At the Movies with... who?
And the new hosts of the Disney/ABC syndicated show "At the Movies" are... Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz.
Lyons and Mankiewicz. Mankiewicz and Lyons. Doesn't exactly trip off the tongue like "Siskel and Ebert" once did.
All right, now that Roger and Richard have taken their thumbs and gone home, who are these guys? Lyons (above left) is the son of TV film critic Jeffrey Lyons and did stuff for "Hip-Hop Nation" and MTV's "Your Movie Show" before installing himself as E!'s resident "movie dude" on the "Daily 10" show. He reviews movies on the show but the "Lyon's Den" website indicates why Disney wants him on "At the Movies": he's young, cute as a button, and has a propensity for interviewing Big Hollywood Stars that puts him squarely within the studio marketing machinery. Not exactly where a critic should be positioned, but look who owns the show.
Mankiewicz (above right) was a host of the left-wing radio/internet show "The Young Turks," bounced to sleazy gossip show "TMZ on TV," and continues to hold down a weekend daytime hosting spot introducing old movies on Turner Classics. Sounds a bit bipolar, no? And he's the grandson of "Citizen Kane" writer Herman Mankiewicz and the great-nephew of writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz ("All About Eve," among many others).
So we have one empty infotainment zygote with a cute punim and one prematurely grizzled journeyman pundit. There are DNA bona fides on both sides, but not, interestingly from the worlds of print criticism or real movie scholarship; clearly, such things no longer matter. Yet Ebert and Siskel were (and are) dyed-in-the-wool newspapermen and film fanatics whose knowledge of cinema ran broad and deep. They could knowledgeably discuss the latest blockbuster and the boutique indie, yes, but also the miniscule labor of love, the Iranian drama, the obscure off-Hollywood oldie, the Japanese horror flick, and they knew why such things mattered. "At the Movies" popularized thinking about movies, but it also broached the notion of thinking about -- and enjoying -- different kinds of movies, and that, I fear, is what will get lost as Disney's hip young film dudes take the show in the direction of hyping whatever's in the marketplace this week.
But I could be wrong. Prove it to me, guys.
I love the Young Turks and Ben is smart, well-read and has a film lovers pedigree. Can't wait to see how the show works out.
They'll call it "The Bens" instead.
I give it two months tops.
I won't be watching, though. They look like a couple of d-bags.
Umm, how about Ben & Ben? Double Ben? The Bens?
You're exactly correct. Nobody (at least nobody in a position of authority) seems to understand the concept of movie scholarship anymore. It just doesn't count. Instead we'll just get more insipid commentary similar to what we would find on E! or Access Hollywood. The big news on At the Movies will no doubt revolve around Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, etc. It's a shame that we can't have even one show on television aimed at movie fans who are capable of thinking.
The Young Turks are not really "left wing". The current host of the show Cenk Uygur is a former Republican, and he's very moderate on many issues, like free trade, etc. It's a really great show for politics and entertainment news.
At any rate, I think it's hard to accept change. A lot of people were very skeptical of Richard R. but they came to like or even love him over time. This change will be even harder since BOTH hosts are new, so naturally there will be some skepticism (although some purists will goo too far with it like with anything). I'm cautiously optimistic.
Check it out for yourself: www.theyoungturks.com
I'll miss Roeper. I hope he comes out with his new show. I don't know if these guys can convince me to see a movie or not.
I'll miss Ebert and Roeper.Won't be the same without them.
Hey, I've loved Siskel, Ebert, and Roeper, but Ben Mankiewicz is the real deal, guys. He KNOWS movies, both historically and now. I don't know Lyons, but there's NO WAY Ben will spend any time talking about Paris Hilton or anyone else. To suggest that he'd allow anyone to dumb down the show is the judge him without knowing anything about him. He's smart, hilarious, and I predict good things for the show.
By the way, the Young Turks are getting short shrift here. They're much more than politics, and 25 million views on YouTube can't be wrong. If you haven't seen them, you'd better check it out.
i wondered what happened to ben on tmz.com..he was my favorite correspondent..he has a good sense of humor
Give the new guys a chance, will you? When I took over co-hosting "Sneak Previews," we got much the same reaction. I'd been a local critic at WPIX-TV for 12 years by then, 1982 and for TWELVE SEASONS on PBS we beat S&E in the ratings, with no publicity, no promotion at all; even in Chicago, their home turf. Ben is well prepeared. He grew up going to screenings with me, helped me write "101 Great Movies for Kids," and has a great perspective on films. He is also closer to the age demo of most filmgoers. He will be a fierce competitor. He co-hosted my show, "REEL TALK" on NBC syndication when my co-host, Alison Bailes was on maternity last October and did a fine job. He must be doing something right if he's reviewing movies for E!, appears on "Good Morning America" and now this. He and Ben M. (whose own credentials speak for themselves) will be tough competitors; it'll be an itneresting season this fall. So watch both shows. GO SOX!
I just saw a clip of the younger Mr. Lyons interviewing himself as some ill conceived, douche chill inducing attempt at humor and I am somewhat taken aback by the whole experience. Possessing the voice of a pre-pubescent boy with a goofy “look how clever I am” grin are hardly great assets for any type of professional broadcaster. Having grown up watching Siskel & Ebert show and having something of knowledge of film myself, I am unsure how having a father who is a film critic translates into being one yourself. My father worked construction yet I am incapable of building much of anything. Have standards been lowered so much by the sheer glut of blogs and online videos that solid film criticism (not to be confused with smug remarks) is all but dead? Say what you will about Roger Ebert but the man knows his film and is a great writer. But hey, “give the new guys a chance”… hell, why not give each and every person on the planet a chance to host the show for a week? Then we could hit the “age demo” for everyone, everywhere. How bad could it be after all?
Type your comment here...ben lyons did not graduate from college and yet he is a film crtic who makes more money than most college grads his age. It's pathetic and entitlement at its finest. I hope the show tanks. Any film expert from E! Has no credibility. Lame
What happened to Roepert? The retooling of this show does not work with the 2 Bens. Can't they bring back real reviewers? Not some kid from Eentertainment.
Personally I find Lyons incredibly arrogant for someone with obviously little real knowledge or particular love of the art or industry (at least incomparison with Mankiewicz or Ebert or Roepert or Siskel or his DAD!). Oh yeah, that he was virtually rapturous over "Finding Nemo" was truly a downer for this viewer. It's understandable that pairing someone less incipiently crusty than Mankiewicz is desired but drop Lyons and keep looking for that fresh face with a deep and wide breadth of information re: filmography. Let him keep doing interviews NOT commentary. Perhaps, give him airtime with a brief interview during the show. A little more fun, irony and intellectual/experiential content (rather than repetition, louder voice and superficiality) would be a great match in ANOTHER partner for Mankiewicz.
Otherwise, l'm a great fan of this format and will keep tuning in hopes of ..........
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Video
browse this blog
by categoryTY AND WESLEY'S RECOMMENDED MOVIE LINKS
INside Boston.com