More Reviews, But No TV for Ebert, Yet

Roger Ebert is still not able to return to TV, but his readiness to jump back into written criticism is one small bit of good news amongst the glut of firings suffered by critics in newspapers across the country. Ebert has been doing one-off reviews while in recovery since last year - in a message to readers of the Chicago Sun-Times, he said that he is “still cancer free,” though not 100 percent just yet.  However, he’s feeling good enough to return to a more steady schedule:

I am at last returning to the movie beat. After my current stay at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, I’m looking forward to opening night of my annual film festival at the University of Illinois on April 23, and I will resume writing movie reviews shortly thereafter.

Are you as bored with my health as I am? I underwent a third surgery in January, this one in Houston, and once again there were complications. I am sorry to say that my ability to speak was not restored. That would require another surgery.

Meanwhile, Ebert & Roeper is still Roeper and Someone Else: Anne Thompson notes that Chicago Tribune critic Michael Phillips will likely be Ebert’s permanent-temporary replacement, rather than the cycle of guests hosts we’ve been seeing, until Ebert has his voice restored.

tedzee | Permalink | April 2 2008 | Comments (View)