Preview era when my college roomie and I used to watch it regularly. The show lost a lot without Gene and I have never regarded Roeper as anything more than awful. If Lyons is worse than RR then the show needs to be put out of its misery.

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#16

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7/23/08 at 7:23pm

Bryan^H
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Martin

Yes, it is sad to see the show go, but Ebert has been gone for a few years now. The show really ended when he left.

While I've grown to like Roeper, I think it is safe to say that most of us posting here know more about film than he does. He wasn't a movie fan, but a guy talking about movies on TV.

The show doesn't have any magic since Ebert left. I never understood Roeper. Here is a guy that seems to love great films, but I'm still confused by his "taste" of movies in general. I'm sure if he looked hard enough he could have found a better film than Superbad for his 10 best of the year list.

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7/23/08 at 7:26pm

Mary_P
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Very sad to see this effectively ending. "Ebert & Roeper" (even sans Ebert) has been a staple of my Sunday-morning viewing for years, and yes, I watched it pretty religiously back in the PBS days of Siskel and Ebert.

I'm afraid that this is going to go the way of Jeffrey Lyons' "Reel Talk," which I truly dislike. The big problem I have with that show is the interviews -- are they really going to be brutal about a big movie they don't like if they're trying to get its star to give them an interview? If that's where Disney is planning on taking this show, I'm done with it, and look forward to seeing whatever Ebert and/or Roeper develop in the future.

#18

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7/23/08 at 7:31pm

Bryan^H
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Turnbull

i
Given that Ben Lyons reviewed I Am Legend as "One Of The Greatest Movies Ever Made", I think Disney found their guy. I don't know about Mankiewicz.

That's what I'm saying. Lyons is horrible. He is the equal of a drunken college frat boy with his movie reviews. "See this joint, it's tight". He recommends seeing films that Ebert, and Roeper would put on their worst of the year list.

#19

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7/23/08 at 9:23pm

RyanAn
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I am a movie fan. I remember being just a few years old and watching Siskel & Ebert talk about movies. I've tried my best to watch every week's episode since then. I miss Ebert on there, but I understand if he and Roeper don't come back. I like the current reviewer, Michael Scott a little. I hope that that Roeper does develop his own show and that At the Movies stays on TV. Now that I have the Reelz Channel and have Dailes things are looking up for the movie fan who likes to watch a tv show about them. ;0

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#20

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7/24/08 at 7:07am

Jon Martin
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanAn

Now that I have the Reelz Channel and have Dailes things are looking up for the movie fan who likes to watch a tv show about them. ;0

There is speculation that Roeper and Phillips will go to Reelz. However, most of the country doesn't get the channel so I don't know if that would be a good thing.

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#21

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7/24/08 at 9:46am

DavidJ
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Martin

There is speculation that Roeper and Phillips will go to Reelz. However, most of the country doesn't get the channel so I don't know if that would be a good thing.

That would stink for me since I like watching them and don't get Reelz.

#22

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7/24/08 at 10:36am

Jason_V
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Martin

There is speculation that Roeper and Phillips will go to Reelz. However, most of the country doesn't get the channel so I don't know if that would be a good thing.

Ya know, if Reelz posted a podcast on iTunes like ABC did before they yanked it, this would be a moot point.

I'm still shocked Ben Lyons got the call. Honestly. I'll watch an eppy or two to see how much of a trainwreck the new show is, but it's effectively dead to me at this point.

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7/25/08 at 12:09pm

Tom McA
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Turnbull

Speculation has been that since Disney lowballed Ebert in initial renegotiations

I have great respect for Ebert's intellect and great history of reviews, however:

Not to take the side of the Big Evil Corporation over the guy recovering from cancer and surgical complications, but how much SHOULD someone who hasn't worked on the show for a couple of years now be getting paid?

#24

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7/27/08 at 6:23pm

BarryM
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Isn't it clear that Disney doesn't understand how important Ebert and Roeper's program was? They think that "retooling" it with new hosts is going to snare all of their old viewers. I doubt it will.

You can expect much more Disney promoted on this new show and fewer independent, documentary and foreign films reviewed.

It's an end of era, for sure, and Disney are big rats about it too.

#25

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7/27/08 at 6:47pm

Jon Martin
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryM

Isn't it clear that Disney doesn't understand how important Ebert and Roeper's program was? They think that "retooling" it with new hosts is going to snare all of their old viewers. I doubt it will.

Well, as I said earlier, it really isn't important to most. At least to viewers.

In many markets, if shown at all, it is burned off in the overnight hours. It is shown at midnight Sunday nights where I live. I've never seen it live, I always Tivo it. I can't imagine many people tune in.

Even back when Ebert was doing it, I would have to check the TV Guide every week, even sometimes call the station, to see when it was airing. It was on a different time every week.

The show wasn't exactly a hit. It was filler for most stations that carried it.

Retooling it can only bring in more viewers.

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#26

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7/27/08 at 7:36pm

Bob Turnbull
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

Quote:

Not to take the side of the Big Evil Corporation over the guy recovering from cancer and surgical complications, but how much SHOULD someone who hasn't worked on the show for a couple of years now be getting paid?

I probably should have phrased my comment to state that Ebert felt that Disney lowballed him during renegotiations. He felt that they just weren't dealing in good faith.

It all depends on what Disney thinks his name is worth to them. It appears they feel they can get more out of a cheaper show that leans towards more hype/advertisement - again, that's just the speculation.

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#27

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7/27/08 at 9:39pm

Adam Lenhardt
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

The show was never the value to Disney anyway, it was the "Two Thumbs Up" brand. They just kissed that good bye for good.

#28

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7/29/08 at 9:56am

Dave Nibeck
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I still like the show. It was neat when there was other guest reviewers. To me, it's not so much that I agree with Roeper's views, it just gave me a snapshot at upcoming movies.

And who cares what time it airs? The only live TV is watch is sports.

#29

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8/2/08 at 8:56am

Shad R
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

The reviews on their website aren't full reviews. They cut off toward the ending for some reason. A few reviews don't even get to the "thumbs" part. To bad, I was looking forward to this.

#30

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8/4/08 at 11:56am

Aaron Silverman
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Re: Ebert & Roeper Move On / New Hosts Announced

I used to watch Siskel & Ebert religiously in the '70s and '80s. I grew up on it. However, I think it's been 7-8 years since the show's even been on the air where I live.

Sometimes I'll watch the online review clips. I get Ebert's email newsletter, too.

And I regretfully agree that Disney can't be blamed for not wanting to pay much for a guy who hasn't been on the show in two years and will likely never be able to appear with any regularity in the future.

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