Ebert Presents: At the Movies
| Ebert Presents: At the Movies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Talk show |
| Presented by |
Christy Lemire Ignatiy Vishnevetsky Roger Ebert (primarily voiced by various people; secondarily voiced by Bill Kurtis) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Roger and Chaz Ebert |
| Producer(s) | Chaz Ebert |
| Location(s) | WTTW Studios in Chicago, Illinois |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Ebert Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | PBS |
| Original release | January 21 – December 30, 2011 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by |
At the Movies (1982–1986) At the Movies (1986–2010) |
| Related shows | Sneak Previews |
| External links | |
| Website |
www |
Ebert Presents: At the Movies was a weekly, nationally syndicated movie review television program produced and presented by film critic Roger Ebert and co-produced by his wife, Chaz Ebert. The program aired on public television stations in the United States through American Public Television.
The show continued the format originated by Ebert and Gene Siskel on their first show, Sneak Previews, and continued on At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert and later At the Movies,[1] in which two film critics discuss the week's new releases and occasional theme episodes, such as "The Best Films of the Year".
Ebert Presents: At the Movies was hosted by Christy Lemire of Associated Press and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of Chicago Reader and the website Mubi. The program premiered on January 21, 2011 but went into hiatus at the end of the year after Ebert reported that the show had difficulties finding financial underwriting. When Ebert died in April 2013, all plans for the show to continue were lost.
Development
A pilot was shot in the summer of 2010 featuring critics Christy Lemire and Elvis Mitchell (from National Public Radio).[1] Though it was assumed that the two would co-host the show,[2] in December 2010 it was announced that Mitchell would not be taking part in the program.[3][4] Lemire remained as one of the two principal critics alongside Ignatiy Vishnevetsky.[5]
Ebert returned to television on this show for the first time since his emergency operation in 2006 that took his ability to speak.[1] He continued to review movies from his office set, using famed Chicago journalist and anchor Bill Kurtis and others to read his reviews.
Production
Ebert Presents: At the Movies was filmed at the studios of WTTW in Chicago, where Ebert and Siskel's version of the program (originally titled Opening Soon at a Theater Near You) began filming 36 years earlier.[1] Though the show used a newly constructed set made to resemble a balcony, hosts Lemire and Vishnevetsky sat in the seats originally used by Siskel and Ebert on the show Sneak Previews.[6]
The show regularly featured guest contributors such as teenage movie critic Jackson Murphy, Kim Morgan, Omar Moore, and producer Chaz Ebert.
Cancellation
On November 6, 2011, Ebert announced in a post on his blog that he and Chaz had paid for the first season themselves in hopes of finding corporate underwriting for subsequent seasons, and the program would have to be cancelled if that funding could not be arranged.[7]
In a subsequent blog entry posted on November 30, 2011, Ebert stated that the show would go on hiatus at the end of the year. The last program aired just before the year ended; despite the couple's best efforts, no new sources of financial underwriting were found. Roger Ebert died on April 4, 2013.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Ebert, Roger (September 10, 2010). "Roger Ebert presents At the Movies". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ↑ Roger Ebert will officially return with a new half-hour movie review show entitled ‘Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies’ Screenrant
- ↑ Rosenthal, Phil (December 14, 2010). "Elvis Mitchell gets the thumbs' rush, no longer part of 'Roger Ebert Presents'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
- ↑ O'Neal, Sean Roger Ebert announces details on return of At The Movies AV Club
- ↑ "Ebert's new show names Vishnevetsky as co-host". Associated Press. January 4, 2011. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
- ↑ Lemire, Christy & Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy. Ebert presents at the Movies. January 28, 2011. Television.
- ↑ Ebert, Roger (November 6, 2011). "The chimes at midnight". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ↑ Martin, Douglas (April 4, 2013). "Roger Ebert, Popular Film Critic, Dies at 70". New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2013.