Posted on 06/12/2026 7:48:06 PM PDT by Rummyfan
He reviewed books and films on the morning program for four decades: "'The Silence of the Lambs' may be all wool, and a yard wide, but it makes a terrific yarn."
Gene Shalit, the fun-loving film critic on the Today show known for his oversized mustache, out-of-control mop of black hair and lively use of puns in his movie reviews, died Friday. He was 100.
Shalit, a mainstay on the NBC morning show for four decades until his retirement in November 2010, “passed away peacefully today after 100 years of an amazing life,” his family said in a statement to NBC News.
Shalit started as a book reviewer on Today in 1970 and went on to replace Joe Garagiola on the desk three years later. Working alongside the likes of Hugh Downs, Tom Brokaw, Barbara Walters, Bryant Gumbel, Jane Pauley, Matt Lauer and Katie Couric, Shalit proved to be a spirited counterbalance to the heavier news of the day, entertaining audiences with celebrity interviews and insights into moviegoing choices during his “Critic’s Corner” segment.
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...
100 years… quite the run.
From what I know, Gene Shalit was a good guy. Entertaining, and not woke or preachy.
RIP
Oh, and Calvin Coolidge was president when Shalit was born. So the guy sure did see a lot.
Always liked him.
RIP
Had great hair!
True story. The first week the “The Exorcist” was released in NYC my husband to be and I went to see it. At the time there was only one theatre showing the movie so the line was wrapped around an entire city block. It was the end of December and freezing cold. As hundreds of people stood shivering and waiting, Mr Shalit passed by and asked what we were on line for. When he heard it was for “The Exorcist” he bellowed his pronouncement.
“It’s pornography”
Yeah, he wasn’t a fan.
Be outlined Siskel and Ebert and they were much younger.
***Outlived
True.
Rest In Peace, Gene Shalit.
I remember him hitting the scene as a local guy on DC news doing movie reviews when I was a kid in the late 60s. That doesn’t show on his Wiki page, but how could you forget that guy?
I didn’t watch him a lot as I wasn’t a regular Today show watcher but occasionally and he was memorable. RIP
Quite the long run.
I’m just hoping to hit 80. 50/50 at this point.
He was always memorable.
Every time.
RIP, Gene.
He made my skin crawl.
And this outtake roll where they began bitching at each other was revealing, particularly with respect to Ebert:
LINK: Siskel & Ebert (1987): Rated R
My favorite, and largely only movie critic I pay attention to now is The Critical Drinker.
And so does this loon Shri Thanedar:
I know what you mean. I have four months to go and a nasty thing called sepsis almost struck me down. But I'm ok and making a run for it. Best wishes and good luck on your journey.
Me too.
RIP Gene.
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