Former "At the Movies" co -host Ben Lyons (E! Entertainment)
Ben Lyons, the man The Los Angeles Times called "the most hated film critic in America" has been fired as co-host of the syndicated movie review program "At the Movies."
According to The Chicago Tribune, Disney's ABC Media Productions said Wednesday it is retooling the Chicago-based series yet again "in hopes of reconnecting with its respected past."
Following the departure of Roger Ebert, who took the "thumbs up, thumbs down" trademark with him, ABC Media revamped the show with what programming execs perceived to be younger, hipper hosts. Lyons, of E! News and Nickelodeon's "My Family's Got Guts," and Turner Classic Movies weekend presenter Ben Mankiewicz, were intended to revitalize the flagging franchise. Disney had trumpeted the addition of Lyons and Mankiewicz as"the next generation of the series."
Instead, they nearly killed it. While Mankiewicz acquitted himself with a modicum of dignity, the jejeune Lyons, the son of hack filmcrit Jeffrey Lyons, generated overwhelmingly negative buzz and vitriolic fan backlash. Websites like StopBenLyons.com sprang up overnight, with bloggers and cineastes venting spleen over the dumbing down of television's best-loved movie show.
Now Lyons and Mankiewicz have been given their walking papers, in favor of a return to dueling newspaper film critics, Michael Phillips of the The Chicago Tribune and A.O. Scott of The New York Times.
Ebert seemed to be making an indirect reference to the credibility-free, sub-literate Lyons, when he wrote in his online journal, "We can't be too careful. Employers are eager to replace us with Celeb Info-Nuggets that will pimp to the mouth-breathers, who underline the words with their index fingers whilst they watch television."
“I loved working on this show, every moment of it,” Mankiewicz said through Disney. “It was an honor to continue a broadcast legacy not merely started by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, but created by them. No doubt the show is in good hands."
Lyons has not released a statement.
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Comments
Mankiewicz was really good, its a pity hes getting the sack. Lyons was kinda annoying, but hes not as bad as people say he is.
A.O Scott is far more annoying. Although Michael Phillips is good at what he does.
His dad's forum was called "in the Lyons den." I think the update should read, "those are actual lions, Ben..."
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