Word: ebert
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Thumbs down--Ebert and Roeper leaving their own show...
...Ebert's own health problems began in 2002, when he underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. He was able to continue doing the show afterward but was forced to take another hiatus in June 2006, when the cancer resurfaced and part of his jawbone had to be removed. While he was still in the hospital, his reconstructed jaw collapsed and a blood vessel ruptured. Emergency surgery saved his life, but because of a breakdown of tissue surrounding the artery, he has been in a constant state of treatment and recovery ever since, which has affected...
...With Ebert absent for the past two years, Roeper and an array of guest critics - from the Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips to the New York Times' A.O. Scott - have kept the weekly show going. But last summer Ebert and Disney found themselves embroiled in a very public fight in negotiations over Ebert's contract. Disney issued a press release in August 2007 saying it would no longer use the "thumbs-up/thumbs-down" trademark in the show because Ebert told the company he wouldn't allow it during a contract renegotiation...
...Ebert disputed that on his website shortly afterward: "Contrary to Disney's press release, I did not demand the removal of the Thumb [trademark]. They made a first offer on Friday which I considered offensively low. I responded with a counter-offer. They did not reply to this, and on Monday ordered the Thumbs [trademark] removed from the show." Ebert went on to say that he would allow the thumbs to be used on the show during negotiations...
...Monday, Ebert appeared to make the breakup between the show and its thumbs final. "The trademark still belongs to me and Marlene Iglitzen, Gene's widow, and the thumbs will return," Ebert wrote on his website. "We are discussing possibilities, and plan to continue the show's tradition." For his part, Roeper also announced his intention to return to the airwaves in some form. But for now, long-time Ebert fans will have to be content with following his movie criticism in print or on the Web. In addition to his syndicated weekly reviews and columns, Ebert has also recently...