Fred Willard, Aisha Tyler to fill in for Ebert

updated 10:56 a.m. ET Aug. 24, 2006

CHICAGO - As film critic Roger Ebert recovers from cancer surgery, five guest hosts have lined up to sit in the balcony with Richard Roeper on the movie review shoe “Ebert & Roeper.”

The substitutes, scheduled for shows airing through Sept. 24, include actor Fred Willard and screenwriter and novelist John Ridley. Actress Aisha Tyler will appear on two shows.

Toni Senecal, entertainment reporter for WNYW-TV in New York, and Chicago Tribune movie critic Michael Phillips round out the list.

Ebert, 64, has been hospitalized since having surgery June 16 to remove a cancerous growth on his salivary gland. He also had emergency surgery July 1 after a blood vessel burst near the site of the operation, and another unspecified surgery earlier this month that his wife characterized as “minor.”

Ebert said in a statement Thursday that his voice has been affected by the cancer treatment and his rehabilitation will include strengthening his vocal cords. He did not say when he might return to the show.

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