the series with rotating guest hosts which included Martin Scorsese, Janet Maslin, Peter Bogdanovich, Todd McCarthy, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Kenneth Turan, Elvis Mitchell, and the eventual replacement for Siskel, Richard Roeper. Review style and trademarks Siskel and Ebert's reviewing style has been described as a form of midwestern populist criticism rather than the one formed through essays which other critics including Pauline Kael felt undermined and undervalued the profession of film criticism. They were criticized for their ability to sensationalize film criticism in an easygoing, relatable way. Together they are credited with forming modern day film criticism. The New York Times described Ebert's reviews as a “critic for the common man". The pair were also known for their intense debate, often drawing sharp criticisms at each other. Ebert reminisced about the experience saying: In 1983, the critics defended Star Wars films against critic John Simon in an episode of ABC News Nightline. The film Return of the Jedi (1983) had hit theaters that summer and Simon was criticizing the film for "making children dumber than they need to be". Ebert responded saying: Preferences Best films of the year As critics, Siskel's first top ten list was in 1969; Ebert's had debuted in 1967. Over the life of their partnership, these were the two critics' #1 selections. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Siskel ! Ebert |- | 1969 | colspan="2"| |- | 1970 | My Night at Maud's | Five Easy Pieces|- | 1971 | Claire's Knee| The Last Picture Show|- | 1972 | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |The Godfather|- | 1973 | The Emigrants| Cries and Whispers|- | 1974 | Day for Night| Scenes from a Marriage|- | 1975 | colspan="2"| |- | 1976 | All the President's Men| Small Change|- | 1977 | Annie Hall| 3 Women|- | 1978 | Straight Time| An Unmarried Woman|- | 1979 | Hair| Apocalypse Now|- | 1980 | Raging Bull| The Black Stallion|- | 1981 | Ragtime| My Dinner with Andre|- | 1982 | Moonlighting| Sophie's Choice|- | 1983 | colspan="2"| |- | 1984 | Once Upon a Time in America| Amadeus|- | 1985 | Shoah| The Color Purple|- | 1986 | Hannah and Her Sisters| Platoon|- | 1987 | The Last Emperor| House of Games|- | 1988 | The Last Temptation of Christ| Mississippi Burning|- | 1989 | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |Do the Right Thing|- | 1990 | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |GoodFellas|- | 1991 | Hearts