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All Seasons

Season 1 - OPENING SOON… …at a Theater Near You

Season 2 - OPENING SOON… …at a Theater Near You

Season 3

  • S03E01 A Wedding/​Interiors/​The Boys from Brazil/​Somebody Killed Her Husband/​Death on the Nile

    • October 10, 1978
    • PBS

    In their first nationally-syndicated episode, and the first one titled “Sneak Previews”, Siskel and Ebert review Roger Altman’s ensemble comedy “A Wedding”, featuring Carol Burnett, Woody Allen’s first serious film “Interiors”, the Nazi thriller “The Boys from Brazil” starring Gregory Peck and Laurence Olivier, Farrah Fawcett-Majors’ feature-film debut, “Somebody Killed Her Husband”, and an Agatha Christie murder-mystery, “Death on the Nile”. Their “Dog of the Week” picks are “Piranha” and Cheech & Chong’s “Up In Smoke”.

  • S03E02 The Big Fix/​Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?/​Days of Heaven/​The Wiz/​Girl Friends

    • October 28, 1978
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger investigate the private eye story “The Big Fix”, the comedy-mystery "Who is Killing the Great Chef’s of Europe?", Terrence Malick’s stunningly beautiful "Days of Heaven", into the world of Oz with Sidney Lumet’s “The Wiz”, and the NYC slice-of-life “Girl Friends”. In their "Dog of the Week" segment, Gene says avoid the chop-sexy picture "The Bod Squad" and Roger’s pick "Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride" has a great set of canines.

  • S03E03 Comes a Horseman/​Midnight Express/​Magic/​Paradise Alley/​Watership Down

    • November 11, 1978
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger ride into the balcony with the modern western “Comes a Horseman”, Alan Parker’s violent shocker “Midnight Express”, the schizophrenic ventriloquist thriller “Magic”, Sylvester Stallone’s “Paradise Alley”, and the animated adventure “Watership Down”. In their "Dog of the Week" segment, Roger picks the wet blanket “Slithis”, Gene does not recommend “The Devil’s Rain” or its deceptive marketing.

  • S03E04 The Wild Geese/​A Dream of Passion/​Goin’ Coconuts/​Slow Dancing in the Big City/​Violette

    • November 25, 1978
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene reluctantly begin with the would-be-thriller “The Wild Geese”, the Medea-inspired “A Dream of Passion”, Donny and Marie in “Goin’ Coconuts”, the old-fashioned romance “Slow Dancing in the Big City”, and Claude Chabrol’s chilling drama “Violette” In their "Dog of the Week" segment, Gene warns to not let his pick “Dogs” get the bite on you, and Roger’s says send “Message from Space” to Mars.

  • S03E05 The Lord of the Rings/​Halloween/​Autumn Sonata/​Goin’ South

    • December 9, 1978
    • PBS

    Reviews of “The Lord of the Rings”, “Halloween”, “Autumn Sonata”, and “Goin’ South”.  Dogs of the week are “The Dragon Lives” and “The Hills Have Eyes”.

  • S03E06 Oliver's Story/​King of Gypsies/​Force 10 from Navarone/​Moment by Moment/​Superman

    • December 23, 1978
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene review five would-be blockbusters during the holiday season beginning with “Oliver’s Story”, sequel to the 1970 smash hit, the story of three generations of a gypsy family, “King of the Gypsies”, the old-fashioned WWII action picture “Force 10 from Navarone”, Travolta and Tomlin’s embarrassing “Moment by Moment”, and the highly anticipated blockbuster “Superman”. Spot the Wonder Dog has the week off in order to devote more time to the holiday pictures.

  • S03E07 Every Which Way But Loose/​Invasion of the Body Snatchers/​California Suite/​Uncle Joe Shannon/​Pinocchio

    • January 11, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger begin with Clint Eastwood’s pleasantly goofy comedy “Every Which Way But Loose”, a throwback sci-fi remake “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, Neil Simon’s ensemble “California Suite”, the drama “Uncle Joe Shannon” starring Burt Young, and Walt Disney’s classic “Pinocchio”.

