Roger Ebert tweeted this out a couple of weeks back, and we've been exploring where we can. The Library of Congress and some fans of the have helped to preserve entire episodes of Ebert and the late Gene Siskel doing what they do best. The range of the episodes is stunning, ranging from old Sneak Previews shows to Siskel's last show in 1999. Check it out. more ›

Years ago (we forget when or where) we read a bit of advice from Roger Ebert about how he writes his movie reviews like casual conversations, in order for the reader to feel like he could enter the discussion at a given point. It was a point that we took to heart once we began to become serious about food writing, one that greatly helped us as we became more confident in writing reviews. posted this on his blog today. It's a discussion between him and the late Gene Siskel about how to be a film critic that was taped for an instructional video series on journalism for high school and college students. But it can also be used to be a primer of any criticism in journalism, be it art, media, or food. Ebert's comment about "political correctness being the fascism of the 90's" still rings true today. Don't you ever change, Roger. more ›

We recently talked with Chicago-born author Barry Gifford about the omnibus release of The Sailor & Lula Novels, a cycle of seven books which begins with Wild at Heart. We'll be posting the main portion of that interview soon, but an out-of-left-field reminiscence about Gene Siskel deserves its own entry. more ›

The movie review show "At The Movies," made famous by a pair of thumbs - one each belonging to Chicago film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert - has been canceled after almost 25 years on the air in one incarnation or another (or 35 years if you include the original Siskel & Ebert show on WTTW that debuted in 1975). While Siskel passed away in 1999 and Ebert hasn't been on the show in several years dealing with his own health issues, the latest incarnation still had a Chicago flair to it with co-host Michael Phillips, movie critic from the Tribune. Ebert himself took to his blog to reflect on the show, why it was canceled, movie audiences in general, and drops a few nuggets about his own plans for a new movie review show. more ›

• Chicago Police are investigating what seems to be a serial rapist terrorizing the Bucktown neighborhood after another attack of a woman leaving the Western Ave. Blue Line stop.
• Former pro-wrestling star Verne Gagne is in hot water after a man he threw to the ground in a nursing home died as a result of the incident.
• On the eve of the 10th anniversary of Gene Siskel's death, former partner-in-criticism Roger Ebert gives a heartfelt remembrance of Siskel.