or


[07/22/08 - 03:20 PM]
At the Movies, Television's Most Popular and Respected Movie Review Program, Names Two New Co-Hosts - Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz - and Adds Several Exciting New Segments to Show's Format
The revamped series will debut the weekend of September 6.

[via press release from ABC]

"AT THE MOVIES," TELEVISION'S MOST POPULAR AND RESPECTED MOVIE REVIEW PROGRAM, NAMES TWO NEW CO-HOSTS - BEN LYONS AND BEN MANKIEWICZ - AND ADDS SEVERAL EXCITING NEW SEGMENTS TO SHOW'S FORMAT

NEW SEASON TO PREMIERE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2008

Television's most popular and respected movie review program, "At The Movies," today announced that two new charismatic co-hosts, Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz, will co-host the next generation of the series when its new season begins the weekend of September 6, 2008. Both of these critics will bring their unique personalities and extensivequalifications to the series, and the show will also be adding several new exciting segments. This follows the announcement that famed Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert and his co-host Richard Roeper have bid farewell to the weekly television series.

A native New Yorker and best known as E! Entertainment's resident film expert, Ben Lyons interviews actors and reports from film festivals around the globe. His versatility as a host and critic finds him on the red carpet and reviewing films for "E! News," "The Daily Ten," as well as his featured blog and original broadband series, "The Lyons Den," on E! Online. Lyons has previously been featured on "Good Morning America," MTV's "Your Movie Show," "MSNBC at the Movies" and "Access Hollywood," and has a passion for music having worked as a segment producer on the nationally syndicated "Hip-Hop Nation."

Ben Mankiewicz has been a popular host for Turner Classic Movies for five years. He was also the host of "The Young Turks" on Sirius Satellite Radio, a live, daily alternative talk show discussing politics, film, pop culture, sports, and media. Prior to his work on Turner Classic Movies, Mankiewicz was a reporter and anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston, South Carolina and he also served as the anchor of "The Times," a daily news magazine at WAMI-TV Miami.

"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 honor 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."

In addition to the new co-hosts, "At the Movies" will also introduce new segments, a new set, new music and new graphics with the September premiere. The show will continue its signature "cross-talk" reviews, where the co-hosts debate the latest motion picture and DVD releases, and add "Critics Round-Up," which features the co-hosts in lively discussions with other well-respected critics via satellite from cities across the country. Also, in the "3 to See" segment, the co-hosts recommend their top three "must see" films in theatres now, to give viewers a chance to make quick decisions on what to see that weekend.

In discussing the future of the series, Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group, who oversees Buena Vista Productions, stated, "Over the years, 'At the Movies' has become synonymous with fun, compelling movie reviews. With the addition of Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz as our talented, charismatic new co-hosts, and exciting new segments planned, we're confident that audiences will be enjoying 'At the Movies' for many years to come."

Both Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz grew up immersed in the movie business; one in a family of film critics and one in a family of filmmakers. Lyons comes from a very distinguished family of journalists and film critics, including his father, film critic Jeffrey Lyons, and grandfather, renowned New York Post columnist Leonard Lyons. Mankiewicz comes from a legendary filmmaking family. Mankiewicz's grandfather, Herman Mankiewicz, won an Oscar for writing the screenplay for "Citizen Kane." His great uncle, Joseph Mankiewicz, won four Oscars for writing and directing "All About Eve and "A Letter to Three Wives." His cousin, Tom Mankiewicz, wrote several classic James Bond movies including "The Man with the Golden Gun," "Live and Let Die," and "Diamonds Are Forever." He also wrote "Superman" and "Superman II."

The show's comprehensive website, AtTheMoviesTV.com, is the only online destination on the internet to feature a 20-year video archive of every movie review in the show's history, and will offer full-length reviews for all the movies and DVDs reviewed each week by Lyons and Mankiewicz. In addition, the new "Critics Round-Up" will be incorporated into the site, along with a number of new online-exclusive features in coming months.

Buena Vista Productions has also named David Plummer as the new executive producer of "At the Movies." Plummer will be upped from his current position as supervising producer on "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper."

Television pioneers Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel first paired up in 1975 at WTTW in Chicago when they hosted the local movie review show, "Sneak Previews." In 1978, the show moved to PBS and was syndicated shortly thereafter by Tribune Syndication and was renamed "At the Movies." In 1986, Disney-ABC Domestic Television (then known as Buena Vista Television) acquired the show, calling it "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies." Upon Gene Siskel's passing in 1999, the show retained the "Siskel & Ebert" title until the following fall when it became "Roger Ebert & the Movies." In July 2000, film critic Richard Roeper was named Ebert's new co-host and the show was retitled, "Ebert & Roeper and the Movies." The show was renamed "Ebert & Roeper" in 2001 and subsequently was modified to "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" last year. Ebert celebrated his 30th anniversary as a television film critic in 2005.

