comment #1

corey3rd says ...

Roeper wants to spend more time with Craig Kilbourne's children

comment #2

Chase Kahn says ...

Ehh...I don't mind Roeper, he can be entertaining on that show. I like Michael Phillips, better, though...

Roeper's praise of THE BRAVE ONE still puzzels me to this day, though

comment #3

Bocephus says ...

Not an easy word, but it's spelled Tralfamadore. I also skimmed over the word and didn't try to pronounce it in my head while reading Slaughterhouse Five.

comment #4

Edward says ...

Thank you Rodger for all the fine work you've done for movie lovers. I haven't always agreed with you, but I've always been interested in what you had to say.

comment #5

pchu says ...

I think there is more to this story than it's letting on. Roeper said that he will talk about it more in the future (probably after the show is done in Aug).

Personally, I don't mind Roeper that much, though I can't qualify as a critic. Michael Phillips is pretty good though. Hopefully, those old shows will stay online.

comment #6

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

That explains why they switched from "Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down" to "See It/Skip it/Rent it" a month or so ago. I've come to like Phillips, and I thought Willonsky was a good foil for Roeper as well. So maybe At The Movies with Phillips and Willonsky?

comment #7

pchu says ...

I think there is more to this story than it's letting on. Roeper said that he will talk about it more in the future (probably after the show is done in Aug).

Personally, I don't mind Roeper that much, though I can't qualify him as a critic. Michael Phillips is pretty good though. Hopefully, those old shows will stay online.

comment #8

Bocephus says ...

"See It/Skip it/Rent it"

So now they're ripping off that shitbag (Chris Gore) from G4?

comment #9

nemo says ...

Ebert gave Mamma Mia a lower rating than Space Chimps. Man, that's cold.

comment #10

Chase Kahn says ...

Yeah, I think Roeper's just pissed he has to tell people to "See It" or "Skip It"...

comment #11

Joshua Mooney says ...

For me, it ended long ago. I remember "At the Movies" and "S&E" from PBS, and then later on cable. It hasn't meant much to me since Siskel went. It was always Gene and Roger. That was the show. That was the beauty of it. Anyway, who turns on the TV to get movie reviews these days? Nothing but good wishes for Roger now. "Vitality and tenacity in the face of adversity"? I call it courage. He's got more of it than I do. I hope he gets to spend his time watching lots of really good movies from here on out.

comment #12

GonePostal says ...

It doesn't mean as much now than it would have if they quit when Siskel died. Roeper, while no annoying, was given way too much influence with his elevation to co-host status, and Ebert's recovery, great though it is to see him reviewing again, took so long that the show isn't recognizable anymore. Also, Roeper brought nothing to the table, critic-wise, and Siskel could be real mean when he wanted to. The show lost it's bite. I won't miss it, but I miss the old days of the show.

comment #13

BurmaShave says ...

Chase Kahn, THE BRAVE ONE is excellently made and extremely questionable. Films can be abhorrent and still compelling, and THE BRAVE ONE has that in spades, much like its fascist forbearers of the 1970s. I can see why a simpleton like Roeper would fall head over heels for it. It says and feels something, which must feel like more than most movies to a guy who has to watch hundreds.

comment #14

Derby says ...

I have always liked Roper. But his positive review of "Rumor Has It..." remains inexcusable.

comment #15

115thDreamer says ...

Eh, it's not Roeper's fault that he's kind of a pussy. At least when Phillips was on, it made him look a little tougher by comparison. The two of them together always reminded me of Michael Medved and whoever his parter was back on their show...two wimps who were aghast at anything too edgy or controversial. Roeper / Phillips reviewed "Funny Games" as if they were two old ladies who hadn't seen a movie since 1955. Of the various guests that Roeper had on, A.O. Scott was obviously the cream of the crop, and Robert Willonsky was pretty good. A Scott-Willonsky pairing would be acceptable. I'd say Kenneth Turan, but I don't know if America is ready for his mug every week after Sunday dinner.

comment #16

LYT says ...

I'd rather see a Wells/Poland show than any of those.

comment #17

snackyx says ...

