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'At The Movies,' Television's Most Popular and Respected Movie Review Program, Names Two New Co-Hosts - Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz - and Adds Several Exciting New Segments to Show's Format

NEW SEASON TO PREMIERE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2008

BURBANK, Calif., July 22, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Television's most
popular and respected movie review program, "At The Movies," today announced
that two new charismatic co-hosts, Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz, will co-host
the next generation of the series when its new season begins the weekend of
September 6, 2008. Both of these critics will bring their unique personalities
and extensive qualifications to the series, and the show will also be adding
several new exciting segments. This follows the announcement that famed
Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert and his co-host Richard Roeper
have bid farewell to the weekly television series.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080722/LATU066-a)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080722/LATU066-b)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080722/LATU066LOGO-c)

A native New Yorker and best known as E! Entertainment's resident film
expert, Ben Lyons interviews actors and reports from film festivals around the
globe. His versatility as a host and critic finds him on the red carpet and
reviewing films for "E! News," "The Daily Ten," as well as his featured blog
and original broadband series, "The Lyons Den," on E! Online. Lyons has
previously been featured on "Good Morning America," MTV's "Your Movie Show,"
"MSNBC at the Movies" and "Access Hollywood," and has a passion for music
having worked as a segment producer on the nationally syndicated "Hip-Hop
Nation."

Ben Mankiewicz has been a popular host for Turner Classic Movies for five
years. He was also the host of "The Young Turks" on Sirius Satellite Radio, a
live, daily alternative talk show discussing politics, film, pop culture,
sports, and media. Prior to his work on Turner Classic Movies, Mankiewicz was
a reporter and anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston, North Carolina and he also
served as the anchor of "The Times," a daily news magazine at WAMI-TV Miami.

"I am incredibly excited to be involved with such a prestigious show,"
said co-host Ben Lyons. "Reviewing films for a living is a thrill, and now
that I will be a critic for 'At the Movies,' it is an honor and huge
responsibility that I look forward to."

"I am thrilled and honored beyond words to be joining the series," added
co-host Ben Mankiewicz. "As a movie fanatic, this is my dream job. Without
question, I certainly have very big shoes to fill."

In addition to the new co-hosts, "At the Movies" will also introduce new
segments, a new set, new music and new graphics with the September premiere.
The show will continue its signature "cross-talk" reviews, where the co-hosts
debate the latest motion picture and DVD releases, and add "Critics Round-Up,"
which features the co-hosts in lively discussions with other well-respected
critics via satellite from cities across the country. Also, in the "3 to See"
segment, the co-hosts recommend their top three "must see" films in theatres
now, to give viewers a chance to make quick decisions on what to see that
weekend.

In discussing the future of the series, Brian Frons, president, Daytime,
Disney-ABC Television Group, who oversees Buena Vista Productions, stated,
"Over the years, 'At the Movies' has become synonymous with fun, compelling
movie reviews. With the addition of Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz as our
talented, charismatic new co-hosts, and exciting new segments planned, we're
confident that audiences will be enjoying 'At the Movies' for many years to
come."

Both Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz grew up immersed in the movie business;
one in a family of film critics and one in a family of filmmakers. Lyons comes
from a very distinguished family of journalists and film critics, including
his father, film critic Jeffrey Lyons, and grandfather, renowned New York Post
columnist Leonard Lyons. Mankiewicz comes from a legendary filmmaking family.
Mankiewicz's grandfather, Herman Mankiewicz, won an Oscar for writing the
screenplay for "Citizen Kane." His great uncle, Joseph Mankiewicz, won four
Oscars for writing and directing "All About Eve and "A Letter to Three Wives."
His cousin, Tom Mankiewicz, wrote several classic James Bond movies including
"The Man with the Golden Gun," "Live and Let Die," and "Diamonds Are Forever."
He also wrote "Superman" and "Superman II."

The show's comprehensive website, AtTheMoviesTV.com, is the only online
destination on the internet to feature a 20-year video archive of every movie
review in the show's history, and will offer full-length reviews for all the
movies and DVDs reviewed each week by Lyons and Mankiewicz. In addition, the
new "Critics Round-Up" will be incorporated into the site, along with a number
of new online-exclusive features in coming months.

Buena Vista Productions has also named David Plummer as the new executive
producer of "At the Movies." Plummer will be upped from his current position
as supervising producer on "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper."

Television pioneers Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel first paired up in 1975 at
WTTW in Chicago when they hosted the local movie review show, "Sneak
Previews." In 1978, the show moved to PBS and was syndicated shortly
thereafter by Tribune Syndication and was renamed "At the Movies." In 1986,
Disney-ABC Domestic Television (then known as Buena Vista Television) acquired
the show, calling it "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies." Upon Gene Siskel's passing
in 1999, the show retained the "Siskel & Ebert" title until the following fall
when it became "Roger Ebert & the Movies." In July 2000, film critic Richard
Roeper was named Ebert's new co-host and the show was retitled, "Ebert &
Roeper and the Movies." The show was renamed "Ebert & Roeper" in 2001 and
subsequently was modified to "At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper" last year.
Ebert celebrated his 30th anniversary as a television film critic in 2005.

"It has been a remarkable 22 years working with our good friend Roger
Ebert," commented Janice Marinelli, president, Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
"Roger is an exceedingly gifted critic and journalist who has made an
indelible mark on the film industry. It has been our privilege to work
alongside Roger and we are proud to have been his television partner for these
many years. He is an extraordinary man of uncompromising strength and
determination." She continued, "Richard's talent, enthusiasm and insights have
been an integral part of the show for the past eight seasons. We thank him for
his invaluable contributions and we are especially grateful to him for hosting
the show so skillfully these past two years during Roger's absence. We wish
them both the very best."

"At the Movies" will debut its 23rd season in national syndication the
weekend of September 6, 2008. Buena Vista Productions oversees production of
the series, which is distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. The series
is produced at WLS-TV in Chicago. Check local listings for time and channel at
http://www.AtTheMoviesTV.com.

SOURCE Disney-ABC Domestic Television


http://www.AtTheMoviesTV.com

Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved


 



 
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