"It has been a remarkable 22 years working with our good friend Roger Ebert," commented Janice Marinelli, president, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "Roger is an exceedingly gfted critic and journalist who has made an indelible mark on the film industry. It has been our privilege to work alongside Roger and we are proud to have been his television partner for these many years. He is an extraordinary man of uncompromising strength and determination." She continued, "Richard's talent, enthusiasm and insights have been an integral part of the show for the past eight seasons. We thank him for his invaluable contributions and we are especially grateful to him for hosting the show so skillfully these past two years during Roger's absence. We wish them both the very best."

"At the Movies" will debut its 23rd season in national syndication the weekend of September 6, 2008. Buena Vista Productions oversees production of the series, which is distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. The series is produced at WLS-TV in Chicago. Check local listings for time and channel at www.AtTheMoviesTV.com.





  [july 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· ACCESS HOLLYWOOD (SYNDICATION)
· AT THE MOVIES (SYNDICATION)





[04/24/24 - 10:59 AM]
Prime Video Announces Premiere Date and Key Art for Stand-Up Comedy Special "Marlon Wayans: Good Grief"
The one-hour special will premiere in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on June 4.

[04/24/24 - 09:09 AM]
Video: Disney+ Shares Official Trailer for "Jim Henson Idea Man"
Produced with the full participation and cooperation of the Henson family, "Jim Henson Idea Man" is an unprecedented, intimate look at Henson's illustrious, revolutionary career and complex personal life.

[04/24/24 - 09:05 AM]
Gird Your Loins! Prime Video Releases Official First Look Images and Launch Date for "My Lady Jane"
Also announced, the series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on Thursday, June 27 in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

[04/24/24 - 09:01 AM]
Steve Carell to Star in "The Four Seasons" Netflix Comedy Series from Universal Television
Carell will star in the series alongside Tina Fey.

[04/24/24 - 09:01 AM]
ID Announces New Docuseries "Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter"
From their outsized fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s to their headline-making struggles in recent years, the docuseries pulls back the curtain on the fraught dynamic of the Carter family and the dark side of such an abrupt rise to fame.

[04/24/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Black Twitter: A People's History" - Official Trailer - Hulu
The rise, movements, voices and memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant force in nearly every aspect of American political and cultural life.

[04/24/24 - 07:59 AM]
Starz Confirms Additional Casting for "Outlander: Blood of My Blood"
Joining the cast in a role "Outlander" fans will recognize from early seasons is Sally Messham as Mrs. Fitz, Ellen's maid at Castle Leoch and Murtagh's aunt.

[04/24/24 - 07:03 AM]
Video: Apple TV+ Debuts Trailer for "The Big Cigar," New Limited Series Starring Andre Holland as Black Panther Leader Huey P. Newton, Premiering Globally on Friday, May 17
Based on the magazine article of the same name by Joshuah Bearman, who also serves as executive producer, "The Big Cigar" tells the incredible true story of Hollywood revolution meeting social revolution.

[04/24/24 - 07:02 AM]
Paramount+ Renews Original Animated Preschool Series "Dora" for a Second Season
The iconic Latina heroine made her triumphant return earlier this month in the all-new CG-animated series produced by Nickelodeon Animation.

[04/24/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Golden Kamuy" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On the Hokkaido frontier, a war veteran and Ainu girl race against misfits and military renegades to find treasure mapped out on tattooed outlaws.

[04/24/24 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Illusions for Sale: The Rise and Fall of Generacion Zoe" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This documentary follows the rise and fall of GeneraciĆ³n Zoe, a spiritual coaching network hiding the most unusual scam in Argentina's history.

[04/24/24 - 01:01 AM]
Video: "My Oni Girl" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A shy teenage boy's inability to say no is tested when a headstrong girl drags him on a mystical journey amid summer snow to find her missing mom.

[04/24/24 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "Thank You, Next" - Official Teaser - Netflix
After a painful breakup, a young lawyer dives head first into the confusing world of modern dating, with the unwavering support of her best friends.

[04/23/24 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Atypical Family" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Once blessed with unique superpowers, a family loses their abilities due to modern day problems - until a mysterious woman changes everything.

[04/23/24 - 03:01 PM]
"Tamron Hall" Grows Week to Week in Women 18-49 Hitting 6-Week High and Ranking No. 2 Among All Syndicated Talk Shows
In addition, "Tamron Hall" turned in increases for the same week last year in Households and Women 18-49.