KCRW Backs Elvis Mitchell, But for How Long?

Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Bing

Elvis Mitchell

Film critic and historian Elvis Mitchell lost one job this week when he was ousted from the film blog Movieline. But another employer is sticking behind the controversial figure -- at least for now.

In a short statement, Southern California public radio station KCRW, home to the Mitchell-hosted program The Treatment, told The Hollywood Reporter that he has not been fired.

"Elvis is still the host of The Treatment," said station rep Sarah Spitz.

Spitz declined to reveal anything beyond the statement, including how long the relationship would continue or whether the station had been in contact with Mitchell in recent days. The weekly film program airs Wednesdays on the Santa Monica-based station, and this week's edition was taped well in advance.

Mitchell is a mysterious figure, especially since news of the end of his relationship with Movieline leaked this week. Neither Mitchell nor the site's owner, MMC, has confirmed a report that the separation was prompted by a small error in a review of the Summit thriller Source Code. Indiewire's Anne Thompson has some interesting background on Mitchell, his money troubles and his previous jobs with The New York Times, Sony and NPR, nearly all of which have ended with some controversy. 

E-mail: matthew.belloni@thr.com