Sneak Previews (1975–1996)

"Sneak Previews" debuted in the fall of 1978 on PBS and I'm happy to say I was pretty much there from the beginning. I didn't see its debut show but I do recall watching them preview,"Concorde:Airport '79". Boy did they skewer that one! I went and saw it just the same.

Roger Ebert and the now,late Gene Siskel were a perfect team up. They could get into slightly heated discussions about the movies they reviewed but never let it become a blow to their egos.

I could make a list of all the movies I watched them review together,both on this and "At The Movies" (which was later just "Siskel & Ebert")but it would be too long. I will say that recently I rented a documentary movie that they championed & campaigned for in 1994 (on "At the Movies". That of course is,"Hoop Dreams". Which as we know The Academy Awards did not bestow an Oscar on.

Roger & Gene's various discussions of that movie are on that DVD as extras. I can honestly say,that was truly their finest moments together. Not just as movie critics but as experts,who were more in touch with movie goers than the Oscar Academy. Hard to watch and realize that,this was 12 years ago and how much of an absence is really felt with Gene Siskel being gone.

Here's to the professionalism of Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel and Sneak Previews,that made it safe to go to the movies again and not waste one's money.

Which is the most important lesson I learned watching Snaek Prviews and their later shows. (END)