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'Lyons & Mankiewicz At the Movies' Promises A Bold New Era of Critic Hackery
Posted by Defamer Hollywood at 3:40 AM on July 23, 2008
Monday's news that Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper officially ended their eponymous film-review show might have presaged a dark, thumbless era of criticism, but we're learning today that all is not lost. The higher-ups at Disney are reportedly set to relaunch At the Movies with unique incestuous flava for a new generation, inviting E! fluffer Ben Lyons and ex-Young Turk/current TCM host Ben Mankiewicz aboard for all the middlebrow, multiplex-ready chatter America can stand. And to hear the guys tell it after the jump, they can't wait to get started:
"I am incredibly excited to be involved with such a prestigious show," said co-host Ben Lyons. "Reviewing films for a living is a thrill, and now that I will be a critic for At the Movies, it is an honour and huge responsibility that I look forward to.""I am thrilled and honored beyond words to be joining the series," added co-host Ben Mankiewicz. "As a movie fanatic, this is my dream job. Without question, I certainly have very big shoes to fill."
Fine. It's not really the nepotism we mind — Lyons being the son of former current At the Movies host and syndicated hack Jeffrey Lyons (and grandson of NYC gossip Leonard Lyons); Mankewicz derived from his political-guru dad Frank Mankewicz and Citizen Kane-scripting grandfather Herman Mankewicz. That's not the kids' fault. However, the proliferation of Lyons' notorious quotewhoredom gives us pause, as does our fear that three generations of inbreeding within the critical gene pool will yield a monster that neither Ebert/Siskel/Roeper loyalists nor filmgoing kiddies want. But the guys come cheap, we suppose, and "Two Mutant Flippers Up!™" is kind of catchy, so we guess we'll reserve judgment until the Sept. 6 season premiere.
[Photo: Thompson on Hollywood]
- Lyons and Mankiewicz To Replace Ebert and Roeper [Thompson on Hollywood]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
tom
Posted October 12, 2008 11:42 AM
I have seen the new program and it is no longer worth watching. I have watched for years and am disappointed and disgusted by the new show. Especially sickening is the annoying, spoiled, smirking Ben Lyons. To simply look at him is to hate him. To listen to him is to be justified. What stupid ignoranus executive ruined this program???
NotReadyForPrimeTime
Posted 10:27 AM 23/7/08
Gene Siskel is rolling in his grave.
NotReadyForPrimeTime
ColbertNation
Posted 7:18 AM 23/7/08
Ebert's never coming back so I hope Roeper and Phillips do a new show together. They had good chemistry.
ColbertNation
ge90036
Posted 7:05 AM 23/7/08
Damn it... someone beat me to calling Ben Lyons a douche. Well at least I hope they're paying him good bank so he can buy himself a personality one of these days. God knows he didn't inherit one from his father since there wasn't one to get.
ge90036
Tiger_Tanaka
Posted 6:02 AM 23/7/08
"EXPLOSIVE! INTENSE! This is the GREATEST SHOW IN THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION!!!!" - Dickhead Weekly
"PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!!!" - Daily Spew
Tiger_Tanaka
STV
Posted 5:54 AM 23/7/08
@Lulamaybelle: Can't. Stop. Laughing.
STV
Baronzemo
Posted 5:49 AM 23/7/08
I had no idea that he was Jeffrey Lyons kid. I had no idea that Jeffrey Lyons had a famous father but it explains too much;
[www.columbia.edu]
As far as family legacies go, Mankiewicz FTW
Baronzemo
OldTowneTavern
Posted 5:26 AM 23/7/08
@Lulamaybelle: Oh, don't give me the creeps.
OldTowneTavern
Lulamaybelle
Posted 5:24 AM 23/7/08
oh and forgot to say Disney should have at least considered that "Sexman" kid from youtube.
Lulamaybelle
Lulamaybelle
Posted 5:21 AM 23/7/08
I was rooting for Michael Phillips to be on the show as a permanent spot (as I have been siding with his critiques lately). The relation to Jeffrey Lyons worries me as that "Reel Talk" is THE WORST "critics" show on tv.
Lulamaybelle
bodreeyard
Posted 5:12 AM 23/7/08
Has-Bens?
bodreeyard
Pop Socket
Posted 5:07 AM 23/7/08
What? Michael Medved's kids weren't photogenic enough?
Pop Socket
WasatchMan
Posted 5:05 AM 23/7/08
Remember when they used to call Siskel and Ebert "the bald guy and the fat guy"? Could a bald guy and a fat guy even star in a movie review show anymore?
WasatchMan
Oxycontinmoron
Posted 5:00 AM 23/7/08
Two Bens up?
Oxycontinmoron
kookla
Posted 4:55 AM 23/7/08
I'm just grateful that it's not Byron Allen. Although Lyons&Allen rolls of the tongue a lot easier than Lyons&Mancowtits.
kookla
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 4:40 AM 23/7/08
"I am incredibly excited to be involved with such a prestigious show,"
"Prestigious"? Not anymore it's not. But try "Pretentious" on for size. It'll be a perfect fit.
Little Mintz Sunshine
Old No.7
Posted 4:34 AM 23/7/08
They should just call it "Suck & Blow At The Movies".
And the answer is yes, it is possible to Suck & Blow at the same time.
Old No.7
metroville
Posted 4:21 AM 23/7/08
Well, that tears it. I'm going to have to start forming my own opinions.
metroville
OldTowneTavern
Posted 4:20 AM 23/7/08
Finally, a critic who wears a hoodie.
OldTowneTavern
WGARefugee
Posted 4:19 AM 23/7/08
Do these quote whores take paypal?
WGARefugee
Breadbowl
Posted 4:12 AM 23/7/08
Come back to us Gene Siskel. I will keep asking.
Breadbowl
Desk_hack
Posted 4:11 AM 23/7/08
Ben Lyons is such a douche. He interviewed Gwyneth Paltrow during the Iron Man circuit and tried to engage her in a conversation about the rivalry between their NYC prep schools. She wouldn't bite. It was one of the few times I've respected her.
Desk_hack
adamdrake
Posted 4:07 AM 23/7/08
This is nauseating. But it will be fun to watch and critique.
adamdrake
mitchel_stevens
Posted 4:01 AM 23/7/08
Aside from this being awful news, I thought all Lyons needed a British co-host to feed them their lines.
How will this Mankiewicz ever hope to spoon-feed young Simba?
mitchel_stevens
RocketRockit
Posted 3:58 AM 23/7/08
God, I fucking hate Ben Lyons.
RocketRockit