Yost’s son understands loss felt by fans of “Saturday Night at the Movies”

TORONTO – A son of the late host of TV Ontario’s “Saturday Night at the Movies” says he understands the frustration of fans who are fighting to save the program.

Graham Yost, whose father Elwy Yost hosted the program for 25 years, says it’s remarkable that the show lasted so long.

Ontario’s publicly funded broadcaster TVO announced earlier this week that “Saturday Night” would be axed after a 38-year run due to budget cuts.

Movie buffs and fans of the program are trying to keep it on the air with an online petition.

Yost, a screenwriter whose resume includes the hit film “Speed” and war-time TV series “Band of Brothers,” says he understand the sense of loss felt by fans who hoped the show would last forever.

But he says his father knew that even with the best movie — be it “Citizen Kane” or “The Thief of Bagdad” — there comes a time when the credits roll and the screen goes dark.