Free Republic

One of the longest continuous on-air runs by anyone on a network program in the history of television is about to come to an end. After 40 years, Gene Shalit is saying goodbye to the “Today” show on Thursday — Veteran’s Day. Known for his pun-laden movie reviews — and his out-sized hair and mustache and bow-tie — Shalit said in a statement obtained by THR, “It’s enough already.” Producers are putting together a retrospective which will air Thursday. Shalit’s movie reviews have only been turning up occasionally recently, but as this YouTube look-back shows, Shalit once had a prominent...

Shalit responded on Jan. 10 in a statement sent to GLAAD in which he wrote, "I certainly had no intention of casting aspersions on anyone in the gay community or on the community itself. I regret any emotional hurt that may have resulted from my review of 'Brokeback Mountain.'" "In describing the behavior of 'Jack,'" he continued, "I used words ('sexual predator') that I now discover have angered, agitated, and hurt many people. I did not intend to use a word that many in the gay community consider incendiary." In his review, Shalit called the film "wildly over praised" and...

There's a new Commandment from the left, "Thou Shalt Not Criticize Brokeback Mountain". Of all people to end up in the cross-hairs of the American left, Shalit would not have made the list, but then again the left is amazing at finding new targets and generally liberal people find themselves in the cross-hairs of the PC crowd. I fully expect some type of retraction by Shallit, but he shouldn't have to give one. If you want to watch the review, click here and scroll about half way down the page to watch it. Shallit didn't pan the movie, didn't say...

Gene Shalit provides the first honest assessment of Brokeassmountain. http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=7fba34e7-dcab-4bf5-9756-c621b7ffa517&f=copy

GLAAD Mad at Shalit's "Brokeback" Breakdown by Sarah Hall Jan 6, 2006, 3:30 PM PT For the most part, the critics agree that Brokeback Mountain is one of the year's most commendable films. Then there's Gene Shalit's point of view. The veteran Today show critic has been taken to task by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation over his negative review of the gay cowboy western, in which he referred to Jake Gyllenhaal's character, Jack, as a "sexual predator" who "tracks Ennis down and coaxes him into sporadic trysts." The group claimed that Shalit's statements, delivered during his "Critic's...