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| Rough beginnings |
Syndicated
June 3, 1989
Movie Review
VHS
B-
While it's undeniably interesting to take a look at fourteen years of Sisbert's teamwork (it's their 500th episode, obviously not 500 years), I'm not sure how well this all holds together, especially in front of a live audience. My favorite part is probably the segment on their experiences growing up at the movies, particularly now that I've read Ebert's biography. And there's a different sort of poignancy to Roger asking Gene in all earnestness "if we really hate each other or really like each other." Gene teasingly promises to answer next special, but we know, especially now, that they loved each other like brothers.
Of particular note in retrospect are their comments on not having any influence on the issues of changing the ratings system and letterboxing. They thought in the '80s that they had lost, but NC-17 came along in 1990, and the shift from VHS to DVD (and later Blu-Ray) helped make letterboxing more acceptable. Danny Thomas and Bob Hope appear in one of the many parodies sprinkled throughout the show, while the other three men I've tagged are from late night talk show appearances.