If memory serves me right I believe Medved was teamed with (ugh) Jeffrey Lyons for a time--THAT was nails on a blackboard. I loved watching Willonsky bitch-slap Roeper all over the set, and more than once Roeper had that "who the fuck do you think YOU are" look on his face and--presto--Willonsky was nowhere to be seen (except on HDNet). Now that Roeper is out of the picture, bring Willonsky back with Phillips--at least these two have some knowledge of what they are talking about. Roeper's historical knowledge of film was downright embarassing at times.

comment #18

Walter Sobchak says ...

I'll reeeeeeeeally miss Roeper's Deeeeeee Veeeeeee Deeeeee reviews as well as his recommendations on what I reeeeeally neeeeed to seeeeee.

Actually, I won't miss Richard "I liked it" Roeper. I do miss Siskel, though. I know ya'll love the institution that is Roger, and he can write like mutha, but he lost credibility with me a few years ago when he decided to like almost every movie to come out.

Like Roeper, when Roger doesn't like a film he'll make a huge, stinky ballyhoo as if to make you forget all of the bad movies he's given a pass to.

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Speed 2, Armagedon... Thumbs Up!

comment #19

T. S. Idiot says ...

One of the reasons to watch the old Siskel/Ebert was to see clips of movies, but the web has eliminated that need. I agree that this type of program is no longer necessary. A show like ESPN's Sports Reporters or Pardon the Interruption, with knowledgeable people arguing not just about current movies but Renoir, Welles, etc., would be interesting--as long as the right people were involved, not like the airheads on that show AMC tried a few years back.

comment #20

MilkMan says ...

If Jeffrey Lyons was nails on a blackboard, then his douchebag son Ben is the sound of rabbits being slaughtered, or whatever it is they use on all of the detainees at Gitmo. I bet Ben Lyons was the first one on IMDB to vote The Dark Knight the greatest film of all time. Ben Lyons makes his dad (and you just know he has some kind of nickname for Jefferey Lyons: Dadu, Daadaa. Abba, Paju) look like Manny Farber. And yes, Ben Lyons fucked my fiance about two years ago. She was out with some friends at Katana and he picked her up and told her who he was and she went home and fucked him. But that was all in the past. We are expecting our second child in November.

comment #21

Terry McCarty says ...

snackyx wrote:
Roeper's historical knowledge of film was downright embarassing at times.

Roeper's a businessman/would-be "personality" who doesn't really care about movies. He'd be better off hosting a game show or something like TALK SOUP.

comment #22

nelson37 says ...

Why pick on Roeper when everyone knows the dumbest critic on earth is Leonard Maltin. The douchbag pissed on "The Dark Knight" but liked "Mamma Mia.

comment #23

Brock Landers says ...

MilkMan - did your fiance give Ben a thumbs-up?

comment #24

nelson37 says ...

Why pick on Roeper when everyone knows the dumbest critic on earth is Leonard Maltin. The douchbag pissed on "The Dark Knight" but liked "Mamma Mia.

comment #25

nelson37 says ...

Why pick on Roeper when everyone knows the dumbest critic on earth is Leonard Maltin. The douchbag pissed on "The Dark Knight" but liked "Mamma Mia.

comment #26

Bocephus says ...

It's The Soup, now. And don't even talk about replacing Joel McHale. The man is a saint; thanks to him I can make fun of reality TV without having to watch the shit.

comment #27

nelson37 says ...

Why pick on Roeper when everyone know the --- oh, never mind.

comment #28

Chicago48 says ...

Here's the deal with Roeper: His newspaper the Suntimes is on the ropes. they are cutting back badly, hardly anyone left to write the paper. He needs/looking for another media outlet because let's face it, the newspaper is dead. His other options: Radio (which he has done) and TV. He will find something on either, whether it's local Chicago TV or national.

comment #29

anti-sardine says ...

Richard Roeper thinks he should be cast as Batman after Christian Bale is done with the series.
"I think I have the right look and, like Bruce Wayne, I am a total pussyhound" said the confidently groomed critic.
"Plus, I had Lasik recently so the glasses over the cowl thing is a non-issue anymore".

comment #30

Sweetbubba says ...

