What started as a locally produced series in Chicago in 1975 would soon go national, first on PBS, then in syndication.
Sneak Previews was given the title upon shifting to PBS in 1977 after launching in Chicago as Coming Soon to a Theater Near You. Rival film critics Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) & Gene Siskel (Chicago Tribune) discussed & debated each week's releases and/or popular films already in wide release. The phrase, "two thumbs up", became a national catchphrase, and, until leaving for syndication, Sneak Previews gave PBS another tentpole series, along with Masterpiece Theater and children's shows such as Sesame Street.
Unfortunately, as the critics' fame grew, money became an issue, and Siskel & Ebert left in 1982, replaced by Neal Gabler and New York critic Jeffrey Lyons. Gabler didn't last long, and was succeeded by Michael Medved, already a part-time contributor to the series.
Siskel & Ebert moved on, signing first with Tribune Entertainment to host At The Movies, but that series lasted just four years before the duo left again, this time jumping to Disney, which gave them Siskel & Ebert & The Movies, while Bill Harris (Entertainment Tonight) and another New York critic, Rex Reed, took over At The Movies.
Here's an episode from 1979, headlined by "Alien", which would be appropriate this time of year.
Rating: A.
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