Roger Ebert To Appear On 'Oprah' Tuesday With New Voice

During Roger Ebert's much-anticipated appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Tuesday, the iconic film critic who has been voiceless for two years following throat surgery will be speaking with a computer-generated voice that reportedly sounds like the one he has lost.

During Friday's taping of the Oprah show, Ebert tested out his new voice and sounded "like himself for the first time in nearly four years since his battle and recovery from thyroid cancer left him voiceless," the Chicago Tribune reports.

As the recent interview with Ebert in Esquire pointed out, a Scottish company called CereProc has made this possible. The Tribune reports:

Last summer, Ebert found the Web site of CereProc, a company based in Edinburgh, Scotland that uses "text to speech" technology to provide people with voices that "sound real" and "have character," according to the company's Web site.

Using mostly audio from Ebert's own voice on DVD commentaries of "Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca," the company created a voice that sounds like the one he lost.

Matthew Aylett, chief technical officer for CereProc, told the Tribune that it is the first time the company has produced a voice that sounded like the voice of the person using it.

"Roger has many years of experience in broadcasting," Aylett told the Tribune. "Obviously we couldn't record him but he did have a lot of audio material we could use to build his voice."

Ebert has expressed frustration about not being able to speak in his blog, but also noted that his writing has improved since he lost his voice.

Oprah's interview with Ebert will air at 9 a.m. CT on Tuesday, March 2. Check local listings here.

Comments

[David Speakman]

03:37 PM on 03/02/2010

just remotely set the DVR to record this. I love Roger Ebert and miss his insights on TV.

[question all]

10:56 AM on 03/02/2010

Just watched him on Oprah - what an amazing man - such strength and continued good humor.

The support he's received from his wife cannot be ignored - what an amazing woman.

The speech program is unbelievable. How fortunate to have his volume of recorded words to draw from.

[toocoldout]

09:19 AM on 03/02/2010

On Oprah's 20th anniversary of her national show she shared a story about how she and Ebert went on a date when she first came to Chicago & she was trying to decide what her next move in TV should be. Ebert convinced her to choose syndication, a path that would eventually make her the richest African American of all time. So not only is he a gifted writer and film critic, but he made a major contribution to black history:

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/A-Date-With-Destiny

[ChicagoSuz]

06:10 AM on 03/02/2010

Awesome news!!

[OtayPanky]

12:24 AM on 03/02/2010

He's the real deal.

[GiannaX]

09:40 PM on 03/01/2010

Wonderful news! I'm looking forward to the show.

[RedCountyRosi]

07:53 PM on 03/01/2010

Sure, his writing improved since he lost his voice. It went from magnificent to ... magnificent.

What a fine man.

[SaltyLassi]

07:05 PM on 03/01/2010

That is amazing technology. I'm glad he can afford it. I'm always happy for them, but saddened that this type of stuff, which GOP likes to call "The best health care in the world" is only available to millionaires. The average person would NEVER be approved for such a costly device.

[stayinschool]

06:41 PM on 03/01/2010

I missed him so much! Go Roger!

[BambooHarvester]

05:40 PM on 03/01/2010

Luv Rog

[booker52]

05:28 PM on 03/01/2010

Oprah contributes her success due to advice she received from Roger many years ago, he suggested she produce and own her show. We know how well that advice served her.

[Randomizer]

02:09 PM on 03/01/2010

I'm happy that Roger Ebert is doing well. I wonder if he and Oprah will talk about going out on a date a long time ago.

[TrueBud]

02:03 PM on 03/01/2010

Roger's Esquire interview was eye-opening and moving. And as anyone who has read his regular blog can attest, his writing has only evolved and deepened since his battle with cancer. Since he lives inside the words of his mind, he writes in fuller, more textured, more fully realized thoughts than most writers. His online writing is usually about everything BUT movies, and I recommend it to anybody who loves reading and living life.

[exoevolution]

07:44 AM on 03/01/2010

Roger Ebert is a National treasure.

Reading his blog is pure joy!

Roger glad to hear that you have regained your audible "voice", you have never lost your "written" voice.

[zootliberal]

11:48 AM on 03/01/2010

agree 100% exo - I love reading his reviews - and I loved the Siskel-Ebert show (there may never be another as good) - I love his DVD commentaries - the one for Citizen Kane is not to be missed by any film lover. Roger's love for movies and his joy watching them is truly infectious.

Wonderful that modern technology can give his voice back, bravo.

[JFaye]

12:00 AM on 03/01/2010

Robert and Chaz Ebert have shown such courage facing down cancer. They are one of my "favorite couples." God bless them both and best to their family.

[TrueBud]

01:57 PM on 03/01/2010

Robert?