Roeper, to put it as charitable as possible, is an irrelevant lightweight who occasionally becomes noticeable solely for saying something even more groundless than his usual palm tree pontificating.

The show really hasn't been worthwhile since Siskel's demise. The interim period before Roeper was named permanent replacement wasn't bad, actually, but putting a goofy toadie like Roeper into Siskel's vacated spot was a real disgrace, and the show has stumbled downhill quickly ever since.

The sad state of the show is highlighted by the fact that most people thought it was cancelled long ago.

comment #31

Craptastic says ...

Though I'm not a fan of his films in the least bit, I found that some of the most honest reviews on that show came when Kevin Smith was guest hosting. I'd be all for him taking it over with a guest critic each week.

comment #32

Rev. Slappy says ...

When AO Scott was on, I always got the distinct impression he was trying to avoid using too many big words so Roeper wouldn't be confused.

comment #33

JVD says ...

Right on the money about Smith, Craptastic. Though I think a better fit for him would be to revive "Dinner For Five" and take over for Favreau. He guest hosted it once or twice and he has the right vibe for a show like that.

comment #34

Mgmax says ...

"That explains why they switched from "Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down" to "See It/Skip it/Rent it" a month or so ago."

Which, of course, is imitating the Buy it/Burn It/Trash It scale on "Sound Opinions," which, of course, was conceived as a Siskel and Ebert for rock and roll (one guy from the Trib, one from the Sun-Times).

comment #35

K. Bowen says ...

I would bet against a Scott-Philips pairing. That would be one guy too many who look too many who looks like he auditioned for the role in Lady in the Water. Bet Wilonsky.

comment #36

corey3rd says ...

Siskel and Ebert's show worked for me since it aired on Thursday night on PBS around here. But for the last few years, the channel running Ebert and Roeper had it going on Sunday mornings. What's the point? It was like one of Gene Shalit's two week old reviews.

Medved and Lyons kept their show going thanks to a right wing nutjob footing the budget

comment #37

CinemaPhreek says ...

Show died February 20, 1999, this is simply a formality - sorta like when a family finally has someone declared "legally dead."

Whole thing reminds me of those times when the LA Times suddenly realizes that a notable person died weeks before but they missed it so they run a splashy obit (as happened with Robert Knudson)

comment #38

Carl LaFong says ...

My favorite Siskel & Ebert moment was when Gene totally called Rog on his favorable remarks about 1987's excreable DATE WITH AN ANGEL. Roger chucked all critical credibility simply because he had a woody for Emmanuelle Béart as the angel (a point I won't dispute, but still, ya keep that sort of thing to yourself on the air).

Pretty funny stuff, check it out: http://tinyurl.com/5wl826

Anyway, an era has passed (and may have been the case since Gene's passing almost 10 years ago). I started watching "Sneak Previews" 30 years ago on PBS, way before all that thumb business, and it really was innovative in its time as an outlet to see film clips without promotional compromise. Gotta remember that back then, the only place you saw scenes from new movies were on chat shows with the stars humping the Product. They still do, but Gene & Roger brought a different dynamic to the process by leaving the spin out.

They could show scenes and HATE it. That remains their legacy. With the advent of the internets, the need for a clip show is less relevant, but sound criticism remains a necessity... and there's precious little of that out there...

Or, as they say on Tralfamadore, "Poo-tee-weet!"

comment #39

Aladdin Sane says ...

I remember when I was around ten or eleven and started to really be interested in films, even if I couldn't get into half the shit that was reviewed in S&E. Anyhow, I remember loving Gene cos he always went with really unconventional stuff for his fave pics every year...the last being late 1998/early '99 and saying BABE 2 was the best of '98. He would pass away a few months later just before I graduated from high school. Until recently I had the newspaper clipping about him from the local Vancouver paper (still may).
Obviously Ebert is still someone I respect, even if I do agree since Gene died he lost a bit of his edge - I think having such direction competition on a national stage helped keep his critical eye sharp. Ah well...this is a formality.

My fave guest before Roeper was the permanent replacement was Elvis Mitchell. I would have loved to have seen the Ebert & Mitchell show.

