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Following Disney/ABC Domestic TV’s recent cancellation of the syndicated At the Movies after a 24 year run, veteran movie critic Roger Ebert just announced he will be launching a new weekly half-hour film review show, Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies, on PBS in January. It will be hosted by Christy Lemire, film critic of The Associated Press, and the controversial Elvis Mitchell of NPR and formerly The New York Times. (UPDATE: Nikki emails, “I’m betting that Elvis doesn’t show up for the taping more than once, given his track record. After all, this is the same flake who in years past didn’t show up for jobs at both the Los Angeles Times and Sony Pictures.”)
“This is the rebirth of a dream,” Ebert wrote on his blog. “I believe that by returning to its public roots, our new show will win better and more consistent time slots in more markets.” A decade before it became syndicated, Ebert and the late Gene Siskel launched their review show on PBS’ Chicago station WTTW in 1975 as Opening Soon at a Theater Near You and then in 1976 as Sneak Previews, becoming the highest rated entertainment show in PBS history.
At the Movies will bring back Ebert’s copyrighted Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down rating system, which was taken out of the syndicated show after Ebert’s departure amidsts his battle with cancer. Ebert, who cannot speak as a result of the cancer treatment, will produce the series with his wife Chaz Ebert. He will also appear in a segment titled Roger’s Office, with the help of a computer-generated voice. Ebert won’t be giving out thumbs-ups though. The two hosts “will be awarding the Thumbs, and you can’t have three Thumbs,” he quipped. Listed as “occasional contributors” to the show are film bloggers Kim Morgan and Omar Moore.
- Disney Cancels Syndicated ‘At The Movies’
- Goodbye Nepotism: New Critics For ‘At The Movies’
- Contract Disputes End Ebert-Roeper
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Roger and Gene were always the best of these shows. I am glad to see Roger back in the game. He has great knowledge and understanding of film storytelling, and I am sure he will guide this show with all his valuable experience.
Roger, I wish you all the best for this show and your life in general. Keep up the good work!
True dat. They recommended Paris Texas, among a whole raft of other little movies that would have been lost without Siskel and Ebert to champion them.
I will absolutely be watching this. Well done, Ebert & PBS, and thank you.
Thank you PBS and Roger Ebert.
I don’t know about the other thumb regular, but Elvis Mitchell knows his stuff (The Treatment is a great radio series).
awesome. love this news!
Glad to hear it. It’s probably too late to ever fully put the genie back in the bottle that was the original program, but it will hopefully last a while. Sampling some of the newer “hipper” alternatives on cable like Reel Channel’s Movie Mob or Current’s Rotten Tomatoes was pretty painful viewing. As usual, simpler is better.
Roger should have hired Michael Lerner to play him on the show – type up Roger’s review – even the banter can be done with the other critic saying his words and Roger quickly typing up his response for Lerner to deliver.
This is the best news I’ve heard all week!!
As a kid, I watched the original “Sneak Previews” show religiously every week for years when it ran on PBS – and haven’t missed an episide for decades through all the various TV incarnations/host line-up changes, etc. – sooo happy to hear Roger seems to be going back to the series’ concept roots.
While it’s heart-breaking that Roger has lost his real voice, with the help of cutting-edge tech/software, it’s heartening to hear he will appear in “Roger’s Office” segment – his wit/insight won’t be silenced.
Will they bring back Sparky the Wonder Dog for the much-missed “Dog of the Week” segment?
I bet Gene is smiling down on us right now.
Welcome news, indeed. The last iteration – with Michael Phillips and Tony Scott – was beginning to recapture the essence of the show. A far better version than the one with the “Two Bens”.
Watching old Siskel & Ebert footage, it was clear the two critics had their own distinct views and were not afraid to criticize each other (sometimes mercilessly). But in the end, they seemed to respect each other, even if it wasn’t always reflected on-screen.
The worst thing for this show was to be distribued by Disney. They just didn’t get it. In my market, the show was relegated to a deadly time-slot (after midnight Saturdays), which couldn’t have generated much in the way of eitehr viewership or ad revenue. Glad to see it coming back to PBS where it can truly be objective. (Really, how many times did the Disney suits approach the Two Bens, Phillips, or Scott, to remind them of who they were working for?)
Great news, no doubt. Hopefully a intelligent, proper movie review show. Although good news that Ebert isnt going to be the principle contributor, his reviews have lost their edge somewhat over the ast few years.
However, thankyou Roger Ebert.
I’m a local Chicagoan and I told roger that he should consider using Sign Language! He is too wrapped up in the technology side of things and doesn’t consider it… I think if he used Sign Language they could dub his voice in Post.. They could use an intrepreter to explain his arguements to whoever sits across from him and fix all that in post.. It would work !!!
Ebert used to review movies now he is just a tool for the far left propaganda machine. I suppose he has come to the conclusion that in his dying days becoming bitter and trashing his political opponents makes his a darling of the far left. Perhaps, so it will be interesting to see how he fares.
So happy to hear this news. Regardless of whether or not I agree with his reviews I respect Ebert and appreciate his love of films AND filmmakers.
The world has moved on to Rotten Tomatoes TV on Current and Reelz Channel’s multiple review and interview programs. PBS? Richie Rich Christy Lemire?
Destined to fail.
Sad that the latest version left the air. Really liked Phillips and Scott together.
Ditto. In some ways, I liked those two as much as the original Roger and Gene. I think they were the two most intelligent hosts the show ever had.
