Richard Roeper Leaves 'Ebert & Roeper'
Filed under: Deals, Home Entertainment
What do you do when you don't have the Ebert and you don't have the Roeper of At the Movies With Ebert and Roeper?CNN reports that Richard Roeper, the Gene Siskel replacement who has been co-hosting the show since 2000, has declined an offer to renew his contract. After 8 seasons, he's heading on and his last stint on the show will air August 16-17. Roeper says that Disney offered to extend his contract, and he "opted to wait. Much transpired after that behind the scenes, but an agreement was never reached, and we are all moving on." For Richard, that means going to new reviewing pastures. He says that he will be co-hosting another reviewing show, and "will be free to share the details on that program in the near future."
With both of the hosts gone, what happens now? A show with recognizable celebs and guest hosts? Nothing? According to a statement from Roger Ebert, the era is over: "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."
It's not entirely shocking news, but it does feel sad. That being said, Roeper isn't the only one with some future plans. Check out the statement after the jump and see for yourself.
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
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
7-21-2008 @ 2:01PM
Mike said...
Word is Disney wanted to turn the show into an Entertainment Tonight knockoff, as if we need another one of those. So I don't blame Roeper for leaving. It really hasn't been "Ebert & Roeper" for years, anyway.
If I had to guess, I'd say Roeper ends up licensing the "Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down" trademark from Ebert for his new show. You need something better than "See It/Skip It" nowadays. And with Ebert's condition, he's not really in a position to do much with the thumbs up/down. Unless he wanted to use it in print. But he uses the star ratings for that.
Reply
7-21-2008 @ 3:04PM
MCW said...
I've really enjoyed the show these past few years, I like the guest host that is always on there (I think he's Michael Philips?). It's been called At The Movies with Richard Roeper actually, not "Ebert & Roeper" for at least a year now.
I am disappointed to hear he's leaving because I like the format of the show a lot. Cinematical, keep us updated on the situation for both shows (Including Richard's new one), as no one else will.
7-21-2008 @ 3:09PM
kevjohn said...
I'll follow Ebert to wherever his new venture takes him. Disney can take their little filthy rat and go screw.
Reply
7-21-2008 @ 4:04PM
Robin said...
I actually really enjoy Robert Wilonsky and hope he gets a movie review show (instead of just trailers). He was the best guest host on E&R.
Reply
7-21-2008 @ 6:36PM
uforeader said...
Too bad. I liked the show and DVR it every week. I've enjoyed the guest reviewers in the recent months, and I've always liked Roeper. I hope they can find another station so they can continue to bring us their weekly reviews.
Reply
7-22-2008 @ 2:29PM
Brandy said...
In the words of Bob "Bulldog" Brisco (ala Fraiser)
"THIS SUCKS! THIS IS TOTAL BS!"
Leave it to Disney to mess things up! Memo to Mickey:
If it aint broke, don't fix it!
Reply
9-02-2008 @ 1:31AM
Eyvan said...
DITTO Brandy! If Ebert & Roeper build a show around Roeper, I will glady Follow...
9-01-2008 @ 1:32AM
Mary Hanke said...
I have been watching this show since it was on PBS and is one of a very short list of 2 (and the other is 60 minutes) that I refuse to miss. I always write down their picks, and if I ever get a chance to go to the movies, I go to one that got 2 enthusiastic thumbs up or see it's. My first date with my now husband was "Ghost" recomended by then. Today when Roeper said he was leaving the show, my heart sank. I loved all the guest hosts but Michael Phillip guy did seem to be a good fit. If the show doesn't return in some capacity, I will be very upset. At first, I thought Ebert was coming back. I really don't care what he looks like and neither should he as his mind and his ability to rate a movie is whats important to me and most of the rest of his fans. Ebert and Roeper should return, even if Ebert just phones in to tell his picks if he doesn't want to show his face. So as others have said, Disney blew another one. Please come back Ebert and Roeper.
Reply
9-01-2008 @ 4:14AM
jeanie said...
Still in sadness and in shock. I feel like I have lost a member
of my family, a part of my life, a part of my routine. This
is terribly painful. When Siskel died, it was tragic, when
Ebert got sick...it was another loss. Richard and his guest
hosts provided a sense of going forward and going on and
now he too has chosen to say his good bye. All these losses
over the years is magnified because we are also losing a
format that "talked" to adults by adults. A comfort zone with
a huge fan base...reading about Disney's plans for the future, it appears their new show will have no originality and follow the same trail as many in the entertainment field of "kinetic and manic." How sad for all of us that rather than a show
with an exciting, thoughtprovoking exchange of ideas it will
become a klone of our times...inane and dull pushing for
laughs and people pleasing rather than originality and individuality. It just makes me sad again and I will mourne
once again. I do wish Richard the best of everything and
as always awaiting Ebert's return. This is a show that is
missed over and over again. Thanks for the years of
smiles and knowing the films I was going to see.
Reply
9-01-2008 @ 11:14AM
Monica said...
