Tue, Jul 13, 2021
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were the most powerful and influential movie critics of their time. The way they talked about film set a template for pop culture conversations far beyond the cinema. In this eight-part series, premiering July 20 on 'The Big Picture' feed, they'll talk to everyone from family members to show producers to filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino about the legacy Siskel and Ebert built, and just how impactful they remain to this day.
Mon, Jul 19, 2021
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were the most famous and powerful film critics of their time-and their shows were smash hits that changed an entire industry. Over the next eight episodes, host Brian Raftery will talk to Siskel and Ebert's families, friends, coworkers, and peers to explore the duo's lasting impact-on movie criticism, on the media landscape, and on how they talk to one another.
Mon, Jul 26, 2021
In the early '80s, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert went from PBS stars to pop-culture celebrities. That newfound fame tested their already-heightened rivalry. But it also united them as they made one of the riskiest moves of their careers-a move that would change the way films were talked about, and that made Gene and Roger bigger than ever.
Mon, Aug 2, 2021
The '80s were the blockbuster era-and Siskel and Ebert were its blockbuster film critics. It was the decade in which Gene and Roger would realize the full extent of their powers, as well as their limitations. And it would find them making yet another high-profile business decision, one that would have big consequences for Gene.
Mon, Aug 9, 2021
As Gene and Roger jumped from one program to another, they left behind shows that were desperate to replicate the duo's groundbreaking success. These reiterations, along with other imitations of the format, paved the way for a television market saturated with Siskel and Ebert wannabes. But what they all failed to realize was that what made Gene and Roger special was Gene and Roger themselves.
Mon, Aug 16, 2021
For Siskel and Ebert, the '90s were a revolutionary era-both for the movies and for their careers. A new generation of filmmakers was taking over Hollywood, and Gene and Roger became cheerleaders for the bold next wave of writers and directors. But the industry was also plagued by problems and controversies, many of which Siskel and Ebert faced head on. By the time the '90s ended, Gene and Roger would become more than just the country's best-known film critics. They'd also become advocates.
Tue, Aug 24, 2021
Still reeling from Gene Siskel's death, Roger Ebert tries to bring their show into the new century. But Hollywood is changing, and so is the media landscape Gene and Roger conquered during their time together. And as the story of Gene and Roger ends, it's clear that movies-and movie criticism-will never be the same again.