when you are casually enjoying a nice relaxing trip to the movies

Just finished writing my script for a version of Wizard of Oz told entirely from Toto’s perspective. It’s called Wicked: For Good Boy.

All these years later, I do still miss a weekly half hour of watching these two bantering about the movies.

Ah that first cup of Sunday morning coffee.

I said it would have worked as a tie-in menu item for Ghostbusters II. Ray Stanz’ pink slime bucket.

On the sixth night at Freddy’s, this what gets you.

That’s a lot of lifetime achievement awards to give to a single person but congrats eddie

That cupcake cup.

The worst thing today was that cupcake cup. Ever is tougher to say. But I usually go with the hot chocolate from this...

Growing up, I found Siskel and Ebert's love of movies infectious. That you could mine such richness from film (when good) contributed to my growing appreciation and love of the medium. Great work here from @mattsinger.bsky.social, though I'm now at risk of losing the day to watching all of this.

Read and help support Matt’s inevitable medical stomach treatment!

Matt’s suffering must not be in vain. Educate yourself before you dine.

Hello. Today I ate everything on Popeyes’ Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Menu. Some of the things I saw and ate will haunt my dreams for years ... so I think that makes it one of the most accurate tie-in menus ever?

Good morning. I am about to eat haunted animatronic bear chicken.

Buy it!! It's a wonderful book! Guess who implicitly endorses it with an appearance at around 1:45 in this clip? youtu.be/XshNoqSa72w

There’s a scholarly book someone could write on Sisley & Ebert + Sound Opinions (and media institutions and men) and Chicago as a site of media criticism

I dislike whataboutism but Siskel & Ebert’s review of RED SONJA (1985) is an eternal television comedy classic. Laser timing building to an all-time punchline. 40 years later it’s still funny www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_fh...

As a huge fan of the Tokusatsu medium, it's incredible to discover that one of the linked videos includes a discussion about Inframan. Ebert famously loved science fiction, and I knew he had reviewed the film positively, but I've never seen him talk about it before. youtu.be/keviKBterIg?...

50 years ago today, this photo of the Chicago press conference for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was taken. In the background you can see Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert — in the clothes they wore in the Siskel & Ebert pilot, which was also shot that same day.

Tis the season.

Oh, this is one of my favorite lanes to stay down! I never tire of the "Gene, that IS a pretty inane thing to lead off with"/"But Roger, he IS making a great point" back-and-forth as a viewer. COP & A HALF and BENJI THE HUNTED being seminal movies for me and I've never seen either...love these two.

If you're interested in things of this nature and with Christmas coming, I can heartily recommend Matt's book about Siskel & Ebert "Opposable Thumbs".

Everyone’s favorite movie reviewers (my two daughters) are back to discuss their most anticipated film of their entire lives, Wicked: For Good. Topics include the new songs, the love scene (😬), and if they should have just made one film instead of two. Also, my 9 year old explains AI to me.

A little over 10 years ago, The Dissolve shuttered and we started a niche movie podcast that only we had the power to shut down. This week, we celebrate the 500th episode of The Next Picture Show with a special episode on the film that inspired the title: megaphone.link/FILM9131237121

My kids love and respect me.

An early newspaper article about the pilot (still referred to as “Opening Friday ... at a Theater Near You”) which decribes it as a series of “half-hour specials designed to both inform and entertain film buffs.”

I have read the books and seen the stage show 3 times but haven’t seen the second Wicked movie yet. This is an adorable movie review as well as one that is very good about redacting spoilers from the conversation.

I like that our family feels safe enough to be honest with each other.

Everyone’s favorite movie reviewers (my two daughters) are back to discuss their most anticipated film of their entire lives, Wicked: For Good. Topics include the new songs, the love scene (😬), and if they should have just made one film instead of two. Also, my 9 year old explains AI to me.

Incredible to name a game show after one of the most horrifying moments in 90s cinema and I truly hope the series involves Neil Patrick Harris loudly screaming the title in every episode in the exact cadence Brad Pitt used in Seven.

One of the late great Michael Loewenstein’s early designs for Siskel & Ebert’s signature balcony set.

When they split Wicked into two movies, this was the Ozian bargain they struck: The first movie was going to be all killer, no filler, the second movie would be ... not that. Still, the stars are so good, they almost single-handedly justify the decision to extend this into two films.

Here is a cool artifact from my Opposable Thumbs research: The schedule for the 1st Siskel & Ebert pilot — or, as it was originally known, “Opening Friday” (soon changed to “Opening Soon at a Theater Near You”). Today is the 50th anniversary to the day of the very first rehearsal.

Ohhhhhh, this is fun! Can't wait to go through all of these

Thanks to @kphipps3000.bsky.social for the heads up that Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #44 contains a reference to the greatest movie of all time. I have to get a copy.

Here is a cool artifact from my Opposable Thumbs research: The schedule for the 1st Siskel & Ebert pilot — or, as it was originally known, “Opening Friday” (soon changed to “Opening Soon at a Theater Near You”). Today is the 50th anniversary to the day of the very first rehearsal.

God, I feel old.

A meal fit for an animatronic death bot (or me, sigh).

Amazing how you cannot replicate Siskel and Ebert's show. I took them for granted when I was growing up, and had didn't realize how one-of-a-kind they were.

The book @mattsinger.bsky.social did on Siskel & Ebert was wonderful, and this 50th anniversary article is a great companion.

50 years ago this week, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert made the first pilot for their TV show. In honor of this huge anniversary, I created my definitive “Best of Siskel & Ebert” article - 50 of their best reviews from across their entire career. 👍🏻👍🏻

The list is valid

50 years ago this week, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert made the first pilot for their TV show. In honor of this huge anniversary, I created my definitive “Best of Siskel & Ebert” article - 50 of their best reviews from across their entire career. 👍🏻👍🏻

Some inspiring words on cinema in the streaming era from the Pope. Yes, THAT Pope.

Nouvelle Vague gets me.

My wife on our first date:

Love for the really darn good Maggie and a defense of the oddly underrated Terminator: Dark Fate? Sold.

Opening in limited release this weekend...

Article includes the criminally underrated Last Action Hero, so it merits a read.

With a new Predator and a new Running Man in theaters, Arnold movies are once again having a moment. Here are 10 of my favorite underrated Schwarzenegger films you can watch at home. (All Arnold movies are underrated, frankly, but these are the ones no one talks about.)