  • S03E08 Best and Worst of 1978

    • January 20, 1979
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene look back on the year 1978. Audiences went to escape and be entertained and not necessarily be challenged. They discuss the year’s trends, including the big winners at the box office. Plus, they each select their choices for the year’s best films and their “Dogs of the Year”, the very worst films of the last twelve months.

  • S03E09 Ice Castles/​Same Time, Next Year/​American Graffiti/​Caravans/​Movie, Movie

    • February 3, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger review the first sympathy love story of the year, “Ice Castles”, bittersweet comedy “Same Time, Next Year”, old-style desert picture “Caravans”, a big Hollywood hit coming to network television for the first time, “American Graffiti”, and a 1930’s double feature parody “Movie, Movie”. In their "Dog of the Week" segment, Roger selects the expensively promoted 4-wall “Beyond and Back”, and Gene says “The Late Great Planet Earth” is a lot of nonsense.

  • S03E10 The Great Train Robbery/​Hardcore/​Quintet/​The Brinks Job/​The Warriors

    • February 17, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger hitch a ride with the classic caper film “The​ Great ​Train ​Robbery”, Paul Schrader’s controversially inclined “Hardcore”, Robert Altman’s sci-fi picture “Quintet”, William Friedkin’s comic crime caper “The Brinks Job”, and Walter Hill’s stylized adventure “The​ Warriors”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene says “Secrets” is a phony ripoff, and Roger finds “The Stranger and the Gunfighter” has something to disappoint just about everyone.

  • S03E11 The North Avenue Irregulars/​The Last Wave/​Agatha/​Norma Rae/​Get Out Your Handkerchiefs

    • March 8, 1979
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene check out Disney’s slapstick comedy “The North Avenue Irregulars”, Peter Weir’s offbeat thriller “The Last Wave”, a mystery writer romance “Agatha”, union organizer drama “Norma Rae”, and the divisive French farce “Get Out Your Handkerchiefs”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger determines “Debbie Does Dallas” needs a gynecologist, and Gene thinks “Wonder Women” really goes out on a limb.

  • S03E12 The China Syndrome/​Fast Break/​Once in Paris/​The Deer Hunter

    • March 24, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger start with the simple old-fashioned thriller “The China Syndrome”, the Gabe Kaplan-led comedy “Fast Break”, a character study “Once in Paris”, and an important American film, “The Deer Hunter”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger offers a Bruce Lee tribute of sorts “Kung Fu Master”, and Gene’s picks the insulting “Last Fist of Fury,” another Bruce Lee ripoff.

  • S03E13 Academy Awards Special

    • April 5, 1979
    • PBS

    In this special edition of “Sneak Previews”, Gene and Roger examine the nominees and try to pick the winners at this year’s ceremony.

  • S03E14 Hair/​Murder by Decree/​A Perfect Couple/​The Champ/​Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

    • April 12, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger revisit the age of Aquarius in Milos Foreman’s musical adaptation “Hair”, another Sherlock Holmes mystery “Murder by Decree”, Robert Altman’s offbeat “A Perfect Couple”, boxing remake “The Champ”, and an update of the comic strip “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene decides to take a stab at Dracula, starting with “Love at First Bite”, and Roger sinks his teeth into the would-be-documentary “In Search of Dracula”.

  • S03E15 The Bell Jar/​Picnic at Hanging Rock/​Dreamer/​Old Boyfriends/​Hurricane

    • May 3, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger dissect the adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar”, Peter Weir’s mysterious “Picnic at Hanging Rock”, a bowling drama with Rocky’s formula “Dreamer”, romantic fairy-tale “Old Boyfriends”, and mistakenly-titled “Hurricane”. In their segment “Dogs of the Week”, Roger says “Beyond the Door #2” is a badly dubbed Omen II, and Gene is not impressed with David Carradine’s fly-catching skills in “Circle of Iron”.

  • S03E16 A Little Romance/​Dawn of the Dead/​Manhattan/​Love on the Run/​Hanover Street

    • May 10, 1979
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene acknowledge their differences with the bittersweet teenage romance “A Little Romance”, Truffaut’s concluding chapter in Antoine Doinel’s saga “Love on the Run”, George A. Romero’s satirical flesh-eating zombies of “Dawn of the Dead”, Woody Allen evolving persona in “Manhattan”, and the wartime romance “Hanover Street”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene laments the state of Sophia Loren’s career in “Firepower”, and Roger’s encounters some flesh-eating coeds in “Cannibal Girls”.

