1. “I Must Destroy Him” | Gene and Roger

The Big Picture

The Ringer

Tv & Film

4.2 • 5.9K Ratings

🗓️ 20 July 2021

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were the most famous and powerful film critics of their time—and their shows were smash hits that changed an entire industry. Over the next eight episodes, host Brian Raftery will talk to Siskel and Ebert’s families, friends, coworkers, and peers to explore the duo's lasting impact—on movie criticism, on the media landscape, and on how we talk to one another. Host: Brian Raftery Producers: Amanda Dobbins, Sean Fennessey, Isaac Lee, Noah Malale, Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I want to play you a clip from one of my all-time favorite movie fights.
0:04.0	It took place a few decades ago, so the audio is a little rough.
0:07.2	But I'll give you an idea of why, for nearly 25 years, Jean Siskel and Roger Ebert were
0:12.0	the most popular film critics in the country.
0:14.9	This may surprise you, but I really like Rocky IV a lot.
0:19.6	That does surprise me.
0:21.6	Well, then I'm going to be amazed at you.
0:24.6	Let me explain why.
0:25.6	I knew what was going to happen in this picture.
0:27.8	I mean, everyone knows what's going to happen.
0:29.8	But yet I got caught up in both of its fights.
0:33.5	In case you don't remember, Rocky IV is the one where America beats Russia and wins a
0:37.5	Cold War forever.
0:39.3	Also, Polygots are robot.
0:41.1	Anyway, the guy getting so caught up in Rocky IV, that's Jean Siskel, the Chicago Tribune.
0:46.6	He's tall and thin with this famously hard to miss forehead.
0:50.2	And he's wearing with Jean pretty much always wore on TV.
0:53.1	A sensible sweater and an unbreakable smirk.
0:55.8	Good back there and enjoy this film.
0:57.8	It's a great hour and a half to be popped one by.
0:59.7	And I want more because he should make another good one.
1:03.0	I want Rocky IV.
	...

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