Ben and Ben No Longer ‘At the Movies’

Published by Jeff Leins on: August 5th, 2009

When Disney decided to switch the format of the TV show “At the Movies,” the company replaced long time hosts Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper after eight seasons of quality film criticism.  The end of their contract meant an end of an era after Ebert’s 33 years on television talking about movies.

Instead Disney went with “the next generation” of hosts, Ben Lyons of E! Entertainment Television and Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies.  The show’s respected discussion was replaced by an “Entertainment Tonight” style program filled with over-the-top enthusiasm instead of experience.

The backlash was instant.  Entertainment writers and anyone who watched the show was critical of the new direction, especially towards Ben Lyons.  A website, stopbenlyons.com, even spawned to chronicle all of his mediocrity.  I would have been happier with everyone’s favorite RottenTomatoes troll: Armond White.

Today Disney’s ABC Media Productions announced they are flipping the format back to a trusted resource for film fans.  According to the Chicago Tribune, Michael Phillips of the Tribune and A.O. Scott of the New York Times are taking over the syndicated show. Scott and Phillips both filled in at times for Ebert during his medical leave of absence and will officially become co-hosts when the new season starts September 5.

“We’ve decided to return the show to its original essence – two traditional film critics discussing current motion picture and DVD releases,” said Brian Frons who oversees ABC Media Productions.  Ben and Ben only made it one season.

I couldn’t be happier.  Not because the show is finally returning to a place of legitimate film discussion (which is definitely great), but because Lyons is finally out.  We’re about the same age and our last names are pronounced exactly the same, so I’m regrettably associated with his hacky, uninformed reviews.  It’s bad enough his father, Jeffrey Lyons, has the same name and generally poor taste in film.

Bring on the new “At the Movies!”