Movieline

Why Roger Ebert Sits in the Back Row

"'I've noticed that the publicists have started to sit behind me," [Gene Siskel] explained. 'I think they're supposed to spy on my reactions and report back to the studios.' I doubted this was true, but now I became aware of Siskel sitting behind me, possibly to spy on my reactions. So I moved to the back row to outwit the son of a bitch. I picked the end of the row nearest the door, so I could sneak out to the men's room without calling undue attention to myself. Most people have bladders the size of oil drums, but I usually have to pee at least once during a movie. A few of my colleagues share this need, and I am sympathetic while watching them bend over and make a Groucho Marx run in front of the screen in the futile hope that no one will notice them." You relate, right? [Roger Ebert's Blog]