  • S03E17 Boulevard Nights/​Phantasm/​Last Embrace/​Voices

    • May 24, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger encounter the latest inner-city drama “Boulevard Nights”, a horror cliché parade “Phantasm”, stylish Hitchcockian thriller “Last Embrace”, and love story “Voices”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger dishes on a spaghetti western with a budget of peanuts “Get Mean”, and Gene roots for the cops during “The​ Great Bank Hoax”.

  • S03E18 The Promise/​The Prisoner of Zenda/​Saint Jack/​Alien/​Battlestar Galactica

    • June 7, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger encounter another soap opera romance “The Promise”, Peter Sellers’ comic remake of “The Prisoner of Zenda”, Peter Bogdanovich’s character study “Saint Jack”, outer space horror hit “Alien”, and interstellar warfare of “Battlestar Galactica”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger oozes contempt for “The Brood”, while Gene challenges Anthony Quinn’s decision to make “The Passage”, trading on his once valid reputation as a fine actor.

  • S03E19 Beyond the Poseidon Adventure/​Rock 'N' Roll High School/​Players/​Butch and Sundance: The Early Years/​Winter Kills

    • June 21, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger review a crop of summer releases beginning with the disaster sequel “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure”, future cult film “Rock n’ Roll High School”, tennis gambling and love collide in “Players”, not a sequel but prequel “Butch and Sundance: The Early Days”, and Kennedy assassination thriller “Winter Kills”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene uncovers Joey Travolta’s attempt to ripoff his brother in “Sunnyside” while Roger says “The Dark” has a really low opinion of its audience.

  • S03E20 Rocky II/​The In-Laws/​Lost and Found/​Escape from Alcatraz/​The Main Event

    • July 6, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger demand originality in the movies, but Hollywood has given them another sequel,”Rocky II”, goofy comedy “The In-Laws”, a reteaming of George Segal and Glenda Jackson in “Lost and Found”, Clint Eastwood in Don Siegel’s tough thriller “Escape from Alcatraz”, and a reteaming of Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal in “The Main Event”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger has less than faint praise for “In Praise of Older Women”, and Gene questions why the last man on earth in “Ravagers” keeps running into new people.

  • S03E21 Prophecy/​Bloodline/​Moonraker/​Dracula/​Nightwing

    • July 20, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger assess a slew of late-Summer horror pictures beginning with an instant rerun of Alien, “Prophecy”, there’s murder among the rich in “Bloodline”, the Bond franchise shows no signs of growing up or old in “Moonraker”, a romanticized take on the legend of “Dracula”, and a southwest town is terrorized by vampire bats in “Nightwing”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene warns us against distributors releasing old movies with new titles like “Malicious”, Roger picks imitation Disney fare “CHOMPS”.

  • S03E22 Goldengirls/​Just You and Me Kid/​Breaking Away/​The Frisco Kid/​The Villain

    • August 3, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger notice the dog starts barking early for crazed scientists and women sprinters in “Goldengirls”, George Burns befriends young runaway in “Just You and Me Kid”, working class high school graduates in slice of life comedy “Breaking Away”, Gene Wilder is a dim-witted rabbi from Poland in “The Frisco Kid”, and cartoonish western comedy “The Villain”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger is disgusted by the insulting horror film “Terror”, Gene didn’t stick around to finish the cheaply made Italian import “Grave Desires”.

  • S03E23 North Dallas Forty/​More American Graffiti/​The Amityville Horror/​The Muppet Movie/​The Wanderers

    • August 18, 1979
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene are not surprised how an institution can chew people up and spit them out in “North Dallas Forty”, characters from an early-70’s hit reunite for “More American Graffiti”, James Brolin and Margot Kidder endure keyhole slime and red-eyed pigs in “The Amityville Horror”, feature-length saga of Kermit on the road to Hollywood in “The Muppet Movie”, plus nostalgia and violence collide with south Bronx youth gang “The Wanderers”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene spits on cheap horror film “Patrick’, and Roger’s hits a new low with cheap shark or muddy catfish in “Up from the Depths”.

