Roger Ebert Recovering from Cancer Surgery

Well, Twigs & Buds, I've had my head so deep in my own popcorn bag for the last few months that I didn't even know Roger Ebert was more sick than usual. I mean, anyone can look at him and see he isn't healthy, but I didn't know he'd had surgery for salivary gland cancer.

Apparently there were post-surgical complications that required more surgery and he's on an indefinite leave-of-absence from his show. (I love his show, but it's aired in my area at the exact same time I have to be out and about on my weekend - and I don't yet have TiVo!)

Anyway, Chase wrote a great Get Well Roger Ebert post you ought to read. Like Chase, I go back with Ebert to the pre-cable days of his partnership with Gene Siskel. Back then, I felt more in line with Siskel's critical framework. I thought Ebert liked movies "too much." That is, I accused him of loving movies simply because they were movies.

And he still comes off that way in my mind. Only now I love him for it. I love his eternal enthusiam for the form. I love his low-brow tastes. I love his open-heartedness and his dedication to a quality I'll call humaness. His writing is hilarious - he's witten some of the funniest reviews I've ever read. I love Roger Ebert! And I truly hope he's well enough to continue working soon.

Yips! from Robbo: My name's not "Bud", it's "Kenny".