I learned back when I was involved in a minor way in the life of Ebert On TV, that everything happens in June and July for that show. That’s when the decisions for the year to come are made, course is charted, and focus is set.
But even before I got there, just after Gene Siskel had passed away, things were in decline. Ebert and Siskel were icons, but the big ratings of their heyday were no longer there. Things were stable, but not sensational.
And so Disney was nickel-and-diming the show to death even then. Budget cuts kept coming. Eventually the staff was pared down and the show moved from Chicago’s CBS studio, where it had been taped for decades, to the ABC station, where facilities were “free” and full-time staff could add the show to their weekly duties in part.
But the process really accelerated after Roger’s illness. After one year off the air, Disney tried to low-ball Ebert and Mrs. Siskel on the rights to the thumbs. That didn’t work. But Ebert’s name remained on the show. Then the parade of guest critics was halted because it was time-consuming and travel was expensive. The Robert Wilonsky was set… and unset. Then A.O. Scott, who really liked the gig, was pushed aside for full-time status by Michael Phillips, who was local and therefore, didn’t need a hotel or an airfare from NY each week.
And now, the show is dead. The exits are being sold as a choice. But the reality is that Disney has been hacking at both Ebert & Roeper to work for less and less for years now and apparently this summer, the rubber meets the road. The ratings were not strong enough in syndication for Disney – whose O&Os gave the shows its best clearances (NY, LA, Chicago, etc) – to hang onto the show or for the rest of the syndication world to try to hold Disney to its contracts, which had a couple more years on them.
It’s unlikely that there is a much better opportunity for Roeper out there, so I would guess that Disney let him walk with dignity instead of publicly dumping the show. But make no mistake, no one walks away from a show that is successful… not Roeper… not Disney.
Roger, on the other hand, may well have been faced with no longer getting paid for the use of his name. And that may have been Disney’s tipping point. At The Movies with Roeper and Phillips, with due respect to Michael Phillips, is not what the network of stations bought.
In any case, despite being unable to speak, Roger is working his ass off as a full-time print critic and showing enormous enthusiasm and energy. I would argue that his legacy is best served by continuing down that road, perhaps reviving “the thumbs” as a print item. But Roger is ever ambitious and seeking new challenges - though he is not big on change, which is why he might continue to work with the branded Roeper in spite of there being so many high quality film critics seeking work these days - so I don’t expect things will go that simply.
There seem two be two tracks of possibility for the future.
1. Cable/Satellite - Reelz Channel, owned by Hubbard Broadcasting and partnered with the Weinsteins on Ovation, picked up reruns of Ebert & Roeper in the last year. The ratings may not have been high enough in syndication, but I would bet money that E&R was the best watched show on Reelz every week.
As a result, it would make sense for Reelz, still fighting for its place on the cable and satellite “dial” to jump in and to do the show for a price, giving Roeper and Ebert equity in the show - Richard for hosting and Roger (and Siskel’s widow) for “the thumbs” – instantly getting week-in and week-out movie advertising play (marketers still love the thumbs best of all) branded “Reelz” as well as building a show that legitimizes the channel.
For Roeper, even a minor payday has great value in this context, as it drives the value of everything else he does. Without the show and Roger’s imprimatur, he is a nothing. And for Roger, it gives him creative control and ownership, likely carving out a place on the show for his writing to be highlighted.
It is always possible that there is another cable/satellite net out there for this product, like STARZ or AMC. But Reelz seems to make the most sense on both sides. They have the most to gain, which means they are the most likely to give Ebert & Roeper the most lucrative package.
2. The Internet – Fandango just picked up Movies.com, Yahoo! is forever trying to build its movie brand, Microsoft – who Roger was in business with on Cinemania many years bask – continues to seek firmer footing. And Google, Moviefone, and even Amazon.com are legitimate potential partners for a serious internet play starring established Mainstream Media branding.
Whatever happens, Ebert's legacy is intact. There are many great emmories of his decades on the air and his Pulitzer-winning work in print.
And for the moment, Roeper joins the ever-growing list of film critics who are out of work.
Read the complete post at http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/archives/2008/07/the_ongoing_adv.html