  • S03E24 The Concorde Airport '79/​Sunburn/​Hot Stuff/​Meatballs/​Americathon

    • August 31, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger endure fears of flying with arms dealers, missiles and stereotypes of “The Concorde Airport ‘79”, Farrah Fawcett-Majors is a private eyes’ companion in “Sunburn”, Dom Deluise tries his hand at directing “Hot Stuff”, Bill Murray is a wacky camp counselor in “Meatballs”, and John Ritter tries to save the country in futuristic comedy “Americathon”. Spot takes a break this week as Gene and Roger recap the best movies of the summer 1979.

  • S03E25 Rich Kids/​Real Life/​La Cage Aux Folles/​Over the Edge/​The Seduction of Joe Tynan

    • September 14, 1979
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene witness kids trying to survive in a society without the help of Lassie in “Rich Kids”, Albert Brooks makes a documentary parody in “Real Life”, a gay night club owner tries to impress his son’s future in-laws in French farce “La Cage Aux Folles”, Alan Alda discovers the price of power in “The Seduction of Joe Tynan”, and teenage crime gets a perceptive look in low-budget drama “Over the Edge”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene is appalled by the latest Bruce Lee fraud “Game of Death” and Roger declares “Summer Camp” is the first ripoff made before the original.

  • S03E26 Love and Bullets/​Time After Time/​Life of Brian/​The Onion Field/​Peppermint Soda

    • September 28, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger discuss the latest tax-shelter deal of Charles Bronson as he tracks a witness to find “Love and Bullets”, H.G. Wells travels to modern day San Francisco in “Time After Time”, Monty Python’ controversial religious satire “Life of Brian”, a Los Angeles policeman is kidnapped in harrowing drama “The Onion Field”, and “Peppermint Soda”, a French coming of age drama with female perspective. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger doesn’t ask why Dracula has a disco-loving granddaughter “Nocturna” who is running a crooked massage parlor, and Gene says Brooke Shields still can’t act alongside Peter Fonda in “Wanda Nevada”.

Season 4

  • S04E01 Take 2: Midnight Movies – What Makes a Cult Film?

    • October 4, 1979
    • PBS

    This season, Gene introduces a new feature on the show called “Take 2” where they take a more in-depth look at movie genres, issues and trends, where movies are now and where they are headed. This show is about midnight movies and what makes a cult film. Featured are discussions of “Reefer Madness” (1936), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Night of the Living Dead (1967), Pink Flamingos (1972), and Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979).

  • S04E02 10/​When a Stranger Calls/​Starting Over/​Apocalypse Now

    • October 11, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger look for laughs in Blake Edwards’ new comedy “10”, Carol Kane is terrorized by a vicious crackpot “When a Stranger Calls”, Burt Reynolds experiences life after divorce while “Starting Over”, and Francis Ford Coppola sends Martin Sheen to kill a renegade colonel in “Apocalypse Now”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene’s “City on Fire” shows third-degree burns in close-up, while in Roger’s “The Seven Brothers Meet Dracula” kung fu meets Peter Cushing, but not necessarily the other way around.

  • S04E04 Meteor/​Luna/​And Justice for All/​The Silent Partner/​Nosferatu the Vampyre

    • October 25, 1979
    • PBS

    Reviews of “Meteor”, “Luna”, “And Justice for All”, “The Silent Partner”, and “Nosferatu the Vampyre”.  Dogs of the week are “Disco Godfather” and “Avalanche Express”.

  • S04E05 Take 2: Landmark Films – Movies That Changed the Movies

    • November 1, 1979
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger discuss landmark films, movies that changed the movie business for better or worse. Featured are discussions of “Airport” (1970), “Easy Rider” (1969), “Sweet Sweetback” (1971), “Jaws” (1975), Vixen (1968), “Beyond and Back” (1978), and Spot finds the grandaddy of dogs, chop-socky “Five Fingers of Death” (1972).

