The Big Picture - Introducing ‘Gene and Roger’

Episode Date: July 14, 2021

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were the most powerful and influential movie critics of their time. The way they talked about film set a template for pop culture conversations far beyond the cinema. In this eight-part series, premiering July 20 on ‘The Big Picture’ feed, we’ll talk to everyone from family members to show producers to filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino about the legacy Siskel and Ebert built, and just how impactful they remain to this day. Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every week for nearly 25 years, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert delivered their verdicts on the latest movies, thumbs up or thumbs down. Those thumbs helped make Gene and Roger the most popular, most powerful film critics in the country. Viewers loved them. Studio executives feared them. Decades later, you can still see Siskel and Ebert's influence. They taught a whole generation how to talk and how to argue. And not just about movies, but about TV and politics and sports. There are now Siskel and Ebert's everywhere.

Over the past year, I've spoken with Siskel and Ebert's family members and colleagues, plus some of the filmmakers whose careers they impacted along the way. Together, they tell how two rivals came together to form one of the most powerful partnerships in showbiz history.

From Spotify and The Ringer Podcast Network, I'm Brian Raftery, and this is Gene and Roger. The series premieres July 20th on the Big Picture feed. Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.