"Siskel & Ebert" (1986) "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies" (original title), TV series 1986-2010

Seasons:

unknown

Release Date:

13 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Talk-Show

Plot:

Chicago critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert rate new movies with a thumbs up, or a thumbs down.

Plot Keywords:

Critic | Video | Film Critic | Discussion | Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Roger Ebert	...	Himself - Host / ... (257 episodes, 1986-2006)
Gene Siskel	...	Himself - Host / ... (187 episodes, 1986-1999)

Series Directed by
Michael B. Wall		(9 episodes, 2008)
Don DuPree		(5 episodes, 1996-1999)

Series Produced by
David Plummer	....	supervising producer / assistant producer / ... (143 episodes, 1999-2008)
Annie Porter	....	coordinating producer (10 episodes, 2008-2009)
Pamela Wessmann	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 2008)
Stuart Cleland	....	associate producer / executive producer (4 episodes, 1996-1999)
Andrea Gronvall	....	producer (4 episodes, 1996-1999)
Carie Lovstad	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1996-1998)
Larry Dieckhaus	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1996)
Janet LaMonica	....	assistant producer (2 episodes, 1996)
David Kodeski	....	assistant producer (1 episode, 1999-2007)
Don DuPree	....	executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)

Series Original Music by
JJ Lee		(50 episodes, 2008-2009)
Chris Lord		(50 episodes, 2008-2009)
David Feldestein		(unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Greg Connors	....	colorist (unknown episodes, 1986)

Series Other crew
Sara Martin	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 2008)
Katie Muren	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 2008)
Lauren Willems	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2005-2006)
Janet LaMonica	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 1998-1999)
Barbara Warren	....	publicist (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Buena Vista Television (1986-2007)
• Disney-ABC Domestic Television (2007-)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Television (1986-2007) (USA) (TV)
• Disney-ABC Domestic Television (2007-) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Media Visions Inc.  Two Thumbs Up registered service mark
• WLS  taping location

Also Known As:

"Siskel & Ebert & the Movies" - USA (original title)
"At the Movies" - USA (new title)
"Ebert & Roeper" - International (English title) (new title)
"Ebert & Roeper and the Movies" - USA (new title)
"Roger Ebert & the Movies" - USA (new title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

WBBM-TV - 630 N. McClurg Court, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Buena Vista Television

Trivia:

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert had together picked Hoop Dreams (1994) as the best film of 1994. That same year, they both picked North (1994) as their choices as the worst film of 1994.

Quotes:

[reviewing "Leonard Part 6"]
Roger Ebert:Maybe at some point there was an original inspiration for a good comedy here, I don't know. They certainly were not reluctant to spend a lot of money looking ridiculous in this movie and sometimes that works, but not this time. The whole movie is a mess...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Parker Lewis Can't Lose: Fat Boy and Little Man (#2.7)" (1991)

Ebert & Roeper review

The loss of Gene Siskel put to end one of greatest TV relationships. That being Siskel along with Roger Ebert. These two movie critics who worked for rival newspapers in Chicago (Siskel worked at the Tribune, and Ebert work for the Sun-Times) were put together to see if they could work together. Indeed they worked very well. So well they had to switch producers/distributors TWICE, and by the time they did they show for Disney their "Two Thumbs Up" became the standard in movie industry.

Now Richard Roeper has taken on Gene Siskel role, with the power of the "Thumb" along with it. Roeper is not Siskel and nor should he be. Unlike Siskel, Roeper also works at the Sun-Times along with Ebert, and because of this someone might ask can Roeper think for himself? Indeed Roeper can and quite frequently these two critics can give a split vote on movies. Roeper also gives the audience that is someone younger to interact with an elder critic. Roeper was in his teens when Siskel and Ebert started their TV friendship

The show itself is done at a faster pace and their Thumb up/down is shown during the review as well as at recap of the show. The set is now a hybrid of an average TV Set and a Movie theater balcony. Who would put video monitors in the back of a movie theater anyway LOL.

Ebert and Roeper will never be a `Siskel & Ebert' but it does show the movie review program still has some gas in the tank left. How much? I don't know, just enjoy the ride. Even I think their are both nuts at times. Most movie critics are.