Roger Ebert's Creationism Q&A: The Outtakes

Following the recent, violent critical confrontation from which he barely escaped alive, Roger Ebert appears to have adopted a generous new perspective on both his life (Lou Lumenick, forgiven) and his work (The Women, three stars). Nowhere is the New Ebert more conspicuous than in his fascinating tutorial about Creationism, which, he argues in his introduction, "should be discussed in schools as an alternative to the theory of evolution."

No kidding? While this doesn't sound like the guy who took down Sarah Palin a few weeks ago as the "American Idol candidate," we know from more than 40 years of reviews that he's a nuanced dude entitled to a range of complex opinions. Alternatively, Ebert's tongue may be so far in his cheek it'll leave a bruise, but a bit of digging by Defamer operatives yielded a series of exclusive, unpublished outtakes suggesting he might be keeping it real. After the jump, we pick up where Rog left off.

Recovering Roger Ebert Pummeled By Angry 'NY Post' Critic

What is a loud, developmentally disabled summer action blockbuster to do when even Hollywood's biggest quote-whore critic won't endorse it? That's the dilemma facing The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, which, at this time Thursday, was packing a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. What a difference a day makes, however, with a glint of support finally peeking through the mounting opprobrium. In the spirit of fairness and equal time, after the jump we salute some of the independent thinkers and/or drunks brave enough to stand up for Rob Cohen's crapterpiece — even including a Pulitzer Prize winner!

Lost 'Siskel and Ebert' Review Elevates 'The Hills' to Ranks of the Critically Acclaimed

The Night Is Darkest Before The Dawn

'Lyons & Mankiewicz At the Movies' Promises A Bold New Era of Critic Hackery

Departure Of Both 'Ebert & Roeper' Leaves Questions About Viability Of A Review Show Called '&'

We bring sad news from the ongoing Film Critic Death March: In a broken-down negotiation that we like to imagine at one point contained the exchange, "You're asking for how much money?! You think you two are the only Ebert and Roeper out there? Someone get me a Chicago phone book and I bet I'll find you an Ebert and Roeper with an opinion about movies. Even a monkey (who happens to be named Ebert and/or Roeper) could do your job!" the two star critics have pulled out of their show At The Movies With Ebert & Roeper, with legendary opinion-haver Roger Ebert hinting at disastrous creative changes to come:

In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday, Ebert said Disney-ABC Domestic Television had decided to take the show "in a new direction" and he won't be associated with it.

In a statement, Ebert said, "The show was a wonderful experience," and added that he and Siskel's widow, Marlene Iglitzen, retain the trademark to the phrase, "Two thumbs up." [...]