Anybody who saw the most recent episode of At The Movies might have noticed that critics Richard Roeper and Robert Wilonsky did not give a thumbs up or down to any of the movies reviewed. That's because Roger Ebert and show owner Disney-ABC Domestic Television are still negotiating a renewal of a contract giving permission to use the trademarked thumbs. According to the Chicago Sun-Times "Disney waited until late Friday to announce that Ebert was withholding permission to use the thumbs. Ebert fired back with a denial of any such demand, but claimed Disney had made him an 'offensively low' offer to renew." Sure, it sounds stupid, but given how those thumbs have become a seal of approval in movie ads, Ebert might have good reason to be protective of the appendages.
Join the discussion...