And Maltin pissed on TDK? That's funny.

comment #40

drgogol says ...

Sorry, but I've always felt that Roger's losing his voice was karmic payback for his giving Roeper one.

I respect Roger, I truly do. And I wish him long, comfortable life and happiness and blessings.

But some aspects of the universe you don't fuck with.
And Roeper's being a sycophantic, witless pissant is one of them.

comment #41

Admiral82 says ...

I was pissed when they named Roeper the permanent co-host. Seriously, what a fool he is! He comes off as pseudo-intellectual...

Gene Siskel was the "ying" to Rogers "yang." The show DID lose all credibility when he died. I too miss him dearly.

comment #42

lipranzer says ...

I also hope Phillips ends up somewhere, though at the very least, it seems the Tribune has video clips of him giving reviews on YouTube, or at least they used to. Like others here, I'm impressed with his knowledge of film history and incisive opinions. If nothing else, the fact that while Roeper just dismissed SOUTHLAND TALES outright while Phillips said it was an interesting try should say something.

Wilonsky actually I think is one of those people probably better in print than on TV. It's nice that he was able to smack Roeper around, but he also seems too impressed with himself.

Roeper is just a frat boy. Back when it was Siskel and Ebert, it was appointment TV for me; no longer.

comment #43

Terry McCarty says ...

Aladdin Sane wrote:
And Maltin pissed on TDK? That's funny.

Whatever one thinks of Leonard Maltin as a critic and/or historian, he's been consistent in preferring Old Hollywood to recent films. Some with long memories may recall a one-and-a-half star review given to the 1983 SCARFACE--with a particular groan about the running time vs. the 1932 original.

And as talk about this topic fades, anyone remember TIME film critic Richard Corliss kvetching about the Siskel and Ebert show in FILM COMMENT around 1990? The tone of that piece preceded the newspapers vs. blogs (what is "real" journalism) wars of today.

Ebert made a reference to Corliss in this interview with TIME OUT CHICAGO from last spring:

Time Out Chicago: There’s this anxiety over blog critics: They’re not edited, they’re considered not as informed and accountable as published critics. Do you share that concern at all?
Roger Ebert: Let the reader beware. Bloggers have a wider range, from the too stupid to ever see in print, to the too expert and specialized to ever see in print.

Time Out Chicago: Did you and Siskel face a similar anxiety when you went on TV?
Roger Ebert: Yes, but we were established as print critics. I had an exchange with Richard Corliss of Time, who wrote in Film Comment that our TV reviews were too short. But we talked fast: I was able to show that we devoted more words to a movie than Time did.

The full article can be found here:
http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/features/25855/roger-that

comment #44

John Y says ...

Oh dear no. Anne Thompson at Variety is saying that Ben Lyons (the son of Jeffrey Lyons) is expected to be named one of the hosts of the show.

Ben Lyons... this is the guy who said "I Am Legend" was "one of the greatest movies ever made."

Might as well start carving the tombstone for intelligent film criticism...

comment #45

Rev. Slappy says ...

I had never heard of Ben Lyons before, so I Googled him. Shouldn't he have to graduate from high school before he gets a job reviewing movies on TV. He will likely be the Paula Abdul of film criticism.

comment #46

snackyx says ...

Fasten your sealbelts, movie fans: its the further decline of western civilazation. This today from Nikki Finke:

"Ugh. News reports say the retooled Ebert & Roeper show will be co-hosted by a duo who got the gig due to nepotism: Ben Lyons, son of Jeffrey Lyons (the film critic world's biggest hack with zero credibility) and Ben Mankiewicz, host on Turner Classic Movies (whose claim to fame is that he's part of the famous film family). Now, there's a working definition of the death of film criticism for you. "

comment #47

Terry McCarty says ...

Re snackyx comment:
So essentially it's ROEPER AND PHILLIPS, but younger. Not having seen the younger Lyons in action, I'll take a guess that he'll go even further than Roeper to prove he's a "regular guy." Certainly the enormous thumbs-up for I AM LEGEND is an ominous warning; can imagine Ben Lyons orgasming in March over the release of WATCHMEN.

comment #48

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comment #49

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