After 24 successful years of well thought out reviews, great duets, and some memorable reviews, the curtain closes on the balcony for the show At the Movies. I've always loved the show, even with the two "Bens" hosting. It may not have been the greatest, but it inspired me into the field of making a TV show on Youtube, a message board, and even online reviews/blog posts. Announced by A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips (currents hosts of At the Movies) that the show will run till August 14, 2010 (one year anniversary of the creation of my message board) and the show will be no more. The show has went through a number of host changes which I will include in this post.
The creators that inspired the show still never cease to get credit. Siskel and Ebert started way back in 1982 with At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. They left in 1986 leaving the show to Rex Reed and Bill Harris. They started their own show a few years later which became known as Siskel & Ebert.
When Siskel died of a brain tumor in 1999, and after a string of guest hosts filled in for him along with Ebert. Ebert settled on Richard Roeper, whom he would make the new host of the show now known as Ebert & Roeper. Up until a few years ago (2006), Ebert had left the show because of his thyroid cancer which eventually lead him to lose his voice. Sadly, he was replaced by numerous guest hosts including Kevin Smith, Jay Leno, A.O. Scott, and one of the most appeared fill ins, Michael Phillips.
Roeper announced his last show in 2008, which now meant the show would either be canned or new hosts would fill in. ABC was said to have made a "fatal mistake" hiring Ben Lyons of E! and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies. Both hosts had little to no experience with film criticism in anyway and were heavily criticized by fans of the show. In my humble opinion, Lyons and Mankiewicz were tolerable, but I was crying inside to see Ebert and Roeper back in the balcony. Plus the color of an orange balcony was unfitting and left a dry taste.
Another host change was needed, which is where A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips came into place. Both critics filled in on the show before, both write columns for big budget papers, and both have knowledge and sense when it comes to criticism. A.O. and Michael make a great on screen duo with their heavy discussion on some movies, and some lighter toned laid back reviews. Their chemistry together is good, better than Lyons/Mankiewicz, but doesnt have the same Siskel/Ebert, Ebert/Roeper feel that most fans still miss.
On the same day the announced cancelation took place, Roger Ebert made a statement saying he will be coming out with a new show soon with the working title of Roger Ebert Presents: At the Movies. The show spikes my interest, but will be odd seeing as Ebert's only form of communication is a speaking device on his computer that resembles his voice. Regardless, I'm anxious for the show and hope to see it premiere succesfully. We need a film review show in our lineup. When the cancelation of At the Movies was confimed, the loss of a show wasn't all, but a loss of a genre as well.
R.I.P. At the Movies.
The creators that inspired the show still never cease to get credit. Siskel and Ebert started way back in 1982 with At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. They left in 1986 leaving the show to Rex Reed and Bill Harris. They started their own show a few years later which became known as Siskel & Ebert.
When Siskel died of a brain tumor in 1999, and after a string of guest hosts filled in for him along with Ebert. Ebert settled on Richard Roeper, whom he would make the new host of the show now known as Ebert & Roeper. Up until a few years ago (2006), Ebert had left the show because of his thyroid cancer which eventually lead him to lose his voice. Sadly, he was replaced by numerous guest hosts including Kevin Smith, Jay Leno, A.O. Scott, and one of the most appeared fill ins, Michael Phillips.
Roeper announced his last show in 2008, which now meant the show would either be canned or new hosts would fill in. ABC was said to have made a "fatal mistake" hiring Ben Lyons of E! and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies. Both hosts had little to no experience with film criticism in anyway and were heavily criticized by fans of the show. In my humble opinion, Lyons and Mankiewicz were tolerable, but I was crying inside to see Ebert and Roeper back in the balcony. Plus the color of an orange balcony was unfitting and left a dry taste.
Another host change was needed, which is where A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips came into place. Both critics filled in on the show before, both write columns for big budget papers, and both have knowledge and sense when it comes to criticism. A.O. and Michael make a great on screen duo with their heavy discussion on some movies, and some lighter toned laid back reviews. Their chemistry together is good, better than Lyons/Mankiewicz, but doesnt have the same Siskel/Ebert, Ebert/Roeper feel that most fans still miss.
On the same day the announced cancelation took place, Roger Ebert made a statement saying he will be coming out with a new show soon with the working title of Roger Ebert Presents: At the Movies. The show spikes my interest, but will be odd seeing as Ebert's only form of communication is a speaking device on his computer that resembles his voice. Regardless, I'm anxious for the show and hope to see it premiere succesfully. We need a film review show in our lineup. When the cancelation of At the Movies was confimed, the loss of a show wasn't all, but a loss of a genre as well.
R.I.P. At the Movies.
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