History Creator / GeneSiskel

* ExecutiveMeddling: [[invoked]] ''At the Movies'', the 1982-86 series hosted by Siskel and Ebert, was distributed by Tribune Entertainment, owned by Siskel's employer the ''Chicago Tribune''. In 1986 they left Tribune for the [[Creator/{{Disney}} Buena Vista]]-distributed ''Series/SiskelAndEbert'', and afterwards the ''Tribune'' effectively demoted Siskel, replacing him as the full-time film critic, and turning him into a "film columnist" who did features and capsule reviews. Siskel went along with it, but Creator/RogerEbert was furious, and approached the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' about hiring Siskel and teaming them up at the same newspaper, which the ''Sun-Times'' was apparently willing to do, but Siskel wasn't interested.

* HilariousInHindsight: [[invoked]] The first film he reviewed at the ''Tribune'' was the Creator/{{Disney}} movie ''Rascal'' in 1969. 17 years later, he went to work for Disney, since their TV wing Buena Vista Television distributed ''Series/SiskelAndEbert'' starting in 1986.

Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was the film critic for the ''UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} Tribune'' from 1969 until his death. Along with Creator/RogerEbert, he was one-half of the weekly film {{review}} show ''Series/SiskelAndEbert: At the Movies.'' The two of them rated films with a simple system: thumbs up or down, with a brief discussion of a film's strengths and/or weaknesses before presenting a verdict.

* BaldnessAngst: His hairline began receding rapidly when he was still in his 20s, so by the time he started teaming up with Ebert on TV he tried to compensate with a huge PornStache, which had the opposite effect of making him look older. In the early episodes Siskel looks like he's in his 40s, and a good two decades older than Ebert, when in fact Ebert was 33 and Siskel was 29.He shaved it by the time ''Sneak Previews'' went national, and in the next couple of decades his baldness oddly made him look more ageless aside Ebert, whose thick mane went grey prematurely.

* BaldnessAngst: His hairline began receding rapidly when he was still in his 20s, so by the time he started teaming up with Ebert on TV he tried to compensate with a huge PornStache, which had the opposite effect of making him look older; he was 29 when the show started, but could've passed for his mid 40s. He shaved it by the time ''Sneak Previews'' went national, and oddly his baldness gave him an ageless vibe, while Ebert's thick hair went grey prematurely.

* HilariousInHindsight: [[invoked]] The first film he reviewed at the ''Tribune'' was the Creator/{{Disney}} movie ''Rascal'' in 1969. Two decades later, he went to work for Disney, since their TV wing Buena Vista Television distributed ''Series/SiskelAndEbert''.

Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was the film critic for the ''UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} Tribune'' from 1969 until his death. Along with Creator/RogerEbert, he was one-half of the weekly film review show ''Series/SiskelAndEbert: At the Movies.'' The two of them rated films with a simple system: thumbs up or down, with a brief discussion of a film's strengths and/or weaknesses before presenting a verdict.

* RuleofTwo: Deliberately, giving the nature of his and Ebert's profession, and to provide ambience. On the duo's many numerous talkshow appearances, for example (mainly on ''David Letterman 's' ' "Late Night" and "Late Show"), a short piece would accompany them on stage - in the case of their Letterman spots - either "Under My Thumb" (a reference to the duo's famous "Thumbs Up/Down" rating system" or the saxophone solo from "Just the Two of Us". Understandably ceased once Ebert started making solo appearances after Siskel's passing.

* RuleofTwo: Deliberately, giving the nature of his and Ebert's profession, and to provide ambience. On the duo's many numerous talkshow appearances, for example (mainly on ''David Letterman 's' ' "Late Night" and "Late Show"), a short piece would accompany them on stage - in the case of their Letterman spots - either "Under My Thumb" or the saxophone solo from "Just the Two of Us". Understandably ceased once Ebert started making solo appearances after Siskel's passing.