I sat glued to the TV set every time it was on, well the show eventually evolved into the nationally syndicated network television hit "At The Movies" when Siskel passed away he was replaced with Richard Roeper, Ebert remained with it from the beginning until the end of it's run.
Roger Ebert's criticisms were some of my favorites, I always liked him more than Siskel, but sometimes Roeper gave him more a run for his money in my opinion.
Also I do have a personal story about Roger Ebert to share. I went to a screening of a movie titled: "White Sands" at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, CA. starring, get this, Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
When the movie ended and the lights went up, I saw Roger Ebert get up and try to walk down the aisle. Little did I realize how much sitting in a chair could hide just how overweight you are. Yep, Ebert's stomach was so huge he could not see his own feet let alone the ground, and he missed one of the stairs in the aisle, he stumbled, but did not fall. I laughed not out of any maliciousness, more about the absurdity of the situation.
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| Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert |
He looked at no one in particular and said something about how he could not see the stairs. Well, uh....
Ebert was a class act who did not mince words in his reviews or in life, and he will always be a fond memory for me, he was part of the reason I love movies, his reviews not only criticized they would educate about the art of film.
