''Ebert Presents: At the Movies'' is a weekly,

nationally syndicated Broadcast syndication is the practice of leasing the right to broadcasting television shows and radio programs to multiple television stations and radio stations, without going through a broadcast network. It is common in the United States wher ...

movie review television program produced by film critic

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...

and his wife,

Chaz Ebert Chaz Ebert (born Charlie Hammel; October 15, 1952) is an American attorney and businesswoman. Early life and education Ebert was born in Chicago to Johnnie Hobbs Hammel and Wiley Hammel Sr. She attended Crane Technical High School in Chicago. S ...

. The program aired on public television stations in the United States through American Public Television from January 21 to December 30, 2011. The show continued the format originated by Ebert and

Gene Siskel Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the ''Chicago Tribune''. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted a series of movie review programs on television from 1975 until his d ...

on their first show, ''

Sneak Previews ''Sneak Previews'' (known as ''Opening Soon...at a Theater Near You'' from 1975 to 1977 and ''Sneak Previews Goes Video'' from 1989 to 1991) is an American film review show that ran for over two decades on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). It wa ...

'', and continued on ''

At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert ''At the Movies'' (also known as ''At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert'') is an American movie review television program that aired from 1982 to 1990. It was produced by Tribune Entertainment and was created by Gene Siskel and Roger ...

'' and '' At the Movies'', in which two film critics discuss the week's new releases. Occasionally, the program aired special theme episodes, such as one listing the hosts' favorite films of 2011. ''Ebert Presents: At the Movies'' was hosted by

Christy Lemire Christy A. Lemire (née Nemetz; born August 30, 1972) is an American film critic and host of the movie review podcast ''Breakfast All Day''. She previously wrote for the Associated Press from 1999 to 2013, was a co-host of '' Ebert Presents at ...

of The Associated Press and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of '' The Chicago Reader'' and MUBI. The program premiered on January 21, 2011 but went into permanent hiatus at the end of the year after Ebert reported that the show had difficulties finding new sources of financial underwriting.

Development

A pilot was shot in the summer of 2010 featuring critics Christy Lemire and Elvis Mitchell of National Public Radio. Though it was assumed that the two would co-host the show,Roger Ebert will officially return with a new half-hour movie review show entitled ‘Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies’
''Screenrant'' in December 2010 it was later announced that Mitchell would not be taking part in the program.O'Neal, Sea
Roger Ebert announces details on return of At The Movies
''AV Club'' Lemire remained as one of the two principal critics, alongside Ignatiy Vishnevetsky. The show marked Ebert's return to television for the first time since his emergency operation in 2006. Since his surgery cost him the ability to speak, 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 WTTW (channel 11) is a PBS member television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Owned by not-for-profit broadcaster Window to the World Communications, Inc., it is sister to commercial classical music radio station WFMT (98.7 FM). The ...

in Chicago, where Siskel and Ebert's version of the program (originally titled ''Opening Soon at a Theater Near You'') began filming 36 years earlier. 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 ''

''.Lemire, Christy & Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy. ''Ebert presents at the Movies.'' January 28, 2011. Television. The show regularly featured guest contributors such as 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 and had hoped to find new sources of underwriting for subsequent seasons. He also stated that the program would have to be canceled if that funding could not be arranged. 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, and the last episode aired in late December. No further announcements were made about the show prior to Ebert's death in 2013.

References

External links

* {{SiskelandEbert 2011 American television series debuts 2011 American television series endings English-language television shows Film criticism television series PBS original programming Roger Ebert Television series by WTTW Siskel and Ebert