About
"People watching television or listening to conversation need to be told things more simply and directly than when they're reading. It's a different kind of writing. When I first started writing for the show, Thea Flaum our producer would go over my copy and shake her head because I was writing long paragraphs of print and expecting to read them on television. On TV, you don't have that much time -- you have to get right to it."
In his ninety-minute interview, Roger Ebert (1942-2013) speaks about his interest in the movies while growing up and his early work as a freelance writer for various publications throughout his college years. He discusses joining the Chicago Sun-Times in 1966 and being named the paper's film critic in early 1967, a post that eventually earned him the first Pulitzer Prize awarded for film criticism. He briefly talks of his early experiences on television before he was teamed with Gene Siskel on the local WTTW movie review series Opening Soon at a Theatre Near You. Ebert notes the many incarnations of the show, which went national on PBS and then was nationally syndicated, becoming the familiar Siskel & Ebert. He recalls working with his longtime colleague and sometime rival Gene Siskel, who co-hosted the show until his death in February 1999. Ebert describes the transitional period that followed until Richard Roeper was offered the job "across the aisle" from him on the renamed Ebert & Roeper in July 2000. Ebert details various aspects of the series, including the thumbs up/thumbs down grading system, the use of movie clips on the show, and the impact the show has had on movies. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on November 2, 2005 in Chicago, IL.
Highlights
Roger Ebert on the origin of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" and trademarking the phrase "two thumbs up"
Roger Ebert on his style of writing and on why film criticism is important
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television
Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel's death and legacy
Roger Ebert on casting a new critic (Richard Roeper) to replace Gene Siskel
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On the first films he saw growing up; on his participation in science fiction fandom; on his early journalist pursuits; on landing the job as the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times; on winning the Pulitzer Prize for film criticism; on his style of writing and on why film criticism is important; on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television
On his first appearances on television; on meeting fellow critic and longtime co-host Gene Siskel; on their first teaming for the local Chicago movie review series Opening Soon... at a Theater Near You; on Gene Siskel
On the elements that made up his various review shows with Gene Siskel; on the early format of the show which resulted in long shoots; on his chemistry with co-critic Gene Siskel
Chapter 2
On differences of opinions with Gene Siskel on certain movies; on how they affected the fate of films My Dinner with Andre and Hoop Dreams
On the origin of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" and trademarking the phrase "two thumbs up"; on rating films
On his banter with Gene Siskel; on how his fame affected his work; on reviewing Nuns on the Run; on hearing from filmmakers
On changes when the show went to commercial television from PBS; on the home video segment; on discussing ratings on the show and his talks with Jack Valenti (head of the MPAA)
On film colorization and doing a show in black and white; on Gene Siskel's death and legacy; on the format of Siskel & Ebert & the Movies after Siskel's death
Chapter 3
On guest reviewers on Siskel & Ebert & the Movies after Siskel's death; on doing a film special with President Bill Clinton; on casting a new critic (Richard Roeper) to replace Gene Siskel; on never having personal arguments with Roeper; on his dynamic with Richard Roeper and how it differed from that with Gene Siskel
On his chemistry with Richard Roeper; on differences between Siskel and Roeper; on the billing for Siskel & Ebert & the Movies; on creative control and production on Ebert & Roeper and past shows
On other appearances on television; on Jay Leno being a huge film fan; on his proudest career achievement; on advice to film critics and filmmakers; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
At the Movies
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television
Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel
Critic, The
Roger Ebert on he and Gene Siskel taping a voiceover for The Critic
Ebert & Roeper
Roger Ebert on casting a new critic (Richard Roeper) to replace Gene Siskel; on working with Roeper
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Roger Ebert on reviewing Nuns on the Run on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee
Opening Soon... at a Theater Near You
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television, and early influence of producer Thea Flaum
Roger Ebert on his and Gene Siskel's appearances on TV previous to teaming up for the first time
Roger Ebert on being teamed up with Gene Siskel for the very first time for the local Chicago movie review series Opening Soon... at a Theater Near You
Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert & The Movies
Roger Ebert on the format of Siskel & Ebert & the Movies after Siskel's death and the failed Roger Ebert & The Movies
Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Roger Ebert on guest reviewers on Siskel & Ebert & the Movies after Siskel's death
Roger Ebert on the billing for Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television
Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on how the transition from Tribune to Disney/Buena Vista effected Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on differences of opinions with Gene Siskel on certain movies; on how they affected the fate of films; on "two thumbs up"
Roger Ebert on discussing colorization on Siskel & Ebert & the Movies; on Gene Siskel's death and legacy
Sneak Previews
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television
Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel
Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The
Roger Ebert on Jay Leno being a huge film fan
Topics
Bill Clinton
Roger Ebert on doing a film special with President Bill Clinton
Characters & Catchphrases
Roger Ebert on the origin of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" and trademarking the phrase "two thumbs up"
Fame and Celebrity
Roger Ebert on how his fame affected his work
Memorable Moments on Television
Roger Ebert on discussing colorization and a black and white episode of Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Pop Culture
Roger Ebert on the origin of "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" and trademarking the phrase "two thumbs up"
Television and the Presidency
Roger Ebert on doing a film special with President Bill Clinton
Television Industry
Roger Ebert on how his fame affected his work
We Considered
Roger Ebert on discussing colorization and a black and white episode of Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Genres
Service Shows
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television
Talk Shows
Roger Ebert on casting a new critic (Richard Roeper) for the television show to replace Gene Siskel; on working with Roeper
Roger Ebert on differences of opinions with Gene Siskel on certain movies; on how they affected the fate of films
Roger Ebert on discussing colorization and a black and white episode of Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
People
Bill Clinton
Roger Ebert on doing a film special with President Bill Clinton
Thea Flaum
Roger Ebert on his approach to reviewing a film in print and for television, and early influence of producer Thea Flaum
Jay Leno
Roger Ebert on Jay Leno being a huge film fan
Roger Ebert on comedy skits he's done for Jay Leno and David Letterman
David Letterman
Roger Ebert on comedy skits he's done for Jay Leno and David Letterman
Joan Rivers
Roger Ebert on appearing on a Joan Rivers' show
Richard Roeper
Roger Ebert on casting a new critic (Richard Roeper) to replace Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on his chemistry with Richard Roeper
Roger Ebert on his dynamic with Richard Roeper and how it differed from that with Gene Siskel
Martin Scorsese
Roger Ebert on guest reviewers on Siskel & Ebert & the Movies after Siskel's death
Tom Shales
Roger Ebert on film critic Tom Shales possibly sitting in for Gene Siskel
Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on his dynamic with Richard Roeper and how it differed from that with Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on his dynamic with Richard Roeper and how it differed from that with Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on he and Gene Siskel taping a voiceover for The Critic
Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on how the transition from Tribune to Disney/Buena Vista effected Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on differences of opinions with Gene Siskel on certain movies; on how they affected the fate of films
Roger Ebert on how contentions his relationship was with Gene Siskel
Roger Ebert on discussing colorization and a black and white episode of Siskel & Ebert & the Movies
Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel's death and legacy
Howard Stern
Roger Ebert on appearing on Howard Stern's show
Jack Valenti
Roger Ebert on debating the film rating system with the MPAA's Jack Valenti
Oprah Winfrey
Roger Ebert on appearing on Oprah Winfrey's morning show in Baltimore