# How's Roger Ebert Doing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2007, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078 "2007-03-30T03:57:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/21 "2007-04-01T21:09:53Z")
You want creepy? It’d be creepy if Ebert’s last review was a pan of _Patch Adams 2: Fellowship of the Zing_. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/22 "2007-04-01T22:08:22Z")
I’ve only ever read a few Ebert reviews, but it seemed like everytime I read one it had some sort of glaring factual error (usually a statement about the source material for the script). I don’t expect a reviewer to know everything about whatever film he’s reviewing, but its irritating that he apparently doesn’t bother to let lack of knowledge stop him from pretending like he knows what he’s talking about, or at get him to check his article over with an intern who can go do some googling and make sure he has his facts straight. Again I’ve only read a few reviews over the many thousands I’m sure he’s churned out over the years, so maybe I just happened upon the few inevidable mistakes, but that seems unlikely enough that I haven’t bothered reading anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/23 "2007-04-01T22:23:27Z")
Ebert could have avoided all his health problems if he had just given _The Brown Bunny_ a good review. Instead, he trashed it, and Vincent Gallo put a hex on his colon (or prostate, depending on whose story you hear.) ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/24 "2007-04-02T01:07:54Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] A hijack, but did anybody know that Roger Ebert used to date, of all people, Oprah Winfrey? [/QUOTE] I think hey only went out together twice. [According to him:](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051116/COMMENTARY/511160301) > [@](#): > > At about this time, Oprah and I went out on a date. Well, actually two dates, but the one that made history began when we went to the movies. Afterward, we went to the Hamburger Hamlet for dinner, my treat. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/25 "2007-04-02T05:14:33Z")
Can I just comment on how much I hate his website? I think the suntimes is the only website that runs slower and buggier for me than the Dope. It must be something about Chicago newspapers. Also, they’ve probably fixed it by now (I hope), but their database used to be seriously screwed up with respect to alphabetizing. Movies like A Clockwork Orange were listed under A and The Terminator was filed under T. I mean, come _on_. sinjin ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/26 "2007-04-02T05:39:41Z")
[QUOTE=Malodorous] I’ve only ever read a few Ebert reviews, but it seemed like everytime I read one it had some sort of glaring factual error (usually a statement about the source material for the script). I don’t expect a reviewer to know everything about whatever film he’s reviewing, but its irritating that he apparently doesn’t bother to let lack of knowledge stop him from pretending like he knows what he’s talking about, or at get him to check his article over with an intern who can go do some googling and make sure he has his facts straight. [/QUOTE] I have pretty much the same opinion. He’s well educated on film history, but makes basic mistakes in easy research and details of the film itself, as if he can’t be bothered to really pay attention or look through the press packet. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/27 "2007-04-02T06:39:18Z")
[QUOTE=sinjin] …and The Terminator was filed under T. I mean, come _on_. [/QUOTE] :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/28 "2007-04-02T14:20:16Z")
[QUOTE=sinjin] Can I just comment on how much I hate his website? I think the suntimes is the only website that runs slower and buggier for me than the Dope. It must be something about Chicago newspapers. Also, they’ve probably fixed it by now (I hope), but their database used to be seriously screwed up with respect to alphabetizing. Movies like A Clockwork Orange were listed under A and The Terminator was filed under T. I mean, come _on_. sinjin [/QUOTE] I’d just like to chime in here and say that this is one of my biggest gripes. When alphabetizing, you ignore the “A” or “The”. I can’t count how many review websites I’ve seen where this is ignored, and the “T” section is massive because every movie whose title begins with “The” is in there. Arrrrrrrrgh. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/29 "2007-04-02T14:38:16Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] :dubious: [/QUOTE] I’m not really sure just where the poster would The Terminator to be filed under… 😃 (me, I’d put in T for Trash) ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/30 "2007-04-03T03:53:43Z")
This was posted by him today [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/PEOPLE/70402001](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/PEOPLE/70402001) apparently, he is still recovering but making some progress. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/31 "2007-04-03T04:20:28Z")
[QUOTE=Shawn1767] This was posted by him today [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/PEOPLE/70402001](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/PEOPLE/70402001) apparently, he is still recovering but making some progress. [/QUOTE] Thanks for that. We had not checked his website for a while. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/32 "2007-04-03T05:17:29Z")
A second book of bad movie reviews? I am so there. Happy anniversary, Roger. And _ **GET WELL SOON!** _ ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/33 "2007-04-04T17:06:31Z")
What’s that sound…? It’s like a gentle whooshing of birds through trees. Must be Spring! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/34 "2007-04-06T19:34:48Z")
Here is an article that I found today on [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/04/04/showbuzz/index.html#2) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/35 "2007-04-24T04:53:13Z")
Ebert update on his website: [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/PEOPLE/70423001](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/PEOPLE/70423001) He sounds pretty bad off. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/36 "2007-04-24T04:58:11Z")
> [@Ebert](#): > > P.S. To Gossip Rags: I have some back pain, and to make it easier for me to sit through screenings, the Festival has installed my very own La-Z-Boy chair. Photos of me in the chair should be captioned, “La-Z-Critic.” I like Ebert. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/37 "2007-04-24T04:58:41Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Ebert update on his website: [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/PEOPLE/70423001](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/PEOPLE/70423001) He sounds pretty bad off. ☹ [/QUOTE] Yeah, he does. But I’m impressed by his stamina, and his attitude towards this whole thing. He really must look bad, the way he’s writing, but good for him for dealing with it this way. Come back soon, Rog. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/38 "2007-04-24T12:53:15Z")
I’m leaving tomorrow to attend [the Roger Ebert Overlooked Film Festival.](http://ebertfest.com) I’ll be able to report first-hand when I return Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/39 "2007-04-24T13:03:36Z")
[Sane article, but with photo](http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/355049,cst-nws-ebert24.article) from today’s Sun-Times. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078/40 "2007-04-24T13:06:00Z")
He looks pretty bad, but he’ll be fine. His head is in the right place. Right on, Roger! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/398078.md?page=3)