What a terrible loss! I thought the show had really found its rhythm with Phillips and Roeper. I've watched this show since its inception and have been a great fan.
I'm waiting with anticipation to see what Roeper announces.
Reply
9-03-2008 @ 3:44PM
Raoul said...
This is sad. Disney no longer get my business. I've been going to Disney World every February for years. Not any more.
I've just canceled next year's trip
Reply
9-06-2008 @ 11:42AM
Xanna Don't said...
I didn't know about this, because the Atlanta affiliate sometimes preempts the show for Nascar crap. So this morning's broadcast of the new show format was a cruel surprise. It looks like a couple of car salesman hijacked my show! It's painfully slick! I'm watching with disbelief as these 2 crits toss to a panel discussion about the new Vin Diesel movie. Do we really need the labored concensus of 5 people to come to the conclusion that we should probably skip it? I'm so sick and tired of cool stuff in our culture being systematically dumbed down. Maybe this afternoon, in despair, I'll rewatch my favorite horror movie: Idiocracy. Somebody ave us!
Reply
9-06-2008 @ 4:39PM
Jean said...
The shows and reviews were great. My husband and I looked forward to the show every Saturday morning at 6:30 and if we missed it (which wasn't often), loved to go to the website to see what we missed. I will keep up with Ebert and Roeper to see what each one is up to next. I wish them the best in their new endeavors.
Reply
9-06-2008 @ 9:18PM
crazybubba said...
What the hell is up with all these studio execs who arrogantly walk into a situation and feel they're such geniuses that they can improve something by modernizing and making it slick. What a bunch of morons--If it ain't broke don't fix it. I watched the new version of the show just five minutes ago and its unwatchable except for the reviewer from tmc. That kid from E! is a goofball. Twice he used the cliched phrase "i wasted minutes of my life that'll never get back". Yea, that's how i felt after watching that crap show.
Disney sucks and is way overrated. Pixar saved their asses.
Whatever Ebert and Roeper do next I hope they try to include Kevin Smith in it in some way, he was hilarious on the show the couple of times he was a co-host.
Reply
9-07-2008 @ 1:20PM
Sara said...
I'm very sad this show is over. How can you take the two stars out of their own show. I especially enjoyed the art film reviews. Would like to know about Richard Roeper's new show.
Reply
9-07-2008 @ 11:51PM
Jon said...
Wow, I didn't know about Roeper leaving the show until I saw the At The Movies tonight. I was very confused by this show that appeared to be a community college Television Production broadcast. Awful drivel. I've watched the show since I was in high school in the early 80s. I won't watch another episode of it after seeing this.
Reply
9-08-2008 @ 12:43AM
Kristixx said...
Thanks, Disney, for bringing an era to its knees.
I miss Siskel so much, and thank God Ebert still has his reviews via email. Roeper and guests ( sorry to Phillips that this happened, because his new niche fit well) filled a gap .
I began watching Siskel and Ebert when they first came to PBS. I set my alarm at 6:30 AM every Sunday morning, in recent decades, to catch the show ( and tape it) this meant so much to me. My family members, also movie buffs, would ask me that day what the duo had to review; thereby, I and my sis, now deceased, were called "Sister and Ebert". so this is a personal era lost.
I hope Roeper sticks will the format, and brings it back by other means.
Thanks Guys! Thumbs up!
Reply
9-08-2008 @ 3:07AM
ParisWhitneyHilton said...
i truly will miss Richard Roeper as much as i did Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel . i was very unhappy to see this great weekly show go in the direction it did . i would like to see Ebert & Roeper reunited again in a new program someday in the not too distant future . get better Rog, we all miss you ! .. P.W.H.
Reply
9-08-2008 @ 4:41AM
dan said...
Similar to Jon, I didn't know the show was changing until I tuned in tonight. The new show is horrible. I could hardly stand watching for the full half hour. I am very disappointed because for years I have enjoyed the show and made a point of seeing movies that were recommended. The new reviewers are superficial and offer no critical insight.
Reply
9-08-2008 @ 6:09AM
June said...
I've watched "At The Movies" since its inception. What made it such a pleasure to watch was Siskel and Ebert's obvious love of movies. After Gene Siskel's tragic death, I wondered how the show could continue, but after a series of guest co-hosts, Richard Roeper was named the new co-host, and what an excellent choice he turned out to be. The pattern was repeated when Roger Ebert had major surgery with complications, and was unable to continue as host of the show. Again we were in luck when Michael Phillips was paired with Richard Roeper. Each of the men I've mentioned cared deeply about movies, and critiqued each week's pick honestly and thoughtfully. Tonight I had the misfortune of tuning in to the new "At The Movies." Less than halfway through the show I switched channels. I just couldn't continue watching two untalented misfits playing to the camera and acting as if they, not the movies, were the stars of the show. I won't watch it again. I look foward to seeing Richard Roeper in the future, and in the meantime two thumbs down, and a very loud raspberry to the Disney Execs who obviously have more money than good taste!
Reply