According to noted film critic Roger Ebert, some folks at Disney, much like their character of Pinocchio, should have noses that are magically growing for telling lies.<\/p>\n
Ebert is currently in negotiations with the media giant over what he calls his \u201cassociation with the show [At The Movies<\/em>] that Gene Siskel and I started more than 30 years ago.\u201d Part of those negotiations involve the continued use of the show\u2019s iconic Thumbs Up\/Thumbs Down ratings for films that Ebert and the family of his late partner Siskel own a trademark on.<\/p>\n On Friday, a Disney spokesperson told the Associated Press that Ebert had \u201cexercised his right to withhold use of the `thumbs’ until a new contract is signed.\u201d<\/p>\n Ebert \u2013 whose health problems have kept him from appearing on the show for over a year, leaving current co-host Richard Roeper to pair up with numerous guest critics \u2013 issued his own statement<\/a> later in the day, denying the Disney statement. In part is stated –<\/p>\n Contrary to Disney\u2019s press release, I did not demand the removal of the Thumbs\u2122. They made a first offer on Friday which I considered offensively low. I responded with a counter-offer. They did not reply to this, and on Monday ordered the Thumbs\u2122 removed from the show. This is not something I expected after an association of over 22 years. I had made it clear the Thumbs\u2122 could remain during good-faith negotiations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Frankly, I\u2019m more than a bit amazed that Disney would release such a statement, knowing that Ebert would immediately refute it. Is this a case where a publicist was misinformed? I tend to doubt it as it has been reported that the first two installments of At The Movie\u2019s new season have already been shot, and they don\u2019t have any Thumbs Up\/Thumbs Down ratings in them.<\/p>\n If this is Disney just trying to play hardball with Ebert, well then, I guess I\u2019d have to give them my own personal thumbs d—<\/p>\n Actually, I think I\u2019ll give them The Finger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"