I've admired Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel since elementary school. Seeing their review show on TV was one of the earliest and most foundational influences on my becoming the fan, student, and critic of the moving image that I am today. I'm sad to hear that a form of cancer has returned and as a result, Roger Ebert is dialing some things back:

Typically, I write over 200 reviews a year for the Sun-Times that are carried by Universal Press Syndicate in some 200 newspapers. Last year, I wrote the most of my career, including 306 movie reviews, a blog post or two a week, and assorted other articles. I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call "a leave of presence."
What in the world is a leave of presence? It means I am not going away. My intent is to continue to write selected reviews but to leave the rest to a talented team of writers handpicked and greatly admired by me. What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review.
At the same time, I am re-launching the new and improved Rogerebert.com and taking ownership of the site under a separate entity, Ebert Digital, run by me, my beloved wife, Chaz, and our brilliant friend, Josh Golden of Table XI. Stepping away from the day-to-day grind will enable me to continue as a film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, and roll out other projects under the Ebert brand in the coming year.

You should read the whole piece.

As much of a change is signaled by his pulling back from the frequency and quantity of reviews that this represent, I'm glad to know that his time will be focused on the work he wants to be doing and reviewing only the movies he wants to review. I'll be reading not only what he makes the time for, but the work of those he hand-picks as well. Roger Ebert has always had good taste.

I need to sleep on some further thoughts I have about Roger before I set to pounding them out into words.

RogerEbert.com relaunches on April 9.