Veteran film critic Roger Ebert, who along with Gene Siskel and then Richard Roeper was part of “At the Movies” for 23 years, quit the show Monday after Richard Roeper could not come to financial terms for his new contract with Disney-ABC Domestic Television, which distributes the syndicated TV show.

Roeper’s contract had expired after eight seasons and Disney announced that critics Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz have signed on to co-host the new show.

Roger Ebert said:

“After 33 years on the air, 23 of them with Disney, the studio has decided to take the program named ‘Siskel & Ebert’ and then ‘Ebert & Roeper’ in a new direction. I will no longer be associated with it. … Gene and I felt the formula was simplicity itself: Two film critics, sitting across the aisle from each other in a movie balcony, debating the new films of the week. We developed an entirely new concept for TV that has lasted all these years.

“Few shows have been on the air so long and remained so popular. We made television history and established the trademarked catchphrase ‘two thumbs up.’ The trademark still belongs to me and Marlene Iglitzen, Gene’s widow, and the thumbs will return. We are discussing possibilities and plan to continue the show’s tradition.”

The Emmys have released a list of the top 10 series finalists for Best Comedy and Drama Series a day early.

I guess this is some sort of consolation prize to the non-nominated films? Or perhaps a way of saying to series such as “Family Guy” and “Friday Night Lights” - you guys came close, but didn’t make it….

TOP 10 COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
“Curb Your Enthusiasm”
“Entourage”
“Family Guy”
“Flight of the Conchords”
“The Office”
“Pushing Daisies”
“30 Rock”
“Two and a Half Men”
“Ugly Betty”
“Weeds”

TOP 10 DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
“Boston Legal”
“Damages”
“Dexter”
“Friday Night Lights”
“Grey’s Anatomy”
“House”
“Lost”
“Mad Men”
“The Tudors”
“The Wire”

Before Bill O’Reilly ruled the cable news airwaves at Fox News as a tyrant and asshole, the guy was a host of “Inside Edition” a syndicated news program from 1989. It was originally similar to the programs “Hard Copy” and “A Current Affair” but became more closely resembling “Entertainment Tonight” or “The Insider.”

Turns out that the 59-year-old O’Reilly was also a short-tempered asshole in his 30’s and 40’s - check out this classic clip:

One of the most anticipated events to take place on cable television in recent memory was the much hyped “Rain vs. Stephen Colbert Dance-off” on the Colbert Report on the Comedy Channel.

Stephen Colbert had been ticked off that Rain was higher ranked than he was on the Time Magazine poll of the most influential people list. So this was the only way to resolve their rivalry- a dance consest.

Pretty funny - enjoy….