Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA One of my all time favorite shows is 'At the Movies.' (yes, you're wondering, it is still on). Loved the show when it was on PBS with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. And even with all the more recent changes after Gene Siskel passed away, and Richard Roeper and Roger Ebert worked the show before Ebert's illness side-lined him. In the past year Ben Mankeiwicz and Ben Lyons were hosts, and it became a very overblown, Enterainment Tonight type of program. I didn't like it. Then, more recently Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott found the old formula that Siskel & Ebert had, and the show started to click. Then, on this past week's show, A.O. Scott says, late in the program, 'with only 4 more episodes to go, we look back...blah...blah...blah.' I can find nothing in the web searches about the cancellation of the show. Anybody know any details? Seeing 'At the Movies' go away forever -- it's of course, silly, but it's like an old friend packing up and moving away. *sniff*
Originally Posted By matthewdort Yeah, Disney announced they were cancelling the show back in March. The magic died when Siskel did, and I'm surprised the show has lasted this long. In the days of Rotten Tomatoes, it was kind of a pointless relic anyway.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I hadn't heard that Disney was cancellig the show. Must have missed that. Of course, I do realize that the format has become antiquated, and I suppose I watch, yearning for the old days of Siskel & Ebert. That said -- there's something very laid back and fun about watching these two guys talk about movies. And while Scott and Phillips hardly ever 'get into it' the way Siskel & Ebert did in their hey day, it's still a great format and it still works. And, unlike the snarky, smug and sarcastic tone of 'Rotten Tomatoes' TV show (yes, there is one), 'At The Movies' still has a classy, understated sensibility that I don't find very often on TV. I'll miss it.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I'll miss it too. I liked it best when it was "Sneak Previews" on PBS way back when. Without commercial interruption, Siskel & Ebert could get into more philosophical debate on why a movie worked or didn't. While I almost always sided with Roger Ebert (and even now, more often than not agree with his take on a movie) I appreciated Siskel's view as well. They were two guys that obviously loved movies.
Originally Posted By Oldschool Disney I always like the show too. But maybe with the internet these types of shows won't go away.
Originally Posted By JeffG In case you haven't heard, Roger Ebert got the rights to the "At the Movies" name back after Disney canceled it and he is currently developing a new show that he will co-produce with his wife. Details such as who the hosts will be and when it will debut (or even who is going to distribute it) hasn't been announced. Ebert's illness has left him unable to speak, so he obviously won't be hosting it. He has said that he hopes to still have a limited on-air role (with the aide of a computer-generated voice), probably doing "great movies" recommendations or something similar. -Jeff
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Thanks for the update, JeffG -- I didn't know that Ebert snagged the 'At the Movies' name. Could be cool.
Originally Posted By Anatole69 I agree with Ebert 90% of the time and even when I don't, I find his viewpoint clearly and cogently argued. You can find many of their old reviews on youtube. The one for the Last Emperor is fun, both of them fall over themselves praising the movie: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O-Q1fzxIvo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...Q1fzxIvo</a> The one for The Unforgiven is the one time I really disagreed with Ebert and felt he really missed the mark: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvrevglchJY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...evglchJY</a> - Anatole
