Award-Winning Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Richard Roeper Steps Into Critic's Chair Opposite Roger Ebert; Show to Be Called ``Ebert & Roeper and the Movies''

Business Wire, July 12, 2000

Entertainment Editors

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BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 12, 2000

Award- winning Chicago Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper will permanently step into the critic's chair opposite Roger Ebert on the newly rechristened "Ebert & Roeper and the Movies," it was announced today by Janice Marinelli, president, Buena Vista Television.

The nationally syndicated program, television's leading film- review series, will continue in the tradition of the long-running "Siskel & Ebert" and "Roger Ebert & the Movies," offering accessible and insightful film criticism and discussion.

"We're thrilled to welcome Richard Roeper to the Buena Vista family," said Marinelli in making the announcement.

"For more than a decade, this show has been integral to our programming lineup. It's an American institution -- the most respected film-criticism show on television -- and we think Richard brings the perfect combination of journalistic expertise and love of the movies to this prestigious franchise."

Ebert commented: "It's appropriate that we've picked another Chicago newspaperman for the show. Richard has been writing regularly about the movies for many years in the Sun-Times, is a gifted daily columnist, and has a lot of radio and television experience. He has strong opinions, a good movie background, and a quick sense of humor."

He continued: "From his first program, I sensed the competitive give-and-take that's so much a part of the show's tradition. I'm looking forward to working with him."

Since the 1999 death of longtime partner Gene Siskel, Ebert, the Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, has worked with a rotating group of guest critics on "Roger Ebert & the Movies." Roeper has been a recurring guest on the show for the past several months, and will begin his full-time position immediately.

Roeper's daily column has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times since 1987, and is distributed nationally by the New York Times Syndicate. He also has written for such publications as TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, and Playboy and Spy, and is the co-author of "He Rents, She Rents" (St. Martin's Press), a guide to "Guy Movies and Chick Flicks," and the author of "Urban Legends" (Career Press).

Among his many accolades are the National Headliner Award as the top columnist in the country, and two Midwest/Chicago Emmys for his work as a regular commentator on the Fox affiliate in Chicago. Over the last 10 years, Roeper has hosted talk-radio programs on a number of Chicago stations, including WLS-AM, WLS-FM, WLUP-FM and WMVP-AM.

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