Some things just keep going on way longer than they need to. This is because people are too lazy to get away from what they know, even if it isn’t what they know anymore. Although Gene Siskel died about 10 years ago and Roger Ebert hasn’t been seen on television in over a year (due to thyroid cancer), their movie review fest “At the Movies” soldiers on. I can’t imagine why, since it stopped being interesting or significant in the late 1990’s and now you get Siskel replacement Richard Roeper and whatever critic happens to be sober the day they shoot the show (although not our own Josh Tyler…I’m sure there is no connection between the sobriety requirement and his non-appearances.)
The one thing you do get with “At the Movies” is the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” final grade. Of course, someone has to own that thumb position; it can’t just be out there for anyone to use. So Ebert and Siskel’s estate own it. That’s right, someone owns thumbs up, at least in movie review context. And now, according to the Hollywood Reporter, there is a mini-battle going on about that famous digit. Disney-ABC Domestic Television, who distribute the limping movie review show, have stopped using the thumbs up/down while they are in contract negotiations on Ebert’s contract. The reason why is a bit murky.
Disney released a statement saying that Ebert wouldn’t allow it until his new contract was signed. But Ebert says he gave approval to use the thumb while contract negotiations were ongoing. Is Disney planning on phasing the obviously-never-coming-back Ebert out and moving on with Roeper and a new permanent co-host? Those are some questions to ponder while I see if I can trademark the three star rating.
