CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert says he's cutting ties with the television show that he and the late Gene Siskel made famous.
In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday, Ebert said Disney-ABC Domestic Television had decided to take the show "in a new direction" and he won't be associated with it.
His announcement came a day after Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper said he was leaving the nationally syndicated At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper.
Roeper said in a statement Sunday that he had failed to agree on a contract extension with Disney-ABC Domestic Television so his last appearance on the show will air the weekend of Aug. 16-17.
"Several months ago, Disney offered to extend my contract, which expires at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season," Roeper said. "I opted to wait. Much transpired after that behind the scenes, but an agreement was never reached, and we are all moving on."
A message seeking comment was left for a spokeswoman for Disney-ABC Domestic Television early Monday.
Roeper said he intends to "proceed elsewhere ... as the co-host of a movie review show that honors the standards established by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert more than 30 years ago."
"I will be free to share the details on that program in the near future," he said.
He also said he wishes Disney "the best of luck with their new show, whatever form it may take."
Roeper joined Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert on the show in 2000, after Ebert's original co-host, Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel, died of a brain tumor in 1999.
Siskel and Ebert had begun reviewing movies on television together in 1975 on Chicago public broadcasting's WTTW, which eventually took their program national. The pair jumped to commercial television through the Tribune Co.'s TV syndication wing in 1982, switching to Disney in 1986.
Roeper was chosen from among a large group of contenders to be the permanent replacement for Siskel after his death.
Ebert has been sidelined the last two years because of health issues that have robbed him of his voice.
"Over the last two seasons, as Roger has bravely coped with his medical issues, I've continued the show with a number of guest co-hosts," Roeper said. "It's never been the same without Roger, but I'm proud of the work we've done and I'm grateful to all the co-hosts who stepped in — and to the viewers that stayed loyal to the show."
4 comments:
Statement from Roger Ebert
After 33 years on the air, 23 of them with Disney, the studio has decided to take the program named "Siskel & Ebert" and then "Ebert & Roeper" in a new direction. I will no longer be associated with it.
The show was a wonderful experience. It was a great loss to me when surgery in July 2006 made it impossible for me to appear on the air any longer. Although I remained active behind the scenes, I feel that Richard Roeper and several co-hosts, notably Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott, have excelled at carrying on the tradition Gene Siskel and I began in 1975 with "Sneak Previews" on PBS.
Gene and I felt the formula was simplicity itself: Two film critics, sitting across the aisle from each other in a movie balcony, debating the new films of the week. We developed an entirely new concept for TV that has lasted all these years. Few shows have been on the air so long and remained so popular. We made television history, and established the trademarked catch-phrase "Two thumbs up."
The trademark still belongs to me and Marlene Iglitzen, Gene's widow, and the thumbs will return. We are discussing possibilities, and plan to continue the show's tradition.
Roger Ebert
No matter his taste in movies, I think Ebert is cool.
jpx and i have a grad school classmate whose dad (retired prof and continuous movie buff) has met ebert in person! susan's dad says ebert's a good egg.
I started watching this show at 11 years old when it first aired and have watched it through the years. I really thought Roeper was pompous when he first started but he really has softened up through the last few years. I think Kevin Smith beat him down and after those shows with Kevin Roeper softened up.
I still watched it without Roger but I miss Roger's input on the show.
This show has been with me most of my life so I will miss it greatly. As for the new direction, I'm sure that has something to do with not bashing any of Disney's movies since they took over.
*tips glass to the end of an era.
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