2 Thumbs DOWN...

Richard Roeper has announced that he is leaving the 'At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper' show.
Then, Roger Ebert announced that he too is breaking all ties with the show he created and was very involved with behind the scenes. Disney didn't want to pay for their services...it seems.
Luckily for Ebert, he still owns part of the rights for the famous "Two Thumbs Up" slogan, along with Gene Siskel's widow.
But Disney doesn't care about losing the slogans. They're more interested in creating a younger generation. And how are they going to do that? Taking over for the irreplaceable Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper are two basically unknown "critics."
First to join will be Ben Lyons (top right) , the E! Entertainment film critic. He's also the son of well-known film critic Jeffrey Lyons. Joining Ben will be the similarly named Ben Mankiewicz (bottom right), the Turner Classic Movies host and also son of Herman Mankiewicz the writer of Citizen Kane.
story is HERE

This should SUCK...

Roger Ebert undergoes yet another surgery

It's Roger Ebert's 41st anniversary as film critic at The Chicago Sun-Times. He has written a letter to readers saying he'll soon return to movie reviewing, but he still cannot speak.
Here's an excerpt:

"Are you as bored with my health as I am? I underwent a third surgery in January, this one in Houston, Texas and once again there were complications. I am sorry to say that my ability to speak was not restored. That would require another surgery.
"But I still have all my other abilities, including the love of viewing movies and writing about them. And at my side I have my angelic wife, Chaz.
"I am still cancer-free, and not ready to think about more surgery at this time. I should be content with the abundance I have.
"So that’s the latest. I have been so moved by the messages I’ve received from so many of you. Thank you. Now let’s go to the movies."