1.26.10 - 3:00PM
- by
Drew Grant

Siskel and Ebert's Darker Side -- An Urlesque Compilation

Ah, the fond memories we have of America's most famous film critics, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. Remember that time they were on 'The Critic'? Sorry Roeper, you just don't compare to the automatically funny dynamic that is a tall skinny guy and a short fat guy. They were like a real-life Bert and Ernie, with sometimes questionable taste in film.

Siskel's death in 1999 was a sad moment for all of us, but especially for the Statler to his Waldorf, Ebert. Yet as this old compilation of footage we've assembled from their show's outtakes reveal, these friends' relationship was far from perfect.

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1.26.10

By Stephanie Manley

Neutral

This was brilliant, thank you for sharing. I miss this show. I grew up watching it. Loved their reviews.

1.27.10

By Matt Cornell

Neutral

Check out the longer version of these outtakes. They bash Protestants!

http://cribbster.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/siskel-ebert-bickering-making-fun-of-protestants-cursing/

1.27.10

By Katie Camosy

Neutral

They also grew to respect and care for each other of course: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/02/i_remember_gene.html

1.28.10

By Rainy Day

Neutral

That was good to see them being real in front of the camera instead of being politically correct in front of the viewers as I remember them. Just because they made fun of each other and called each other names doesn't show they didn't like each other.

1.28.10

By bennie

Neutral

THESE 2 ARE ADOLESCENTS PERSONIFIED !!!

1.28.10

By Manalto

Neutral

Their arguments are just as dreary and witless as their reviews were.

1.28.10

By pnut166

Neutral

"Far from perfect" ? Apparently, Mr. Drew has never had a real buddy.

1.28.10

By NEAL

Neutral

THEY SOUND LIKE TWO REAL PEOPLE WHO HAD TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER AND KNEW EACH OTHER'S IDIOSYNCRASIES...SOUNDS LIKE MOST FRIENDSHIPS...

1.28.10

By MIKE ZVIRBLIS

Neutral

ROEPER ALWAYS LOOKED HUNGOVER AND HIS HAIR JUST COMBED

1.28.10

By joeomar

Neutral

This story is based on a bizarre presumption - that we thought they were friends so it's shocking to find out they had "issues". Actually, they WEREN'T particularly friends and never hid the fact. They had a highly successful professional relationship but they admitted often that they rarely socialized together outside of work.

1.28.10

By swrdmbo

Neutral

I don't know where this guy got his information but he is way off base. These two despised each other. They most certainly were not friends. Knowing this, you can definitely pick up on the acrimony between them at times. They worked together because it benefited them both, but they made no secret of the fact that they did not like each other.

1.28.10

By minorlabia19

Neutral

Oh there was a love there. At least they agreed that "Stand By Me" is a great film, lol.

1.28.10

By Kent

Neutral

For all of the jabs that they made to each other, they did become friends. First of all, Roger's wedding to his current wife was at Gene's house. Gene called it, on one of the talk shows, "Operation Dessert Storm".

Then, I think it was on Leno's show, broadcast from Chicago, they declared that there were buddies. At the end of the show, the were dancing a polka together. Roger was leading, since I assume that growing up in Chicago, he had been to more German and Polish weddings than Gene.

1.28.10

By RK

Neutral

Sound like a typical marrage to me.

1.28.10

By TC

Neutral

They both were not particularly likeable people. They were jerks, but they were successful

1.28.10

By chris

Neutral

Not that it matters....but Siskel wasn't "skinny". Compared to Ebert he seemed thin...but I lived in the bldg. next to Siskel's in Chicago and used to see him almost daily. He was a pear....big butt and thighs (which was why you couldn't tell he was heavy...you only ever saw him sitting down). Very out of shape. Other than that...I always preferred Ebert's reviews to Siskel's...but he was always very nice, very friendly.

1.28.10

By GG

Neutral

They seem like affable sparring partners here. However, Siskel appears drunk or under the influence of rather heavy medication.

1.28.10

By Portia

Neutral

This is not news....it was common knowledge at the time that they didn't always get along. That made the program all the more interesting, hearing each justify their position. And they did it without throwing fists or expletives! Too bad commentators aren't emotionally mature enough to do that today !

1.28.10

By Joan

Neutral

wow...I watched these guys every week in college in Chicago the 70s. I really miss them and their hilarious chemistry. Siskel was extremely harsh. Ebert seemed to just brush him off. To me they are the movie version of the "Jane, you ignorant slut" SNL spoof on the weekly "Point Counter Point" segment of 60 Minutes.

The article auther is right....the show was never the same after Siskel died.