  • S04E06 Running/​Head Over Heels/​Skatetown, U.S.A./​The Legacy/​Yanks

    • November 8, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger greet a slate of dreary November titles, Michael Douglas tries to win the Olympic marathon while “Running”, the mainstream courtship of the 70’s “Head Over Heels”, roller disco movie “Skatetown, U.S.A.”, haunted house mystery “The Legacy”, and John Schlesinger’s simple wartime romance “Yanks”. They try a change of pace and skip “Dog of the Week” to recommend a list of movies playing on television.

  • S04E07 Take 2: Overlooked Classics of the 1970's That Nearly Everybody Missed

    • November 15, 1979
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger revive some overlooked classics in a discussion of 1970’s films that nearly everybody missed. Featured are discussions of “Sorcerer” (1977), “The Late Show” (1977), “Night Moves” (1975), “Straight Time” (1978), “Images” (1972), “Mean Streets” (1973).

  • S04E08 French Postcards/​The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh/​The Marriage of Maria Braun/​The Rose/​Best Boy

    • November 22, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger travel abroad with a group of American students in “French Postcards”, “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh” is not a disaster film about a friendly shark, Rainer Werner Fasssbinder’s study in post-war Germany ambition “The Marriage of Maria Braun”, Bette Midler sells herself for rock ‘n’ roll in “The Rose”, and Toronto Film Fest hit “Best Boy”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene’s “Killer Fish” has a lot of bite, while Roger finds another lousy kung-fu movie “The Tongfather”.

  • S04E09 Take 2: Love Stories - Boy Meets Girl in Movies

    • November 29, 1979
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger explore who’s falling in love with who and how in today’s movies. Featured are discussions of “An Unmarried Woman” (1978), “Starting Over” (1979), The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979), and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979).

  • S04E10 Something Short of Paradise/Wise Blood/In Search of Historic Jesus/Woyzeck

    • December 6, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger discover a new trend in romance pictures that is “Something Short of Paradise”, a strange young preacher is out to start his own church in John Huston’s “Wise Blood”, Sunn Classic Pictures produce another biblical psuedo-doc “In Search of Historic Jesus”, and Werner Herzog returns with his strange and offbeat retelling of “Woyzeck”. As a change of pace, Spot dons his mailman outfit to deliver letters from viewers for our critics to answer.

  • S04E11 Take 2: Guilty Pleasures

    • December 13, 1979
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger go bonkers and start recommending guilty pleasures, great trash they are almost embarrassed to admit they love. Each choose to defend three films. Roger secretly loves “Infra Man” (1975), “The Fury” (1978), and “The Last House on the Left” (1972), while Gene confesses his affection for “Superfly” (1972), “Emmanuelle” (1974), and “The Greek Tycoon” (1978).

  • S04E12 The Jerk/​Kramer vs. Kramer/​Star Trek/​Mr. Mike's Mondo Video/​Sleeping Beauty

    • December 20, 1979
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger try out Steve Martin’s movie debut “The Jerk”, marriage divorce and child custody get serious treatment in “Kramer vs. Kramer”, Captain Kirk reunites his crew to investigate a mysterious alien force in “Star Trek”, a comedy special banned from TV “Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video”, and this year Walt Disney dusts off “Sleeping Beauty” for the Christmas season. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene has a tipoff to a cheap ripoff “Arabian Adventure”, and Roger finds another film worth cutting up to make ukelele picks, “The Stud”.

  • S04E13 Take 2: Best Films of the '70's

    • December 27, 1979
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger recall strong and vivid emotional experiences in the best films of the 70’s. Featured are discussions of “Last Tango in Paris” (1972), “An Unmarried Woman” (1978), “The Sorrow and the Pity”, “Apocalypse Now” (1979), “Annie Hall” (1977), “Amarcord” (1974), “ The Emigrants/The New Land”, and “Breaking Away” (1979).

  • S04E14 The Black Hole/​The Electric Horseman/​All That Jazz/​Cuba/​Going in Style

    • January 3, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger journey with this holiday season’s eagerly awaited big-budget Disney production “The Black Hole”, a man a woman and a horse in romantic comedy “The Electric Horseman”, Bob Fosse’s musical showbiz autobiography “All That Jazz”, Sean Connery is an aging mercenary fighting a lost cause in “Cuba”, three retired old men plan a robbery in “Going in Style”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger’s beach blanket ripoff “Roller Boogie” falls flat on its face, while Gene’s “Scavenger Hunt” finds a collection of trash.

