After only one season as co-hosts of the syndicated series At the Movies, Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz have been replaced, ABC Media Productions announced today. The pair’s replacements are New York Times film critic A.O. Scott and Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips. “We are thrilled that A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips will be lending their well-respected and influential voices to At the Movies,” said Brian Frons, Disney-ABC Television Group’s president of daytime, in a statement. “They are regarded by millions of people as authorities in film criticism and will take the series back to its roots of one-on-one film debate that was established when the show first began with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel.” The two newspaper critics take over hosting duties when the new season of the long-running show debuts the weekend of Sept. 5.
Aug 5
2009
07:58 PM ET
'At the Movies' shakes up hosts
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Thats too Bad.They were great critics.I’m going to miss them.
you’re being sarcastic. Right?
there’s no was she isn’t
They were not “great critics,” quite the opposite actually. They were atrocious, especially Lyons. Replacing them is a good move.
I agree…Ben Lyons?…A great critic?!…He was an E! version of a great critic…Which means he advertised a film with positive reviews, and got paid for it!…
Thank You ABC! Ben Lyons is a hack. Who was that other guy? As long as Michael Phelps works on keeping his eyes open, I think this is a winning combo. Now I can look forward to this show again.
Michael Phelps???
Whatever happened to Roeper, he was good as Ebert’s co-anchor and really held his own during Ebert illness???? WE WANT ROEPER BACK!!!!!!
I agree with Teddy. Roeper was great as Ebert’s counterpart, and him and Phillips made a pretty good pair.
Yes, I would have been very satisfied if it was just Roeper and Phillips from here on
Lyons was horrid, so bad! I hope the new show pulls through! What happened to the reboot show Ebert was going to be doing?
Ebert is unable to speak after multiple surgeries. He remains prolific in writing, but is incapable of being in a TV show.
Thank you for that information. I knew he was ill but had never heard that he left the show.
I want Roeper back on a weekly basis too. Did he sign some sort of contract that forbade him to do another televised review show in competition with At the Movies?
Ben Mankiewicz was great. I enjoy his work on TMC. Lyons was a joke!
I agree – liked and mostly always agreed with Mankiewicz – he is a film person — Lyons – ugh! I think he’s the reason they were both let go.
Mankiewicz became my momentary hero when he had the cojones to name a Steven Spielberg film the worst movie of the year.
Thank God. I had watched At the Movies for years, beginning with the original Sneak Previews until the new ATM destroyed that. Looking forward to frank REAL film discussion again. also Lyons made me sick.
thank christ! the 2 bens were horrifyingly bad. Each Saturday afternoon I’d catch a few minutes of it and think “these aren’t the REAL guys are they?? they’re just filling in right?” OMG so bad LOL Anyone would be a better replacement.
Roper had both Scott and Phillips on the old show when Ebert was off. Roper and Phillips were supposed to re-team for a new review show, but I guess that’s off now. Both Scott and Phillips are great critics, and I will be watching!
I agree that Ben Lyons was horrible..he really seemed to be biased against horror films in general..at least Ben Mankiewicz showed fairness when he reviewed them, even going so far as to put Orphan on his 3 to see for a weekend..I’m sad to see him go..hopefully the new hosts will work out!
I’m unfamiliar with Scott but love Phillips – finally I can watch this show again!!!
A.O. Scott is a very respectable critic who somewhat resembles Paul Giamatti. He’s a lot more serious than the sometimes loosey-goosey Phillips, but his opinions are very thought-through and he’s never a complete stick in the mud. It will be a nice balance.
Agreed. I should warn viewers that A.O. has an affinity for super obscure artsy films (his best of 2007 list was filled with them) so know that his taste and standards are way high. But I think he put Pan’s Labyrinth at #1 or 2, so he’s aces with me.
I’m so happy that the nepotal twins are gone! Both Lyons & Mankiewicz only have their careers becuse of family ties, and Lyons in particular was atrocious. Mankiewicz was not as bad, though he really wasn’t even up to Roeper par either. Scott & Phillips will be SO superior!
What wonderful news! Mank was ok, but Lyons was just awful. He was like a cub high school movie reviewer. How nice it will be to have two real film critics helming the show again. I like both Phillips and Scott very much based on their work and their past appearances.