Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz fired from "At the Movies"

[Aragorn]

Well it's about time Ben Lyons had his "quote whoring" ass booted from television, but is it too late? Ben Mankiewicz wasn't meant for TV either, but clearly he was head and shoulders above Lyons. Too bad Lyons had to pull him underneath and drown him.

At least the show didn't star Ben Lyons and Jeff Craig.


Chicago Sun-Times article

Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz, co-hosts for the past year of the weekly “At the Movies” movie review show, have been sacked, effective immediately.

When the 24th season of the show premieres on Sept. 5, Chicago Tribune movie critic Michael Phillips and New York Times critic A.O. Scott will be seated in the balcony — or whatever’s left of it.

.....

With Lyons and Mankiewicz at the helm for the past year, “At the Movies” had suffered a ratings decline that apparently became irreversible and unacceptable to executives at Disney-ABC Television, which produces and distributes the show nationally. The version of “At the Movies” with Mankiewicz and Lyons also was a hokier, jazzed-up version of the original concept, which originally featured Siskel and Ebert simply debating with each other the merits of new movie releases.

.....

The switch to Phillips and Scott appears to be part of an effort to return the show to its beginnings, featuring two movie critics with substantive credentials, though it’s unclear yet whether the new duo will bring enough presence and punch to the proceedings to significantly boost the show’s ratings.

.....

 

[Amaris]

I like Ben Mankiewicz, and consider him a credible movie buff. I love him on TCM.
Ben Lyons though? Yeah, glad he's gone.


J.

 

[Level 2 Diagnostic]

How was the new version "jazzed up"? I really didn't notice any significant change in format, other than the actual commentary itself becoming a lot stupider. Some of the crappy movies Ben & Ben would recommend just blew my mind.

But I don't think the new guys are going to do any better. No one could ever replace Gene Siskel and no one could ever replace Roger Ebert. I'm pretty sure this show will be gone in 1 or 2 years.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Is there really a reason for this show to exist anymore? I can go to Rottentomatoes and read what every critic in the country thinks about a movie. Why would I want to watch a television show that gives me two people's opinions?

 

[Aragorn]

I guess this means the proposed show with Richard Roeper, Michael Phillips and some chick from the AP isn't going to happen, or at the very least they'll need to replace Phillips.

 

[TGTheodore]

The two "new guys" were the two best replacements for Ebert. Hopefully Disney will knock off the faster pace and ridiculous graphics and get the show back to a Siskel & Ebert format, look and feel.

--Ted

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

^ The last time I peeked in on the show, they'd returned it to that format. It was certainly better, but it still wasn't very good.

I like Phillips and Scott; a lot more than Lyons and Mankiewicz.

I'll be tuning in.

 

[Middle Earther]

Well, I'm out of it - I assumed the show was cancelled after Roeper left. I'm not even sure it's around up here any more.

I would like to see A.O.Scott, though - he was interesting to watch when Roeper had him on.

 

[Too Much Fun]

I found Scott a bit pretentious when he guest hosted (he seemed to always recommend foreign movies, just to be 'hip'), but I like Phillips a lot and I'm sure the two of them would be a huge improvement over the Bens, and maybe even over Roeper, who could be terribly smug at times.

I'm sure the chemistry of Siskel and Ebert won't be re-captured, though. I was really surprised by how strong it was when I started watching some of their shows in the At the Movies archive. It was so fun to watch how passionately they would defend their perspectives, whether they were agreeing or disagreeing. In a way, I think they really were 'meant for each other' and chemistry like that doesn't come along every day.

Anyway, this is great news. Someone online described Ben Lyons as "the face of the death of film criticism" and I don't think that's an exaggeration at all. I find it to be a very fair and accurate assessment, actually. I did my part by tuning out during his reign of terror on the show.

 

[Middle Earther]

I fell in love with this show during the Siskel & Ebert days - My dad and I loved how they could argue and go at it. So disappointing when they did not argue or (horrors!) agreed on something. Also, S&E did fantastic specials: my favorite was the one about the glories of Black & White movies - filmed in B&W, of course!!

I agree that Roeper was a bit smug and I found his taste in movies to be almost opposite mine, although he did have some good debate with Ebert! The show kinda bored me with the guest hosts, since it seemed that the hosts that returned the most were more agreeable with Roeper. The ones who thought he was full of it, did not last more than a show or two.

I will definitely look in on Phillips and Scott - the original idea was that the critics were from different newspapers seems to be honored here. May be fun!

 

[Harvey]

I like A.O. Scott a lot. He and I share similar tastes. And might I suggest that he reccomends foreign movies because...he likes foreign movies?

