In the golden era of film criticism, two names stood as giants among mere mortals: Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert. These American film critics became household names through their groundbreaking show, “At the Movies with Siskel and Ebert,” which aired from 1982 to 1986. Known for their spirited debates, razor-sharp wit, and their iconic “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down” rating system, Siskel and Ebert didn’t just review movies. They skewered them, transcending all other traditional forms of entertainment. However, not all of the treasures from the Siskel and Ebert vault were shared with the public. Amidst their televised critiques lies a trove of what can only be described as “The…
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Thumbs in the Vault – Part Two The Siskel & Ebert Reviews You Weren't Meant to See
In Part One of Thumbs in the Vault – The Siskel & Ebert Reviews You Weren’t Meant to See we enjoyed our first chance to read some of the film reviews by Siskel and Ebert that mysteriously “vanished” and were never shown on television. Here, in Part Two, I’ll share with you eight of their more controversial reviews. Reviews that some postulate the reason why they were “lost” and never seen by the public. I’ll see you at the movies! The Little Mermaid Hello. I’m Gene Siskel from the Chicago Tribune, along with Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times, and you’re “At the Movies with Siskel and Ebert.” Today, we’re…
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From Pinnacles to Potties ChatGPT can help you review anything
I don’t write reviews. Especially about mundane things like shampoo, toothpaste, and dental floss. But when I received an email from Walmart, ChatGPT dared me, “I’ll bet you can’t write a short prompt to evaluate anything. Good or bad.” So, I did. In an age where technology seems to be reshaping every aspect of our lives, writers, reviewers, and others who craft words for a living are finding how indispensable tools like ChatGPT are in revolutionizing the way we approach our work. From drafting initial ideas to generating catchy phrases and titles, these tools offer unparalleled support, efficiency, and creativity for people who spend their day writing. In this collection…
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Does Artificial Intelligence Have a Sense of Humor? How ChatGPT can help improve a humor writer’s process
A priest, a minister, and a rabbi walk into a bar. The bartender looks up and says, “What is this, a joke?” – ChatGPT’s attempt at writing humor. Does artificial intelligence have a sense of humor? Can ChatGPT change a writer’s process? Particularly humor writing? To the uninitiated, ChatGPT somehow “sterilizes” humor writing. That it’s incapable of understanding and creating entertaining humor. But nothing could be further from the truth. Whether it’s written by a gifted comedy writer or ChatGPT, creating great humor requires mastery of at least three key elements: Irony, Absurdity, and Wordplay. Elements that ChatGPT can’t appreciate…yet. Situations, where the outcome is unexpected or surprising, and can…
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Disneyland… The Happiest Summit on Earth Greetings and salutations from the highest peak in Anaheim, California
By the time the kids were let out for summer vacation, the climbing window for summiting Mt. Everest had already come and gone. I promised Shimmel that I would take him and his 8-year-old sister Toiba to the top of Mt. Everest to celebrate his circumcision, but none of the guide companies would have anything to do with a middle-aged, sedentary writer and his two irascible children. So, we shifted gears and made plans to climb The Happiest Peak on Earth – the Matterhorn. Not the legendary mountain in Zermatt, but the steel and cement behemoth located in the center of Disneyland. At 147 feet, the Matterhorn towers high over…
