Roger Ebert to Launch New Movie Review Show, While Old Show is Cancelled

Movie reviewer Roger Ebert says he and his wife are going ahead with plans to produce a new movie review television program with the working title "Roger Ebert presents At the Movies.''

The Champaign-Urbana native wrote Thursday on his Chicago Sun-Times blog that he can't give details, but they're "deeply involved'' in talks. Ebert says they've held tests with potential hosts and they know who they will use. He says the new show would have a strong presence online.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning reviewer writes that he would like to make "occasional appearances'' on the air. Ebert lost his ability to speak after cancer surgery.

Ebert also writes: "the Thumbs will return,'' referring to the well-known "thumbs up'' and "thumbs down'' reviews.

Also Thursday, Disney-ABC Domestic Television announced the cancellation of "At The Movies,'' the successor show to Ebert's review programs with the late Chicago Tribune critic Gene Siskel and later with the Sun Times' Richard Roeper.

Disney-ABC said the last show with A.O. Scott of the New York Times and Michael Phillips of the Tribune will air in August.