[Deathwatch] Joel Siegel, 'Good Morning America' movie critic, 63

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Movie critic Joel Siegel dies
updated 11:37 a.m. EDT, Sat June 30, 2007

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/29/siegel.obit.ap/index.html

NEW YORK (AP)  -- Joel Siegel, a longtime movie critic for "Good
Morning America" who racked up five New York Emmy Awards for his
insightful work, died Friday, the television station said. He was 63.

Joel Siegel was the movie critic for ABC's "Good Morning America" for
26 years.

The station said Siegel, who was famous for his weekly reviews, had
been battling colon cancer.

"Joel was an important part of ABC News and we will miss him," ABC News
President David Westin said in a release. "He was a brilliant reviewer
and a great reporter. But much more, he was our dear friend and
colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joel's family."

Siegel was known for his sense of humor, movie acumen and sharp
judgment. He never let an actor off the hook if the performance was
lackluster.

"The appeal of Matthew McConaughey has long evaded me both as a pinup
and as an actor," Siegel opined in his review of "We Are Marshall," a
2006 film. "His constant ticks, bad hair and strained syntax as a coach
fumble what should have been the tragic and inspirational story of the
rebuilding of Marshall University's football team after a devastating
plane crash."

Dave Davis, president and general manager of WABC-TV, said Siegel loved
to poke fun at uninspiring movies.

"No one had more fun writing about a bad movie than Joel," Davis said.

ABC anchor Charles Gibson said Siegel knew how to tell a story.

"He had an inexhaustible supply of stories -- most funny, many
poignant, all with a point or a punch line," Gibson said.

Siegel was born in Los Angeles on July 7, 1943, and graduated cum laude
from UCLA. After college, he started writing for The Los Angeles Times,
where he reviewed books.

He landed in New York City in 1972 and worked as a reporter for
WCBS-TV. He also hosted "Joel Siegel's New York" on WCBS Radio. Four
years later he jumped to WABC-TV, cementing his reputation as a film
critic over the next three decades.

In 1981, he joined "Good Morning America" and became a regular as the
network's entertainment editor, easily recognizable by his thick
mustache and glasses.

In addition to Emmy Awards, he also received a public-service award
from the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith and the New York State
Associated Press Broadcasters Association Award for general excellence
in individual reporting.

He survived by his son, Dylan, and wife, Ena Swansea.

Many thanks to TheLenGuy for posting this obituary