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Long running US review show axed

For years it was hosted by Siskel & Ebert, but a long running US movie review show has been undone by online reviews.

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Long running US film review show At the Movies has been cancelled by Disney / ABC.

The show was originally hosted by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel although its roots go back to 1975’s Sneak Previews.

When Siskel died, he was replaced by Richard Roeper, but when Ebert lost his ability to speak due to a cancer-related surgery, the show was re-booted with younger, much-maligned hosts Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz.

The show is believed to have been superceded by online review sites including Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. Variety recently let go some of its critics too.

A network statement reads:

After 24 seasons with us in national syndication, the highly regarded movie review show “At the Movies” (formerly known as “Siskel & Ebert” and “Ebert & Roeper”) will air its last original broadcast the weekend of August 14, 2010.

This was a very difficult decision, especially considering the program’s rich history and iconic status within the entertainment industry, but from a business perspective it became clear this weekly, half-hour, broadcast syndication series was no longer sustainable. We gratefully acknowledge the outstanding work of the program’s current co-hosts A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips and top-notch production staff, and it is with heartfelt appreciation that we extend very special thanks to the two brilliant, visionary and incomparable critics that started it all, Roger Ebert and the late Gene Siskel.

The two critics retain their print media jobs as separate critics for the Chicago Tribune and The New York Times, respectively.

And David and Margaret roll on, this week taking a new series of promo shots for the ABC.

Source: Hollywood Reporter, LA Times

8 Responses

  2. @grinspoon. No offence was meant towards disney films or their fans.
    I used disney as more of a reference to main stream block buster type movies.
    For example. The rocks latest movie. They would judge it on what it’s meant to be. A light hearted fun movie. And give a good or bad review on those grounds. Unlike most critics. Who will give it a bad review, Because it didn;t have a deep and meaningful message about todays society. etc.

  3. John.. i find it odd that you use Disney films as if they are meant to represent a low standard. When in fact they represent some of the best film making today. From the better than average blockbusters of the Pirates of the Caribbean, to the brilliant Pixar films.

    David and margeret are very good though,

    Roger Eberts Movie reviews are amongst the best around. He really is a hero in light of all his health troubles still going on, just as smart and clever, if not more so than he ever was. It’s a shame what happened to him, but his website should be a must visit for every movie fan. He’s also quite good writing on non movie topics. Although like all things, he does suffer from sometimes just not being the audience or understanding the audience of certain films.

  4. Marget and david are the best. They can review a “arts film. And give an unbiased review of it. The very next movie might be a disney movie. And they will give it the same attention. They judge every film on its own merit. Regardless of its genre. They realise not everyone’s taste are the same. And that the majority of people have a broad range of taste. Unlike most reviewers. Who snob “block busters” And will give every “arts ” film a good review, Whether it deserves it or not. Just so they can look “artsy and sophisticated”

  5. It’s about the hosts, whenever they try and go younger and funkier it never works cause most people who watch shows like that are not young and but may be funky. They are either late 20 somethings, 30, 40 somethings that are art based.

  6. I think its demise is more to do with the increasing use of ‘quickie reviews’.

    Those are the ones who give however many stars or a ratings sysytem at the end of their reviews. A lot of people these days seem to want to know instantly what a critics score is without having to listen to what they actually say.

    I know that sounds terrible and I wish it wasn’t like that, but it appears to be the current fashion. Actually hearing someone’s opinion seems old hat – especially those that don’t ‘conform’ to a majority view.

    I’m sure David and Margaret will amble on as always…although sadly I think they’ll become a dying breed sooner rather than later.

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