GENE AND ROGER (Podcast, 2021). The Ringer. Got to listen to the podcast on a cross-country flight. It's a quite well done audio documentary on Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, most colloquially known simply as: Siskel & Ebert.
Brian Rafferty researched and hosts the podcast which is broken down into 8 episodes (about 3 1/2 hrs.in all). He does a very good job of covering their professional lives both individually and collectively right up until each of their passings. The guests include both critics' widows as well as friends and colleagues who worked with them closely. To his credit, Rafferty includes quite a few tales of how difficult each man could be and how fairly ruthless they were in pursuing their careers from a business POV - leaving more than a few hard feelings all the way. Indeed, one of the episodes is entitled: “I Must Destroy Him.”
It's not all dirty laundry, of course. The podcast does a good job demonstrating how S&E helped shed light on indies, docs and Foreign Language films and emerging filmmakers such as MY DINNER WITH ANDRE and Justin Lin. Their mixed influence on film criticism is also well explored including the oft-mocked 'thumbs up and thumbs down' (a clip reveals that Ebert later had regrets; the program does include the true reason why it was begun - and cannily trademarked). In the end, it's a story of a pair of storied FriendEnemies who eventually grew to respect - and even grow fond of one another.
A definite recommend for Siskel & Ebert fans. Thumbs up.
GENE AND ROGER is available on Spotify, Apple etc. Or, directly on the net: https://www.theringer.com/gene-and-roger-podcast
Brian Rafferty researched and hosts the podcast which is broken down into 8 episodes (about 3 1/2 hrs.in all). He does a very good job of covering their professional lives both individually and collectively right up until each of their passings. The guests include both critics' widows as well as friends and colleagues who worked with them closely. To his credit, Rafferty includes quite a few tales of how difficult each man could be and how fairly ruthless they were in pursuing their careers from a business POV - leaving more than a few hard feelings all the way. Indeed, one of the episodes is entitled: “I Must Destroy Him.”
It's not all dirty laundry, of course. The podcast does a good job demonstrating how S&E helped shed light on indies, docs and Foreign Language films and emerging filmmakers such as MY DINNER WITH ANDRE and Justin Lin. Their mixed influence on film criticism is also well explored including the oft-mocked 'thumbs up and thumbs down' (a clip reveals that Ebert later had regrets; the program does include the true reason why it was begun - and cannily trademarked). In the end, it's a story of a pair of storied FriendEnemies who eventually grew to respect - and even grow fond of one another.
A definite recommend for Siskel & Ebert fans. Thumbs up.
GENE AND ROGER is available on Spotify, Apple etc. Or, directly on the net: https://www.theringer.com/gene-and-roger-podcast
