Search Results for: blog popular film critic suffers medical emergency

Ben and Ben Taking Over for Ebert and Roeper

As Libby mentioned yesterday, Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper have decided to walk away from their movie review show. Now, in what may be the fastest replacement in Hollywood history, Ben Lyons, a Hollywood reporter and film critic for “E! News” and Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz have just been named as Ebert and Roeper’s successors. According to show execs, Ben and Ben will take over “At the Movies” when its new season begins in September. The format will reportedly be similar to the one used by Ebert and Roeper, though the program’s popular “thumbs up-thumbs down” gesture will … Continue reading →

Richard Roeper Leaves “At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper”

I love “At the Movies.” It has been around since 1975 in one form or another. I remember watching Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel battle it out about movies when I was a teen, giving the thumbs up or thumbs down gesture. I had no idea the premise was that Ebert wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times and Siskel was the movie critic for the rivaling Chicago Tribune. I just knew it was a good show that reviewed movies and having always loved movies, I loved the show. Of course, over the years, the show changed quite a bit. It moved … Continue reading →

Ebert Can’t Catch a Break

It’s true; the legendary film critic can’t seem to stay healthy enough to carry on with life the way he once knew it. Regular readers of this blog know that I have been following Roger Ebert’s health struggles very closely. The 65-year-old Chicago Sun-Times movie critic has had a series of cancer-related surgeries in the past few years. One left him unable to speak while others were just precursors to more intrusive operations. Still, somehow Ebert has come back from each swinging. In fact, he recently announced that he was planning to appear at the kick off to his 10th … Continue reading →

Ebert’s Long Awaited Return

Movie fans rejoice! The man whose raised thumb has helped bolster thousands of big screen blockbusters is back in action. After more than a year’s absence Roger Ebert says he will resume writing movie reviews later this month. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic will not be able to rejoin his syndicated TV show yet because he’s still unable to speak. The co-host of TV’s “Ebert & Roeper” made the announcement in a letter published in Tuesday’s Chicago Sun-Times (the same paper where his movie reviews appear). Ebert’s letter explained that a … Continue reading →

Celebrity Updates: Roger Ebert and Jon Stewart

It’s nice to see Roger Ebert’s name in the headlines for something not related to his health problems. This time it’s good news for the 65-year-old film critic. According to Hollywood insiders, Ebert will be honored at the 17th annual Gotham Awards for his contributions to independent cinema. (An official announcement about the Ebert tribute is planned for tomorrow.) The Gotham Awards celebrate independent movies and films set in New York and Ebert is reportedly only the second film critic to receive the honor. (Pauline Kael was the first.) The honor will be presented to the famous newspaper and TV … Continue reading →

Update: Roger Ebert

I’ve been following the recovery of Roger Ebert for months now and am happy to report that the film critic is making major strides on his road to recovery from cancer surgery. In fact, he’s accomplished more during his “recovery period” than most healthy people do in a lifetime. Since last fall Ebert has published three books, has two more on the way, and is doing interviews to promote them… even though he still can’t speak yet (one of his surgeries left him unable to speak). It’s possible thanks to a special laptop that speaks the words as he types … Continue reading →

Roger Ebert On The Road To Recovery

Good news for fans of Roger Ebert. According to news reports, the 64-year-old film critic plans to attend his annual festival for overlooked movies this month. The outing will be his public appearance since undergoing cancer surgery. I have reported on Ebert’s medical progress in previous blogs, but this is by far the biggest piece of news (good news) that has been released since he had surgery last June to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. That surgery was followed by an emergency procedure he underwent in July after a blood vessel burst near the site of the … Continue reading →

Celebrity News—The Good and The Funny

After a week filled with the obligatory wretched news from Hollywood (divorces, restraining orders, accusations of adultery, etc.)—finally, some good news. In a letter published in the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert announced that he is on the mend and hopes to be fully recovered in time for the Academy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival. The Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic and co-host of the “Ebert & Roeper” TV show says he’s looking forward to getting back to work full time early next year. “One thing I’ve discovered is that I love my job more than I thought I did, and … Continue reading →

Film Critic On The Mend

Roger Ebert’s hospitalization has extended into its third month. The popular film critic continues to battle cancer, but in a statement released yesterday he says he is fighting the disease with “all his might” and is looking forward to returning to work. “I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t tell you when, but I sure look forward to being back on the movie beat,” Ebert said Thursday. Ebert, known for rating movies with his signature “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” had surgery June 16 to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. But, instead of getting better, … Continue reading →