# How's Roger Ebert Doing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2008, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262 "2008-03-30T10:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [March 30, 2008, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/1 "2008-03-30T10:15:43Z")
Ebert said more than a month ago he was going in for some followup surgery. Made it sound routine and relatively minor. Said he’d done some reviews and Great Movies essays etc ahead of time to be doled out until he returned. Sounded like he’d be gone very briefly, but it’s starting to stretch out. The editor of his website, Jim Emerson, has been doing more of the reviewing these last couple of weeks, and he’s simply boring to read. I cannot read his reviews. So has anyone heard how Ebert is doing? ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/2 "2008-03-30T17:17:14Z")
I second the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/3 "2008-03-30T17:27:14Z")
I found a couple articles from late Jan [that claimed](http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2008/01/25/ebert-roger-surgery.html) the surgery went well, but nothing after that. So perhaps he later developed some complications and they haven’t gone public with it, or perhaps it’s just taking him longer then expected to recover to the point that he feels like writing again (though when I’m sick, I usually spend the time watching movies and writing on the internets, which is more or less his job description) ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/4 "2008-03-30T19:01:44Z")
Here is an [article](http://www.news-gazette.com/news/entertainment/2008/03/28/famed_director_to_attend) from Friday about his film festival in Champaign, Ill. the last weekend of April. It says > [@](#): > > The film festival, hosted by noted film critic, Urbana native and UI grad Roger Ebert, takes place April 23 to 27. but makes no other mention of him. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/5 "2008-03-31T01:45:24Z")
I hope he’s OK. I really enjoy his reviews. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/6 "2008-03-31T02:15:56Z")
He’s been coming to the [Conference on World Affairs](http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/) for decades, but it’s already been announced that he won’t be there this year. I don’t think his prognosis is good. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/7 "2008-03-31T03:06:06Z")
He still cannot speak. The most recent photo I saw he still had a large bandage around his neck. A few weeks ago the local ABC station (where he used to do reviews) said he had gone to California for more surgery and that it went “well.” ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/8 "2008-03-31T04:10:58Z")
He’s outlived Jack Valenti, so he’s had the last laugh there. I figure he’s just hanging on until he’s certain Vincent _The Brown Bunny_ Gallo’s career is over. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/9 "2008-03-31T04:14:25Z")
He’s the same age as Harrison Ford. If Og must take one, I’d prefer it to be Harrison. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/10 "2008-03-31T04:19:26Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > He’s the same age as Harrison Ford. If Og must take one, I’d prefer it to be Harrison. Pretty asinine comment, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/11 "2008-04-01T13:40:58Z")
> [@](#): > > In a letter published in Tuesday’s Chicago Sun-Times, the Pulitzer Prize winning writer and co-host of the “Ebert & Roeper” television show said a January surgery in Houston ended in complications, and his ability to speak was not restored. He said the return of speech would require another surgery. > > “But I still have all my other abilities, including the love of viewing movies and writing about them,” Ebert said. > > Ebert said he is looking forward to his annual film festival at the University of Illinois on April 23. > > “I will resume writing movie reviews shortly thereafter,” he said. [AP story](http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/24E77E76A3751F2D8625741E003D8FB0?OpenDocument) [Ebert’s letter](http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/870571,ebert040108.article) ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/12 "2008-04-01T14:15:01Z")
I miss him. He once wrote me back! My claim to fame… I hope things go well for him. He is cancer fee (per the article-and his quote), so there is that. IANAD or a speech pathologist, but I imagine that after the surgery to restore his voice, he will need intensive speech therapy and his voice will be altered. I like his reviews as well. I don’t always agree with him, but I do rely on his opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/13 "2008-04-01T14:37:35Z")
Never mind…didn’t see **Garfield226’s** post. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/14 "2008-04-01T14:56:52Z")
If the photo from last fall is accurate, he did appear to be standing. I think he had to go to rehab to regain his ability to walk having been laid up in bed for so long? ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/15 "2008-04-01T15:07:06Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] I miss him. He once wrote me back! My claim to fame… [/QUOTE] He wrote me back once too! I hope he’s getting better and is back in action soon. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/16 "2008-04-01T15:56:34Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] He’s outlived Jack Valenti, so he’s had the last laugh there. I figure he’s just hanging on until he’s certain Vincent _The Brown Bunny_ Gallo’s career is over. [/QUOTE] Actually, he later gave a positive to Gallo’s recut of the movie, and that’s the [only review available on his website.](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040903/REVIEWS/409020301/1023) But I do find him the most interesting and articulate film critic out there. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/17 "2008-04-01T17:12:05Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] But I do find him the most interesting and articulate film critic out there. [/QUOTE] Personally, I’d rank him a close second to A.O. Scott, but I do like Ebert very much. He’s been missed on_At the movies_, that’s for sure. The guy they have with the beard annoys me to no end. Robert Wilonsky isn’t bad when he’s on though. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/18 "2008-04-01T18:12:24Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Actually, he later gave a positive to Gallo’s recut of the movie, and that’s the [only review available on his website.](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040903/REVIEWS/409020301/1023) [/QUOTE] Yeah, I know, but after Ebert panned the first cut, Gallo cursed Ebert and “gave” him cancer. I didn’t hear anything about Gallo “lifting” the curse after Ebert praised the recut version. ---
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/19 "2008-04-01T18:25:18Z")
From the letter Ebert wrote, cited in **Garfield226** ’s post: > [@](#): > > I am still cancer-free, and not ready to think about more surgery at this time. I should be content with the abundance I have. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262/20 "2008-04-02T02:04:20Z")
Just saw a short piece about him tonight on either Access Hollywood or _Extra!_ tonight. Sorry, I don’t know these shows they just seem to come on when I leave the room for a few minutes. If it helps he was being interviewed by that Billy Bush creature. The jist seemed to be that he is cancer free and doing well but still recovering. He can’t talk due to the surgery on his thyroid gland or to remove it. And there was something said about part of his jaw being removed because of the cancer. I wish I had paid better attention but my phone rang as this story started and I couldn’t follow it as well as I would have liked. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-roger-ebert-doing/443262.md?page=2)