Thumbs Down: No More Ebert/Roeper

For the two years since Roger Ebert was absent from his "At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper" show recovering from various health issues, guest critics filled his chair to bicker with Richard Roeper (most consistently Chicago Tribune critic Michael Phillips) and wished Ebert a speedy return. After a while, the hopeful wishes ceased, as it appeared Ebert would not return to the show that bore his name.

Ebert announced today that he was cutting ties with the show, which was "going in a new direction." This, following Roeper's announcement that he would also be leaving the show amid contract negotiations with Disney.

So with no Ebert and no Roeper, is that the end of movie critics on TV? Roeper has hinted he will be returning on a different show, but do you guys miss that good ol' "Thumbs Up/Down" (or my favorite, "TWO THUMBS WAY UP!") that's been missing from movie trade ads for the past year?

Wonder what Gene Siskel woulda thought of all this.-- Ellen