NEW YORK - Roger Ebert is debuting a facial prosthesis along with his new public television show on film criticism.
The veteran critic was left disfigured after surgeries for a cancerous growth in his salivary gland.
He wrote on his blog that he'll appear on his new "Ebert Presents at the Movies" in a prosthesis for his lower face and neck. Since the operations left him unable to speak, Ebert communicates through a voice in his laptop.
The 68-year-old Ebert says the prosthesis "will be a pleasant reminder of the person I was for 64 years."
The show debuts Friday with co-hosts Christy Lemire of The Associated Press and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of Mubi.com. It's being taped where Ebert and the late Gene Siskel made their iconic "Sneak Previews" show starting 35 years ago.
