Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper Leave At the Movies

It seems that two major film critics will be giving their thumbs up or down elsewhere. According to Variety, Chicago Sun-Times critics Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper have both left their syndicated television program, At the Movies With Ebert and Roeper.

Ebert said, in an email to the Associated Press, that Disney-ABC Television wanted to take the show, "in a new direction" and he won't be associated with it." That email came a day after Roeper announced he was leaving the show.

Roeper said in a statement that he was in contract extension negotiations with Disney-ABC, but the talks fell through.

"Several months ago, Disney offered to extend my contract, which expires at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season," Roeper said. "I opted to wait. Much transpired after that behind the scenes, but an agreement was never reached, and we are all moving on."

Roeper intends to, "proceed elsewhere ... as the co-host of a movie review show that honors the standards established by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert more than 30 years ago."

"I will be free to share the details on that program in the near future," he said.

Roeper's last appearance on the show will be during the weekend of August 16-17.