I've enjoyed Mankiewicz on TCM, though. I guess he just didn't fit the format here. Not that I've watched At the Movies in years, though. I just hope Scott keeps doing his classic movie reviews at the New York Times.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Mankiewicz was growing on me but but Ben Lyons is a golly gee whiz dumb shit whose idea of playing it dangerous is shifting to the other side of his chair. He shouldn't be fired, he should be castrated.

As for the show's format, I guess Disney knew they blew it after the first week. It pretty much is the "Siskel & Ebert" format from years ago, just with two uninteresting critics.

As for Roeper getting his own show, when he left ATM, I was looking forward to it. Especially when the revised ATM premiered. He looked great next to Lyons and Mankiewicz. However, I always felt he was a poor foil for Ebert. And I think Phillips is a better critic anyway. If Roeper gets his own, I'l watch, but I won't cry if he doesn't.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Menc was ok, but Lyon's made me sick. Once they reviewed a film (can't think of the name) that was a tiny horror film from an independent filmmaker and staring Liv Tyler. Well Lyons winced during the review. He winced in disgust and said "I don't like horror films."

So a critic hates all films from a genre?? WTF

 

[JacksonArcher]

Hmm. While I was initially upset over the firing of Roeper and Phillips for "younger" talent, I didn't mind that version of At the Movies. I was expecting something along the lines of TMZ but it was fairly consistent with the overall structure of the show as it has been for years.

I really like Michael Phillips and I am so-so on A.O. Scott. He seems slightly pretentious sometimes. But I'll still tune in.

 

[auntiehill]

Thank f'ing GOD. I hated this show with a passion. Ben Mankiewicz wasn't too bad--a little pedestrian but great God Almighty, Ben Lyons was such a shallow kiss-ass that I actually wanted to cause him physical harm. What an incompetent boob!

I'm glad that they actually have (*gasp*) qualified, educated and experienced people to give the films ACTUAL reviews. I will definitely tune into the new guys and see how they do. They certainly can't be any worse than Quote-Whore Boy.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I got the movie wrong. When I think of it, I'll post it.

Lyons is the only one that makes me want to hate the films he likes because of his pandering voice, and this goes for movies that I would normally like as well.

For an example of why he makes me sick, see his review of Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler

 

[Aragorn]

People hate Ben Lyons because 1) he only has his job because his father has the same job, 2) he's not very good at articulating why he likes or dislikes a movie which leads to: 3) him being the ultimate quote whore who spits out short catchy sentences that don't add up to anything when put together but is more than enough to put on a movie's newspaper ad.

Since I gave up on Ben & Ben after the first episode, I never saw this but it sounds right up Lyons' alley, but supposedly he opened his review of Revolutionary Road by saying Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's Titanic honeymoon is over... even though they never had a honeymoon since JACK DIED IN THE WATER!!!

Someone also mentioned that Lyons thought the eyepatch was silly in Valkyrie.

You look at how some critics' reviews are distorted to sound positive (the original Batman & Robin DVD had a supposedly positive review from Michael Medved, but there were three or four "..." in between the words to make it sound that way), but you never have to cheat like that when it comes to Ben Lyons.

 

[TGTheodore]

supposedly he opened his review of Revolutionary Road by saying Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's Titanic honeymoon is over... even though they never had a honeymoon since JACK DIED IN THE WATER!!!

Er ... He wasn't referring to an actual honeymoon by the characters. He was referring to the ACTORS' fame and "juice" from the movie finally wearing off.

But I agree, he's still a douchebag.

And Revolutionary Road made my worst ten of that year. What a piece of crap.

--Ted

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Chicago Tribune movie critic Michael Phillips and New York Times critic A.O. Scott will be seated in the balcony

Urghhhh - those guys will play off each other like Wonderbread and vanilla ice cream. As bad as Lyons and "Mank" were (well mainly Lyons), at least they didn't seem like clones. In addition to the "having something worthwhile to say" qualification for the balcony, there's also the issue that the show has to be a show in itself, not just two tweedy talking heads.

Is there really a reason for this show to exist anymore? I can go to Rottentomatoes and read what every critic in the country thinks about a movie. Why would I want to watch a television show that gives me two people's opinions?

That's why the verbal fistcuffs are essential. ABC/Disney is really missing the whole point of this show - it needs both credibility and fireworks.

I wonder how Roeper and Mankewitz would work? If I were in charge, I'd give that pairing a shot.

 

[TGTheodore]

Reading a review doesn't always give you the proper emphasis. HEARING it does.

Understanding the degree of joy, loathing or indifference a major critic has is always more entertaining than scanning the first paragraph of an online critique fest and thinking you know what they thought.

--Ted