  • S04E15 Take 2: The Vietnam War

    • January 10, 1980
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger explore the different ways in which Hollywood has chosen to treat various aspects of Vietnam War. Featured are discussions of the only pro-war film about the war “The Green Berets” (1968), and post-war sentiments in “The Deer Hunter” (1978), “Apocalypse Now” (1979), “Hair” (1979), “Rolling Thunder” (1977), “Coming Home” (1978), and “Hearts and Minds” (1974).

  • S04E16 Top Ten Films of 1979

    • January 17, 1980
    • PBS

    Roger and Gene look back on the year 1979 and pick their top ten films which is not that hard for Gene considering it was an off year. Featured are discussion of “Breaking Away”, “Kramer vs. Kramer”, “The Marriage of Maria Braun”, “Manhattan”, “Apocalypse Now”, “Hair”, “Saint Jack”, “Time After Time” Plus, they each select their choices for “Dog of the Year”. Roger was blown away by “Hurricane” and Gene hopes the decades’ run of disaster films has come to an end with the bust “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure”.

  • S04E17 Take 2: Who's Funnier - Mel Brooks or Woody Allen?

    • January 24, 1980
    • PBS

    In this special edition of Take 2, is it sight gags and slapstick or comedy that makes you laugh and think? Gene and Roger debate with film clips who is funnier: Mel Brooks or Woody Allen.

  • S04E18 Windows/​Heart Beat/​The Runner Stumbles/​Rape of Love

    • January 31, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger start a new year and decade with the jealously voyeurism and sadism of “Windows”, the free-spirited beat generation in “Heart Beat”, Dick Van Dyke is a conflicted priest in “The Runner Stumbles”, and one woman struggles to confront her rapist in court in French film “Rape of Love”. For their “Dog of the Week” segment, Spot sniffs out Gene’s Omen-ripoff “The Godsend”, and Roger has anything but a “Silent Scream” for his gruesome disaster.

  • S04E19 Take 2: Great Performances of the 1970’s That Oscar Ignored

    • February 7, 1980
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger give due to great performances and in some cases entire careers that have been overlooked and undervalued. Featured are discussions of John Cazale, Shelley Duvall, Genevieve Bujold, Martin Sheen, Malcolm McDowell, and Robert Mitchum.

  • S04E20 Being There/​The Fog/​Chapter Two/​American Gigolo/​Fatso

    • February 14, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger take a chance with Peter Sellers in satirical comedy “Being There”, John Carpenter is trying to scare us all over again with “The Fog”, Neil Simon adapts his autobiographical play “Chapter Two”, Richard Gere plays a male prostitute in “American Gigolo”, and “Fatso” is one of the most lightweight comedies of the year. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger thinks “Guyana: Cult of the Damned” cheapens and exploits a true story, and Gene finds “The Bermuda Triangle” has all marketing and no answers from the fast-buck operators at Sunn Classic Pictures.

  • S04E21 Take 2: Invasion of the Outer Space Movies

    • February 21, 1980
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger compare differences between space movies of the 50’s and their re-invasion in the 1970’s. Featured are discussions of “Destination Moon” (1950), “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951), “2001: a space odyssey” (1968), “Star Wars” (1977), and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977).

  • S04E22 The Last Married Couple in America/​Cruising/​Just Tell Me What You Want/​Hero at Large/​Saturn 3

    • February 28, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger are intrigued to find out why George Segal and Natalie Wood are “The Last Married Couple in America”, Al Pacino’s new picture “Cruising” rides a wave of controversy into theaters, Ali MacGraw is a mistress scorned in “Just Tell Me What You Want”, John Ritter is a real-life superhero in “Hero at Large”, and Farrah Fawcett stars in sci-fi thriller “Saturn 3”. Spot leaps into the balcony to announce the “Dogs of the Week”, Gene’s chop-socky “A Force of One” alternates anti-drug messages and kicks to the groin, while Roger hones in on Spot’s jealousy of the big brave collie dog in “The Magic of Lassie”.

