Roger Ebert’s ‘At the Movies’ 2.0

I grew up watching Siskel & Ebert review movies. It was a delight; the two of them bickered about film like people who genuinely disliked each other, and Ebert was really fat. Then Siskel died, Ebert lost his face, and “At the Movies” became an ugly, stupid mutant baby that featured retards like failed abortion Ben Lyons before it was put out of its misery. Somewhere along the way, Roger Ebert’s writing was reinvigorated and his written voice became stronger than his spoken one had ever been.

Are we all caught up? Good. Now Ebert and his wife Chaz are creating “Roger Ebert Presents At the Movies,” which will debut in January 2011 and be hosted by Christy Lemire of the AP (above, center left) and Elvis Mitchell of NPR (center right). Omar Moore and fine-ass vixen Kim Morgan will be regular contributors.

“This is the rebirth of a dream,” said Ebert, who partnered in recent years with Richard Roeper before cancer robbed him of the ability to speak. He said he will act as co-producer and employ a computer voice to appear on every episode with segments titled Roger’s Office devoted to classic, overlooked and new films. He will not debate with the two co-hosts, he said: “They’ll be awarding the Thumbs, and you can’t have three Thumbs.”

Ebert said, “I believe that by returning to its public roots, our new show will win better and more consistent time slots in more markets. American television is swamped by mindless gossip about celebrities, and I’m happy this show will continue to tell viewers honestly if the critics think a new movie is worth seeing.” [Sun-Times]

Whoa whoa whoa, a show that shuns gossip in favor of intelligent discussion? That’s gonna fall flat on its — oh, it’s on public television? Okay, that makes sense.