MovieChat Forums > Siskel & Ebert & the Movies (1986) Discussion > THE BENS HAVE BEEN FIRED!!!!!

THE BENS HAVE BEEN FIRED!!!!!

posted 16 years ago by HelloGordon
41 replies | jump to latest

Just read that as of today Ben Lyons and Ben Manckewitz "whatever" have been fired from "At The Movies".

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2009/08/chicago-tribunes-michael-phillips-ny-times-ao-scott-in-on-at-the-movies-ben-lyons-ben-mankiewicz-out.html#more

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] puffball97 16 years ago

Hooray and Hallelujah! Bye, bye, Bens. It just didn't work with them. Great to see Michael Phillips and A.O. Scott together. They knew what they were doing with Richard Roeper. Roger Ebert is happy again. Gene Siskel is spreading his angelic wings.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] HelloGordon 16 years ago

yes I do kind of feel bad for Mank, but they couldn't let go of one without the other,..just to save face. I will miss the rolling of Manks eyes when Lyons spoke.

[–] TruthIsOutThere 16 years ago

About time. This show went downhill so fast when they got rid of Roeper and Phillips, who was filling in for Ebert. Now that we have some real critics on the show, hopefully it can go back to what it used to be.

[–] themissinglink363 16 years ago

Thank Christ.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] stevenackerman69 16 years ago

Good. I'll take a look at the story later. But if Phillips is back on the show, there is a problem. He was supposed to do a new show with Richard.

[–] ethereal_tb 16 years ago

I actually *liked* Mankiewicz, as he actually had some real insightful critiques, but Lyons just seemed like some kid who got plucked out of the crowd who didn't know much about movies.

"You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment."

[–] cracker82 16 years ago

Yeah, I'm very curious where Roeper fits into the whole equation. Though the pairing of A.O Scott & Philips sounds intriguing.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] rs25 15 years ago

Has anyone seen the video presentation of the two new critics in the website (atthemovies.com)?
It's funny because they try very hard to emphasize their experience, and trustworthiness, etc etc etc... Almost like they're apologizing for Lyons,

[–] shinesinpinesII 15 years ago

Has anyone seen the video presentation of the two new critics in the website (atthemovies.com)?
It's funny because they try very hard to emphasize their experience, and trustworthiness, etc etc etc... Almost like they're apologizing for Lyons,

lol I totally agree. It's pretty funny to think that it could be insulting to the Bens. Did you notice in a few takes when Michael and AO were really close to each other when they'd be talking that AO looked a little weird and would try to pull back a bit? I hope when the show starts that they give each other a few feet of comfort space instead of being like 4 inches from each others face.

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IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY.

[–] jnatch 15 years ago

I am doing a jog, I am so happy. I was missing this show, couldnt see it with those guys

[–] rawkus1167 15 years ago

YES YES YES!!! I AM so happy! I have been a hardcore Ebert/Siskel fan forever. I loved Ebert/Roeper too, but the 2 Bens were terrible. Manciwiecz was okay, but Lyons is like some kind of frat dude or something. He seems like he should be directing a Girls Gone Wild video or something. Plus his opinions on movies are pedestrian and usually 90% of the time, hugely misguided. A.O. Scott has long been a favorite critic of mine in print, so I'm not worried about him. Michael Phillips on the other hand has yet to impress me. Still though, this is a huge improvement over the two Ben's and now us REAL cineastes will have real critics reviewing the films again.

"Yes, I'd like a cheeseburger, please, large fries and a cosmopolitan!"