TV Extensions, Renewals and Cancellations (3/25)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, ABC, Cable, FOX, MTV, Showtime, Syndication, Scrubs, The Hills, Cancellations, Renewals,

Here’s an update on the shows you will and won’t be seeing in the months to come:

• Nurse Jackie (Showtime) - Season 3
• The Ricky Gervais Show (HBO) - Season 2
• United States of Tara (Showtime) - Season 3

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Read More | Variety

VIDEO: Classic Siskel & Ebert Outtakes

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Syndication, Video,

If hearing Roger Ebert sample his new voice on Oprah made you yearn for the old days, this hilarious trip down memory lane is for you.

In this profanity-laced outtake reel from the Siskel & Ebert program, you get a behind-the-scenes look at the - uh, special - relationship Ebert shared with his old partner, Gene Siskel.

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Replacements Named for Ebert & Roeper

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories:

It’s out with the old and in with the new.

Just a day after learning Ebert & Roeper was officially no more, we’re already being introduced to the program’s new reviewers.

For At the Movies’ 23rd season, a pair of Bens will be assuming the critiquing duties. Ben Lyons, best known for his movie work on E!, will be occupying one chair while Ben Mankiewicz, the host for Turner Classic Movies, will be sitting in the other.

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E! Online

Ebert & Roeper Loses Ebert And Roeper

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Syndication, News,

Thanks to some seriously questionable moves on behalf of Disney-ABC Domestic Television, fans of Ebert & Roeper are throwing their two thumbs down…way down.

Both hosts of the film review show (formerly known as Siskel & Ebert) have just announced that they are parting ways with the long-running institution. Why? Well, it appears that the cheap owners are now opting to change things up.

Yesterday, Richard Roeper said he was leaving the weekly program because negotiations to extend his current contract failed. The critic, who permanently joined Roger Ebert back in 2000, will last be seen during the weekend of Aug. 16-17. This contract dispute comes almost a year after regular viewers saw the ‘Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down’ mentions removed from the show. An “offensively low” offer with Ebert (who has the copyright on the gestures), forced the producers to come up with new ways to review films.

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Associated Press

A Thumbless Ebert & Roeper?

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Syndication,

For nearly 30 years, Roger Ebert has been sealing his movie reviews with a signature Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down.  Unfortunately, potentially-heated contract negotiations between Ebert and his distribution company have forced (temporary?) changes to the Ebert & Roeper program.  Now both sides are pointing fingers at those allegedly responsible for pulling the digits.

Viewers of the most recent episode may have noticed a slight change in the program.  No thumbs!  Richard Roeper and his guest co-host made their opinions on such movies as The Nanny Diaries and Resurrecting the Champ as clear as possible without a ‘pointed’ summary.  (For the record—they disliked

films).

Disney-ABC Domestic Television claims the renowned critic put the copyrighted move on hold during negotiations (Ebert and the estate of the late Gene Siskel hold the rights to the critiquing method).  But through a statement posted on his website, Roger denies making that request.  In addition, he says that Disney (as of 8/24) had not gotten back to him after what he feels was an ‘offensively low’ offer.

As most you already know, health problems have kept Roger Ebert from fronting an episode of the show for over a year.  But he has been contributing in other ways and still posts through his own site.  I just pray that the distribution company isn’t trying to take advantage of his current status during their contract talks.  But then again—they wouldn’t do something like that, would they??

Read More | RogerEbert.com

Roger Ebert in Stable Condition

Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Talent, News,

Following an emergency operation to repair complications from a previous cancer surgery, Roger Ebert is in serious but stable condition. Ebert has had several cancer surgeries to remove tumors on his thyroid and salivary glands. This recent surgery was to remove another cancerous growth on his salivary gland, but a blood vessel burst near the site of the operation.

Ebert, 64, of course is best known for his role as The Chicago Sun-Times’ film critic. His pairing with fellow critic Gene Siskel provided the opportunity to review films with their well known “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” rating system. Siskel died in 1999, but the balcony did not close on the review show – instead Richard Roeper joined Ebert to continue critiquing films.

Read More | People