  • S04E23 Take 2: Going to the Movies - The Black Marble

    • March 6, 1980
    • PBS

    In this edition of Take 2, Gene and Roger pull back the curtain to show us just how they go to the movies as critics. From coming attraction commercials to expectations, press agents to screening rooms, then back to the office for a final review. We are invited along as they see the new comedy “The Black Marble”, plus they try to explain just how critics come to have their opinions.

  • S04E24 Soldier of Orange/​The Human Factor/​Coal Miner's Daughter/​The Europeans

    • March 13, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger report on the thematic balancing act of WWII drama “Soldier of Orange”, Otto Preminger’s spy thriller “The Human Factor”, Sissy Spacek is more than just a “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, and Henry James’ conniving gold-diggers in “The Europeans”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger is repelled by Disney’s nasty PG-Animal House “Midnight Madness”, while Gene discovers the overwrought sequel nobody asked for “The Wilderness Family Part 2”.

  • S04E25 Academy Award Predictions

    • March 27, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger are back with their annual Academy Awards program. They survey nominees in the top five categories: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor and Actress, and speculate on who the winners might be.

  • S04E26 Little Miss Marker/​Simon/​Little Darlings/​The Black Stallion/​Hide in Plain Sight

    • April 10, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger check out the racetrack for old-fashioned remake “Little Miss Marker”, Marshall Brickman’s first solo effort “Simon”, two “Little Darlings” compete in summer camp shenanigans, the classic story of a boy and a magical horse “The Black Stallion”, and James Caan cannot find his kids in “Hide in Plain Sight”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene argues “Don’t Answer the Phone” or just don’t go see this movie, and “Last Rites” is the worst vampire movie Roger has ever seen.

  • S04E27 Nijinsky/​Serial/​My Brilliant Career/​Foxes/​The Changeling

    • April 24, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger experience a critical year in the life of “Nijinsky”, a satirical dissection of Marin County in “Serial”, a young woman pursues “My Brilliant Career” turn-of-the-century Australia, four teenage “Foxes” grow up in a Los Angeles suburb, and George C. Scott moves into an old Seattle mansion in “The Changeling”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Roger finds a schlock in half-baked disaster “When Time Ran Out”, and Gene advises us to stay off “The Fifth Floor”

  • S04E28 Ffolkes/​Where the Buffalo Roam/​Nothing Personal/​A Small Circle of Friends/​Foolin’ Around

    • May 8, 1980
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger investigate the north sea oil rigs due for hijacking in “Ffolkes”, Bill Murray plays Hunter S. Thompson “Where the Buffalo Roam”, intrigue finds romance and baby seals in “Nothing Personal”, Harvard college kids flirt with love during the Vietnam protest movement in “A Small Circle of Friends”, and Gary Busey falls in love with Annette O’Toole in“Foolin’ Around”. In their “Dog of the Week” segment, Gene finds an old Nazi “Death Ship” but the production goes overboard, and Roger digs through Roger Vadim’s trash-y exploitation “Night Games”.

Season 5

Season 6

Additional Specials

  • SPECIAL 0x1 Pilot - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest/​Self Service/​Mr. Quilp/​Conduct Unbecoming

    • November 23, 1975
    • PBS

    Two film critics, Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, introduce their new show: "Opening Soon...At a Theatre Near You." They discuss the Chicago Film Festival and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). They review current and upcoming releases such as "Dog Day Afternoon". Each pick a Dog of the Month: Gene's Pick: "Lisztomania". Roger's Pick: "Mahogany".

  • SPECIAL 0x2 Taxi Driver, The Man Who Would Be King, Hester Street, The Story of Adele H.

    • March 11, 1976
    • PBS

    Gene and Roger review Martin Scorsese's haunting character study "Taxi Driver"... John Huston's action adventure adaptation of "The Man Who Would Be King" ... the warm family drama "Hester Street"... and Francois Truffaut's "The Story of Adele H." Their "Dog of the Week" picks are "The Devil Within Her" and "Manson".