There will never be as good a co-host to the old \"Thumbs Up/Down\" as Gene Siskel. Gene was the quintessential counterpoint to Roger Ebert\'s personality and personal tastes, likes/dislikes, etc. I watched them from the first season on PBS through the tragedy of Gene\'s death and the search for a suitable occupant of the second chair in the balcony.
It is my humble estimation that Richard Roeper is doing a journeyman\'s job in second seat. He has the chops to carry off an incredibly challenging assignment of winging it without Roger Ebert; searching for yet another co-host to complement his sensibilities.
The producers found a wonderful replacement for a couple of episodes of the show in Kevin Smith. He pointed out that Richard has become a little jaded. I concur. That is why I believe it\'s a good idea to bring in new talent from time-to-time, both to allow one of the hosts to have a vacation and to inject the opinions of those who do not watch movies for a living.
But bottom line: Cut Richard Roeper some slack. While he may have become a little blasé in the film criticism department, he still has the chops for the job. I can tell that because I don\'t agree with him ALL THE TIME...just most of the time.
the new guy who spends most of his time in his hippie living room smokin dope and watchin woodstock
here is somebody who did not like Saw but did like house of wax and texas chainsaw masscre.always making funny faces on the show he must smoke a bowl right befor they go on. has a liitle better taste in movies than diaper boy but still needs to learn that horror movies are not real.
