1. Gene Siskel (1946-1999)
Roger Eberts rise in popularity relied heavily on his rivalry with Chicago film critic Gene Siskel. Ebert worked for the Sun Times, Siskel the Tribune. When the two were paired on Sneak Previews on PBS, there was immediate chemistry. The two rivals bickered like an old married couple, and audiences loved it. What Sneak Previews (and subsequently At the Movies and Siskel & Ebert) proved to audiences was that film critics could be intelligent, thoughtful and passionate about film and still disagree on a films merits. They played off one another very well, and the result was rule #1 in television: that it entertain. And entertain they did. Siskel helped define Roger Ebert. When they were together they managed to set one another apart. When they agreed angels from heaven played their harps in glorious celebration. When they disagreed, audiences were in for some entertaining television. When Gene Siskel died in 1999, Ebert seemed incomplete. Yes, he was still a fine critic, and continued to write thoughtful commentary on film. But the public, for so many years, knew Roger Ebert as part of a team, and when Siskel was gone, so was half of what made Ebert such an entertaining TV personality. It was ten years later that Ebert eulogized Siskel on his blog. We once spoke with Disney and CBS about a sitcom to be titled, Best Enemies. It would be about two movie critics joined in a love/hate relationship. It never went anywhere, but we both believed it was a good idea. Maybe the problem was that no one else could possibly understand how meaningless was the hate, how deep was the love. The love was deep Roger. You will be sorely missed. The balcony is closed.