If you thought Roger Ebert had starred in his last TV show, you’d be oh so wrong. And I’m oh so happy about this news! The famous film critic, who left TV in 2006 after cancer surgery left him unable to speak, is returning with a segment on a new program called ‘Ebert Presents at the Movies.’
The weekly show debuts Friday on PBS stations nationwide and features co-hosts Christy Lemire, 38, of The Associated Press and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, 24, of Mubi.com.
Ebert, 68, will use his computer voice for the segment “Roger’s Office,” which he says will focus on “reviews and rants.”
Ok, first of all, a big two thumbs up to Roger Ebert for making his way back to TV after everything he’s gone through. The Chicago Sun-Times film critic says planning for the new show started in 2006 when he “was flat on my back. We had business meetings in the hospital.”
My mom always said it’s good to have a distraction when you don’t feel well or are trying to heal up from something. Ebert’s wife Chaz said something similar, noting that the meetings “gave him something to look forward to, something to get out of that bed for, and truth be told, there were some days when I could not have foreseen a day like this happening.”
I love that Ebert is still passionate about the film industry and passionate about getting his views out to the public. And it’ll be interesting to see how he interacts with his computer to make it happen.
The show’s opening montage will run through pictures of Siskel and Ebert through the years before cutting to Lemire who tells viewers, “Welcome to ‘Ebert Presents at the Movies’ and welcome back to the balcony.” Can’t wait!
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