Sneak Previews

Gene Siskel died this weekend and it brought back memories of the early show when it was on pbs. He and Ebert shattered the image of critics as uptight prigs in dated tuxes and helped explain what made a movie good or bad in ways we could all relate too. I have no idea how many hours of my life were spent with Gene Siskel but they were enjoyable and enlightening ones. Thank you Gene Siskel.

Before the Thumbs, There was Yes and No. Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert Were both on the Fence of Annie 1982, but gave it a Yes. Gene Siskel Roger Ebert two Men that knew how to do a Review This gets My TM S for Satisfactory.

First off, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert premiered their movie review show in November 1975 on Chicago Public TV and it was entitled "Coming Soon To a Theater Near You", not "Sneak Previews". It was called this at least into 1977. By 1978 it had a less cerebral tone and the name had changed to "Sneak Previews" with the familiar intro music, and the great chemistry between Roger and Gene that persisted until Siskel's death in 1999. In 1982 the show went commercial and was renamed "At The Movies". In 1986 their show became "Siskel and Ebert and The Movies" and went under the umbrella of the Walt Disney Corporation. The show changed names again in 1999 after the death of Gene Siskel, but that would be expected. Apparently all of these name changes have confused archivists.

The bottom line is that although Siskel and Ebert had a regular movie review show from 1975 until 1999, it was not named "Sneak Previews" from the beginning in1975 for 21 years as this entry would have you believe. I'm giving 10/10 stars for the show, regardless of name, because almost from the beginning, as soon as these two worked through the dynamics of the situation, they were a joy to watch.

I first saw this show in late 1980 when Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were reviewing the worst movies of 1980. I was immediately impressed by their chemistry and charm and by their approach to reviewing films. I grew up reading Pauline Kael's reviews, and I'm certain that she hated every movie she ever saw. However, Siskel and Ebert were willing to watch and review movies in a different light and even though they often disagreed, they were always entertaining and refreshing. The team sadly came to an end with Gene Siskel's untimely death in 1999, but Roger Ebert continued with his insightful reviews until his passing about 12 years later. In retrospect, I took this show and its charming leads for granted back in the 1980s and 1990s, since no film review show since has even come close.

"Sneak Previews" debuted in the fall of 1978 on PBS and I'm happy to say I was pretty much there from the beginning. I didn't see its debut show but I do recall watching them preview,"Concorde:Airport '79". Boy did they skewer that one! I went and saw it just the same.

Roger Ebert and the now,late Gene Siskel were a perfect team up. They could get into slightly heated discussions about the movies they reviewed but never let it become a blow to their egos.

I could make a list of all the movies I watched them review together,both on this and "At The Movies" (which was later just "Siskel & Ebert")but it would be too long. I will say that recently I rented a documentary movie that they championed & campaigned for in 1994 (on "At the Movies". That of course is,"Hoop Dreams". Which as we know The Academy Awards did not bestow an Oscar on.

Roger & Gene's various discussions of that movie are on that DVD as extras. I can honestly say,that was truly their finest moments together. Not just as movie critics but as experts,who were more in touch with movie goers than the Oscar Academy. Hard to watch and realize that,this was 12 years ago and how much of an absence is really felt with Gene Siskel being gone.

Here's to the professionalism of Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel and Sneak Previews,that made it safe to go to the movies again and not waste one's money.

Which is the most important lesson I learned watching Snaek Prviews and their later shows. (END)