TURNING 100 CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH: LAST OF THE FAMOUS MOVIE CRITICS (ON TV)--GENE SHALIT--HAS ONE LAST REVIEW--BY A MEDICAL EXAMINER (POST-MORTEM)
By Grand Rapids Synonymous
#geneshalit #obituary #tvfilmcritics #nbc #nbcnews #thetodayshow #associatedpress #today
TURNING 100 CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH: LAST OF THE FAMOUS MOVIE CRITICS (ON TV)--GENE SHALIT--HAS ONE LAST REVIEW--BY A MEDICAL EXAMINER (POST-MORTEM)
(GRS) Was it Gene Shalit’s job of movie reviewer, smoking cigars or getting up at 5 a.m. every morning for 40 years to appear on “The Today Show” that led to an extremely long life? None of the above. It was the MONEY!
ass(ociated) press has more:
"NEW YORK (ap) — Gene Shalit, a movie critic and arts reporter for the “today” show, over four decades, who was known for his puffy hair, oversized handlebar mustache and affection for groan-inducing puns, has died. He was 100.
“Shalit’s family announced the death friday to nbc news, saying in a statement that he 'passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life.
“Shalit joined today as a contributor in 1970 and became arts editor in 1973, later settling in for his segment, 'critic’s corner.' when he left the show in 2010, he was one of the last high-profile film critics on a major network.”
GRS: Why were movie critics so popular back then? Siskel and Ebert, Shalit, Leonard Maltin, Richard Roeper, plus numerous newspaper reviewers (Janet Maslin, Judith Crist, Rex Reed, et al.) were stars in their own right because movies were far better and had great actors starring in them fifty years ago. They were worth reviewing.
In 2026--and for at least a decade--movie reviews aren't necessary because the movies have no stars or anything else to attract an audience.
It was fun while it lasted.
By the way, Mel Brooks turns 100 (maybe) in two weeks.
--GRS