Comments | mizzoumark: ? & ? and the Movies

mizzoumark

? & ? and the Movies

Jul 22, 2008 11:45

Ebert & Roeper have announced they're leaving Ebert & Roeper, which will probably bring an end to one of the most iconic television series ever.

I'm not so sad about Roeper, but I'm saddened about Ebert leaving. Sure, he hasn't been able to be on for two years, but as long as his name was in the title, the show had a link to the good old days. Now ( Read more... )

Comments 2

amurderofcows July 24 2008, 21:05:44 UTC

I've been a fan of Siskel & Ebert from their PBS days. I've seen episodes of the show that don't exist anymore because some dumbass recorded over the tapes.

I know Roeper-basing is very fashionable, but I give the guy credit for refusing to renew his contract because he couldn't support the Hollywood-focused, Entertainment Tonight-style format Disney wanted to take with the show. And I thought the show had regained some of its old spark, if not all, with the addition of apparently-permanent guest host Michael Phillips, who played off Roeper well, and returned the show to its roots in the Chicago newspaper rivalry between the Sun-Times and the TribuneRoeper has said a new show in the vein of the original Siskel & Ebert will be announced soon, and I imagine it will be with Michael Phillips (who isn't under contract to Disney, and probably isn't who they want for a glitzier show anyway). I also noted that Ebert, in his statement, went out of his way to praise the guest hosting of Phillips and A.O. Scott ( ... )

mizzoumark July 26 2008, 20:00:18 UTC

Sadly a lot of shows before the early 80s were wiped out because no one saw any rerun value in them. So entire runs of talk shows, soap operas, game shows, news programs, and the like are gone forever.

I really can't imagine why Disney thinks we need another Entertainment Tonight clone. I've lost track of the number already on the air. It's hard to imagine this getting better timeslots then E&R are getting now (here in Dallas, it airs at 11 pm on Sunday nights).

I don't hate Roeper, and would probably like him if he wasn't paired with Ebert. I've actually liked him better since Ebert's been off the show. Ebert kind of blew him away, I'm afraid.

I'm looking forward to the new show, whatever (and whenever) it is.