Ebert's New Comrades Sit on Their Thumbs
TIME Notebook: New format for movie-criticism show following death of cofounder Gene Siskel.
Since film critic Gene Siskel died in February, questions have
swirled about the future of the popular TV show he hosted with
fellow Chicago scribe Roger Ebert. Well, now we know - sort of. In September, the
Disney-syndicated series will change its name from "Siskel &
Ebert" to "Roger Ebert & the Movies," with new theme music and
rotating guest critics. Yet to be determined: whether Ebert will
let colleagues give the digital seal of approval. "In respect to
Gene, we're not allowing other people to use the thumbs right
now," says Mary Kellogg, the Disney exec overseeing the show.
"Things may change this fall, but for the time being those
sitting across the aisle should not have access to the thumbs."
Meanwhile, competing programmers smell an opportunity. Fox cable
outlet FX, Paramount Television and the fledgling Oxygen channel
are all said to be developing their own movie-critic shows.