Roger Ebert Oprah

On the March 2, 2010 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the main guest was noted film critic Roger Ebert. This marked Ebert's first television appearance following a long battle with cancer.http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Roger-Ebert-Speaks-for-the-First-Time-Plus-Morgan-Freeman-and-Colin

It marked the first time that Ebert showed off brand new computer software enhancements designed to further help him amplify his voice by using numerous vocal clips from Ebert's past.

Ebert was one of the premiere film critics in the United States for a period of three decades. His career began writing for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967. In 1975, he was paired with Chicago Tribune columnist and fellow film critic Gene Siskel on a brand new public television show that featured weekly film reviews.

The show eventually went to commercial television in 1982 and began national syndication in 1986. With their 'thumbs up/thumbs down' style of reviews, they gained worldwide fame. Ebert continued to co-host the show following Siskel's death in 1999 with Richard Roeper.

But in 2002, Ebert was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and began immediate treatments. He had successful surgery to correct the problem in 2002. But he then suffered from cancer to his salivary glands. Following radiation treatment that affected his voice, he also required surgery to remove cancerous tissue in his jaw.

For the last several years, he has used computer-enhanced software to help amply his voice, as the radiation and surgeries had rendered him all but mute.