michael eisner-related stories
Posted Feb 8th 2008 9:35AM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Industry, WGA Strike
Depending on who you want to listen to -- or believe -- the end of the writers' strike is a done deal. Michael Eisner, former Disney CEO and current CNBC host,
thinks "it's over," as he told the network's
Fast Money show. Nikki Finke, in her usual subtle way, takes pains to debunk Eisner's expertise on the matter,
saying that "Eisner hasn't mattered since 2004-2005 when he was kicked to the curb by Disney and its shareholders."
Still, Finke
does give a timeline of how she's been informed the next few days will go; tomorrow seems to be the crucial day, as the WGA membership on both coasts will have "informational meetings" before the governing board of each coast's guild decides whether to put the tentative deal up for a vote. If the informational meetings go well, the union bigwigs may call off the strike before the vote, anticipating the deal will win with the rank-and-file.
Continue reading As the strike winds down, what's next?
Posted Dec 4th 2006 9:38AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: NBC, Cable, News, Web
For all you CNBC fans who can't get enough breaking news about Wall Street, money, stocks, bonds, and corporate deals have a new place to hang out: CNBC.com has re-launched.
A quick look around the site and you'll see lots and lots of numbers and lots and lots of colors. You get a live stock chart, exclusive online-only content (for example, this morning they had an interview with Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Michael Moskow), a video player, daily schedules and diaries, and a ton more. It's all very busy and the layout out could be a bit better, but it will be a good resource.
There was a time - in the mid to late 90s - when I was sort of addicted to watching CNBC. Those days have gone, but it's good that the info is still there at the click of your remote control (and mouse).
(Note: the main CNBC.com page is for financial info. If you're looking for the page for the TV network CNBC specifically (show info, schedules, pictures of Maria Bartiromo), then you should go here.)
[via TV Newser]
Posted Oct 23rd 2006 5:05PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Programming
At 8, ABC has a repeat Wife Swap, followed by new episodes of The Bachelor and What About Brian. - CBS has a new How I Met Your Mother at 8, followed by new episodes of The Class, Two and a Half Men, Old Christine, and CSI: Miami.
- NBC has new eps of Deal Or No Deal, Heroes, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
- There's a new Prison Break on FOX at 8, followed by a new Justice.
- The CW has new eps of Everybody Hates Chris, All Of Us, Girlfriends, and The Game.
- CNBC has a new Conversations with Michael Eisner at 8, with guests Ted Turner, Sumner Redstone, and Mark Cuban.
- AMC's Monsterfest continues, with Halloween II at 8, followed by Halloween III.
- Also at 8: ESPN has the Giants vs. the Cowboys.
- At 9, Lifetime has the movie Why I Wore Lipstick To My Mastectomy.
- USA has a new Monday Night RAW at 9.
- Food Network has Spooky Treats Unwrapped at 9.
- GSN has a new High Stakes Poker at 9.
- At 10, Showtime has a new Weeds.
Posted Jun 19th 2006 6:10PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Cable, News, Talent, OpEd, Celebrities, Talk Show
Every time I've tuned past Michael Eisner's CNBC show, I've thought the same thing: "As a talk show host, he sure makes a heck of a major studio executive." The former Disney CEO, to put it kindly, didn't conduct the most riveting interviews.
But maybe my opinion of him has changed. According to this
New York Post story, Eisner raked televangelist (and self-proclaimed
strong-legged) Pat Robertson over the coals during a taping of Eisner's show last week. In particular, Eisner took issue with Robertson's views on gay rights, his call to assasinate Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and his view on whether or not Jewish people go to heaven. Robertson's PR people sent CNBC an e-mail expressing their disappointment with the interview, which was obtained by the
Post.
I'm surprised Eisner didn't challenge Pat to a leg-press-off. But it looks like he made Robertson quite uncomfortable, which is always the sign of a good interview.
Posted Jun 10th 2006 4:34PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, TV Royalty, Talent, Web, Celebrities
I know, I know, it seems like this is
Columbo week here at TV Squad, but you've got to watch
this. It's a video made for the 50th Anniversary of ABC a couple of years ago. I didn't watch the show, but I'm glad someone put it up on YouTube. Columbo has been called in to help Sydney, Jack, Vaughn and the rest of the team.
Who asked him to help out, and what is he supposed to help with? Well, you'll just have to watch it to see. You don't usually see a crossover episode involving two of your favorite shows, so this was a great find. Very funny stuff.
Posted Jan 12th 2006 10:36AM by Anna Johns
Filed under: Industry
An article in the LA Times details just how much cash the two head honchos at Disney are raking in these days.
Be prepared: you may turn green with envy. Or, just at the thought of all that money. Chief Executive Robert Iger got a
33% raise when he took over in October, bringing his annual income to $2 million. Wait. There's much, much more. If
Disney does well, he will get to enjoy a $7.25 million bonus (whose bonus is nearly four times their annual salary???).
He also received 500,000 shares of restricted stock. Restricted? I guess that means he can't sink it into Pixar, eh?
Michael Eisner, on the other hand, earned $1 million in regular salary, plus a $9.1 million bonus. That's nowhere near
the income he got in 1998 when he exercised some stock options that had been accumulating for years, and made $576
million. Eisner retired on September 30th but he will continue to received bonuses in the sum of $7.5 million through
September of 2007. But don't worry about Michael Eisner. He'll be okay. He has a
job at CNBC.
Posted Jan 10th 2006 9:06PM by Annie Wu
Filed under: Talent, Industry, Programming
It was announced today that the former chief of Walt Disney Co., Michael Eisner,
is to have his
own CNBC talk show.
Aptly called
Conversations with Michael Eisner, the show will feature interviews
with "business, entertainment or political leaders, with a focus on creativity and innovation". CNBC president
Mark Hoffman approached Eisner about having his own show after he saw Eisner fill in for Charlie Rose on PBS in October.
Hm. I guess he did a pretty good job... I'm not quite sure how he'll do as a talk show host because I've never seen him
on TV except during The Wonderful World of Disney and during various news reports. Did anyone see his fill-in spot for
Charlie Rose?
I nominate Mickey Mouse for the first interview candidate. Let's start things out nice and
awkward.
Press Kits Unwrapped: The Prisoner
Ask TV Squad: Eureka, The Prisoner and more!
TV Squad Ten: Cartoon women who should have Playboy centerfolds
