or decades movie criticism has been defined by two Chicago film lovers sitting in balcony determining the success or failure of a movie with their ever-powerful thumbs. Siskel And Ebert first hit the airwaves in 1975 when they reviewed films on PBS and by the 1980s they had become an institution. Their nationally syndicated TV show was a ratings hit and practically every movie poster printed featured a thumb rating. Gene Siskel's untimely death in 1999 put a damper on the program, but after a parade of guest hosts Roger Ebert marched on with the much more placid and agreeable Richard Roeper at his side. The show retained its popularity until recent years and now it seems as though it has sadly gone they way of the dodo and Ore-os cereal.

After eight years of filling Gene Siskel's shoes, Richard Roeper announced that over the weekend that he would not be renewing his contract, which expires in August. He declined to comment on what had specifically occurred, but said that he was happy to be moving on. After this announcement it came as no surprise that Roger Ebert rejected his contract offer this week. Disney claims that At The Movies will continue, but they plan to reconfigure the program as an Entertainment Tonight-style show with more of a focus on Hollywood movies (just what the world desperately needs!). This shouldn't really come as much of a shock given the fact that Ebert and ABC have been on shaky ground for a few years now.