About Tom Santilli

​Tom Santilli is an entertainment writer/journalist who has established himself with his online writing and featured columns.  He is the former National Film Critic for AXS.com and currently is the film critic for ABC-affiliate WXYZ Channel 7 Action News in Detroit, as well as the Executive Producer, Co-Host and Movie Critic for "Movie Show Plus." Additionally, Tom writes for RealityTea.com covering the CBS show "Survivor," "Big Brother" and "Celebrity Big Brother."
 
The Movie Critic.  Tom is a RottenTomatoes-approved film critic and member of the Critics' Choice Association, the Online Film Critics Society and is the past President of the Detroit Film Critics Society.  From 2016 thru April 2019, he was the National Film Critic for AXS.com. Prior to this, he was the "Detroit Movie Examiner" for Examiner.com (from 2010 thru 2016). He continues to appear weekly on TV in the Detroit market.  In 2010, he was selected by National CineMedia and Examiner.com as one of 14 Movie Critics to be featured in a campaign called “The Best Critics in America”, and was featured in a promo video that ran in movie theaters across the country.
 
In addition to his written reviews, Tom is a local TV personality in the Detroit market, appearing on two broadcast shows.  First, he is an executive producer and host/movie critic on the syndicated TV show "Movie Show Plus,"   Tom also appeared on the hit weekly movie show "Critic LEE Speaking" with host Lee Thomas, on FOX-2 in Detroit, from 2016-2020. He is currently the on-air film critic personality for WXYZ (ABC) in Detroit, whose reviews also appear on WXYZ.com.
 
Tom also hosts The FilmSurvivor Podcast, which is available on Podbean and iTunes.

Tom continues to give thoughtful insight in his reviews of the latest movies each week, with occasional celebrity interviews, but also keeps his local Detroit readership in tune with the latest film-related events and news relevant to the area.  He encourages you to follow him on Twitter - @tomsantilli - for his latest news and reviews..
 
Survivor.  Tom has always been a huge fan of the CBS TV show, Survivor, since its very beginning in 2000.  He's proudly never missed an episode, and began covering the show professionally beginning with Season 20, "Heroes vs. Villains."  He covered the show for Examiner.com as the "Survivor Examiner" from 2010 until the site shut-down in 2016 (Seasons 20 thru 32).  Beginning with Season 33 ("Gen-X vs. Millennials") he covers the show for RealityTea.com.  As a member of the Survivor Press Corp, Tom has access to weekly “exit interviews” with castaways on the show, and his coverage over the years has launched Tom quickly into the elite group of “must-read” Survivor insiders.  His unique take and relentless coverage is what makes his column a fan-favorite and has made him a go-to Survivor “expert.”

Tom is one of the few members of the press - and only online -only writer - who has also been a part of the Executive Voting Committee of the Survivor Hall of Fame since its inception.
 
Tom also appeared on Rob Cesternino’s “Rob Has a Podcast” as a guest, and gave the only exclusive interview with Richard Hatch since he returned to court for alleged probation violation in 2010.  Tom also was an occasional Survivor contributor to other sites, including TheTVKing.com and TVGeekArmy.com.

He encourages you to follow him on Twitter - @tomsantilli - for his Survivor coverage, including weekly episode previews, analysis and recaps, and exclusive exit interviews..
 
Personal.  Tom Santilli has lived in and around the suburbs of Detroit his whole life, and attributes his creativity and passion to his mother and father, and brother and sister.  Tom graduated from L’Anse Creuse – North High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Central Michigan University in Management & Broadcast/Cinematic Arts, with a focus on Journalism as well.
 
In addition to his writing, Tom is a respected business owner in the Detroit area, of Complete Video Solutions (www.cvideosolutions.com), which is primarily a high-end Wedding Videography business.  He has been voted the #1 Wedding Videographer in Detroit by Channel 4 and ClickOnDetroit.com, and went on to be voted #1 five-consecutive years.  Tom and his company have received over 30 awards for their video production and wedding production since 2002, and in 2014 were named to TheKnot.com's "Vendor Hall of Fame."  He looks to expand his service throughout America for anybody looking for the best in Wedding Cinematography.
 
Tom is also a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and in college served as President, Vice President, Pledge Educator.  He received awards such as “Most Spirit” and the top honor of “Outstanding Member” twice.  He won awards for the Greek President of the Year, as well as the overall CMU “President of the Year”.  He also was Vice-President of Inter-Fraternity Council at Central Michigan, and received the highest individual honor given in the Greek Community, the Excalibur Award.  He was also named the national “Beta of the Week” by Beta Theta Pi in 2000.
 
Lastly, Tom is proud of his Italian heritage, and is a member of the Italian-American “Secinarese Club” in the Detroit-Metro area.  He is also a member of WEVA (Wedding & Event Videographers Association).