Goodbye, Ebert and Roeper -- Hello, Lyons and Mankiewicz!
Filed under: Casting, Home Entertainment
Yesterday, we learned that At the Movies was changing in a big way. Richard Roeper had decided to leave the show to pursue a new reviewing program, while Roger Ebert sent out a statement saying that he was out as well, that other projects were in the works, and that Disney was taking the show in a new direction. Banking on the buzz whipped up by both of their exits, Variety reports that Disney has announced Roeper and Ebert's replacements -- the much younger Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz. If you happen to follow any other on-screen critics, Lyons (on the right) has been a big part of E!, while also popping up in shows like MSNBC at the Movies and Access Hollywood, while Mankiewicz has been the host for Turner Classic Movies, and has an alt pop culture show on Sirius called "The Young Turks."
Of course, new, young blood also means an update to the format, and Disney says that the show will get a new look and new segments when the new incarnation kicks off on September 6. These changes will include a "Critics Round-Up" that will have the two Bens discussing films with other critics via satellite. I dig the simplicity of the past, so hopefully this whole deal won't get too flashy.
What say you, Cinematical readers? Can Ben and Ben fill the big shoes left by Siskel, Ebert, and Roeper, and do you want to see At the Movies get updated?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-22-2008 @ 3:07PM
Nick said...
No.
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7-22-2008 @ 3:23PM
Eric said...
Oh Jesus, can we get real critics please. How about James Berardinelli? I know he is internet critic but he is a damn good one just about on par with Ebert.
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7-22-2008 @ 3:32PM
Sam said...
FAIL
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7-22-2008 @ 3:46PM
Godard said...
I'm just relieved that it's not JEFFREY Lyons.
I'll second your vote for Berardinelli; you could complain that he doesn't have a face / voice for TV, but that was the initial complaint about Ebert & Siskel as well.
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7-22-2008 @ 9:35PM
Ray said...
Actually, that's Jeffrey Lyons' kid. And he's just as awful a quote whore as his dad. This is a dark day for film criticism.
7-22-2008 @ 3:56PM
Sam said...
How about Armond White at the New York Press? I mean, the guy hated The Dark Knight. That's gotta make for good TV.
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7-22-2008 @ 4:10PM
MCW said...
I didn't think they could bring anyone bad enough to get me to stop watching the show all together.
So, in that respect, they won. This almost guarantees I will not watch it once Roeper leaves.
In keeping with the previous posters:
SUXXORS!
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7-22-2008 @ 4:18PM
uforeader said...
I'm unfamiliar with either of them. I watch a movie review show for an honest, insightful, intelligent review of films. I fear this will instead be an E.T.-style movie promotion show. I'll try it, but my hopes are low. I look forward to what Roeper does next.
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7-22-2008 @ 4:20PM
will said...
Epic Fail.
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7-22-2008 @ 5:19PM
Tyler said...
no, i cant believe theyre putting lyons on here hes not even a real critic hes just a tv personality fanboy and its disgusting that two of the best critics alive are being replaced by two people who arnt even critics and to top it off have bad taste in movies.
was it lyons who said i am legend was the best movie to come out in recent years?
i just wish they had kept the show the same and just replaced roeper with ao scott and kept michael phillips.
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7-22-2008 @ 5:27PM
MCW said...
"i just wish they had kept the show the same and just replaced roeper with ao scott and kept michael phillips."
I said that yesterday, yeah, they should have kept Michael Philips, he's my favorite guest by far. They really did the worst thing possible instead.
7-22-2008 @ 5:23PM
William Goss said...
To borrow a phrase from Eugene: DO NOT WANT.
(Primarily because of Lyons.)
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7-22-2008 @ 5:30PM
John said...
Lyons didn't say "I Am Legend" was the best movie to come out in recent years.
He said "I Am Legend" was "one of the best movies ever made." EVER MADE!
Ugh...
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7-22-2008 @ 7:52PM
ChuckD said...
I'm from Chicago and go back to when Ebert and Siskel ran the show on the local PBS station (WTTW). It was great! Simply a couple of real critics commenting on recent movies. I'm please the basic format hasn't change in over thirty years. I HATE the pulp entertainment shows. They play off the bottom-feeding scum who are more concerned about whether Brittany is wearing underpants. If the new format is framed on E! or MTV or Entertainment Tonight... count me out!
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7-22-2008 @ 8:14PM
Kenna said...
No and NO.
Fail.
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7-23-2008 @ 12:58AM
vstokes said...
I think this will be a nice change for the show! It's missing a lot these days without the contentious perspectives of Ebert vs. Roeper at play!
Ben Mankiewicz is a Hollywood insider and nephew of famed Hollywood director Joseph L. Mankiewicz ("All About Eve"). Surprised the author missed that. Anyway, he has a lot of knowledge and insight into film history and I think he's a suitable replacement for Ebert. His perspective reaches beyond the last 10 years of blockbuster filmmaking (thank goodness!!). Better than maybe even say the other so-called "legitimate critics" that have been sitting in his hot seat since Ebert's illness took him away from the show.
I can only imagine their changing things 'cause ratings are dropping.
I think it will be a new type of show but the integrity will be close to the same with a fresher approach, similar to when they updated Nightline a few years back.
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7-23-2008 @ 12:22PM
eric said...
Ben Lyons is the WORST CRITIC EVER! Not only does he have the face of an asshole, but he thinks every movie is the best movie of all time. He's the worst.
But at least his last name isn't Scorsese...I could only imagine the dreadful garbage that kid would have came up with if he was behind the camera. YIKES!
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7-23-2008 @ 2:30PM
evergreen said...
Good God.
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8-13-2008 @ 12:15PM
alex said...
It's great , ebert and roeper were boring, it was like watching a bad documental.
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8-26-2008 @ 5:11PM
Ray Pike said...
It appears that they are taking the show into a much younger look - not necessarily in the direction of giving us better, more insightful movie reviews. B.M. (new trade-mark) might give us something new,but fear the other Ben will be lacking in sooo many areas.
We might give them a look, but will follow Roper, providing he doesn't bring you know who along!
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