For some reason, Ebert’s written reviews always seemed more persuasive and entertaining than his on-camera reviews, where I sometimes found him to be a bit of a pushover.
Still, he has clearly maintained his love and enthusiasm for film over the years–no mean feat for a critic.
I was excited for this until I saw that Elvis Mitchell was one of the critics. How many more chances to fail does he get?
I miss Gene.
Getting Elvis Mitchell for the show will actually be great. He’s quite an interesting and captivating person that I think viewers will really like.
One of the best things about this that nobody has commented on is, for the first time in all its various incarnations, the show will feature critics who aren’t white males. I never understood why — even in the terrible Ben & Ben version and the vastly improved Phillips & Scott version — they never tried reaching out to the other 50% of the population (women) or the growing majority (non-whites). A woman and an African American are great choices to spice up a traditionally white-male format. Way to go, Roger!
unbelievably racist and sexist
Roger Ebert is one of the most intelligent and thoughtful man around. Not only is he a smart reviewer, he sheds lights on many subjects with a sense of humor and understanding.
His twitter feed is a joy to read and I’m glad he’s getting back into TV.
I grew up watching his show and continue to find his work fresh and inspiring.
And the fact, that against MANY odds, he is still with us and sharp as ever is a gift.
I loved At the Movies with Siskel & Ebert, Ebert & Roeper, and most recently AO Scott and Phillips.
I’ll be happy to watch Lumiere & Mitchell, I love the format of the Movie Review show, but I really miss Phillips and Scott. I wish they’d be the featured reviewers. They were awesome.
Roeper was–and probably still is–a fickle idiot.
His decisions as to whether a film was any good or not always seemed completely arbitrary to me.
Roeper was a columnist – not a film critic – for the Chicago Sun-Times, Ebert’s home, when he was chosen to join the program. And what an insightful columnist he was! Remember when he chastised Dove’s ad campaign for forcing him to look at fatties?
During his tenure as a “film critic,” Roeper never met a film he didn’t love seeing his name associated with in advertising. Wasn’t Ebert the man who coined the phrase “quote whore?” He’s the reason I stopped watching the show. I may have often disagreed with Siskel, but I always respected him – something I could never say about Roeper.
Ironically, I was rooting for Elvis Mitchell to succeed Siskel. Of all the guest critics, he seemed the most engaging and least intimidated, even laughing at Ebert’s negative reaction to the South Park movie.
The bottom line is, when the show debuts, I’ll be watching. It’s good to have Roger back in TV. There’s still nobody I’d rather have a discussion about film with.
How depressing.
Lemire is the Barbie Doll of “movie critics” (her syndicated crap helped put a lot of worthy daily film critics out of work) and Elvis remains a legend in his own mind, not a serious critic or journalist.
I don’t understand why Roger insists upon beating a dead horse.
Scott and (to a less degree) Phillips were fine in the last year of “At the Movies.” But the pairing of, ick, Lemire and Mitchell promises to be as deadly in its own way as the two Bens.
Just let it die already.
Since you mentioned – the two Bens? An utter travesty! Ben M. actually would have been okay with someone more on his level (he’s decent on TCM intros, for example) but Ben L. was an embarrassment to his father (which is, undoubtedly, his only credential in reviewing any movie, at any time.) Thank god we don’t have to ever see that by accident when changing channels ever again!
I will be there Roger’s new show! Love ya Rog!!
Ebert went with women and black guys just to further flaunt his extreme leftist politics (try stomaching his Twitter and blog sometime to see how far off the deep end he’s gone). The hosts of the show will be too sensitive about not coming off as racist or sexist to truly challenge each other’s viewpoints. But it’s progressive hosting, so we can all feel warm & fuzzy about ourselves while no animated debate gets created.
The creepiness of seeing Ebert on-camera with a digitized voice will also overshadow whatever he’s trying to talk about in the world of cinema.
The good news is that it’s PBS, so they can fly under the radar with the abysmal ratings the show is likely to garner.
You could try to use intelligence to rebuke the stands Roger has on various topics (or even engage him one-on-one at his site, which he would likely do) but if the only defense is anonymous internet crying that you don’t agree with him I think he’s plenty safe.
Nothing apparently gets righties more mad than famous people they can add to the persona non grata list they seem obsessed with maintaining. Ebert would probably destroy almost any “news” based right wing talking head pundit in an intellectual debate handily and he’s a damn movie critic.
I’d be embarrassed too.
Thanks for standing up for Roger. He is a very intelligent fellow and he would, like you said, probably destroy those talking head “pundits” you mention…
Mr. or Ms. “The Truth”, you articulate a very small, hateful perspective, one that only really cynical and ignorant types would call “truth.”
The pristine world that exists in your mind is vivid from your comments about Ebert’s “creepy” presence. God forbid images of disability, or (gasp) WOMEN and NEGROES should intrude upon your consciousness.
Um, anyway, cool to see the show coming back. PBS (not the networks) is the right place for a program designed to discuss movies in any meaningful detail.
Obviously, none of the other commenters are TV producers.
Nothing about the critics’ credentials or intelligence is relevant to the success of the show.
What is needed is that strange balance of disagreement over the films with a certain camaraderie among themselves, as Siskel and Ebert had. Most of these teams exhibit no connection between each other, which is why the shows fail.
Television shows always pretend to be about a subject, but they are always about the relationship between the people on screen. That’s what brings viewers back.
I hope these producers are auditioning candidates TOGETHER.
Good point, Kerr. you’re absolutely right.