Orlando Sentinel
Eisner the interviewer
Hal Boedeker
04-24-06
Being the former boss means ‘fessing up to business mistakes. At least it does for Michael Eisner, former big cheese at Disney, during his CNBC show “Conversations With Michael Eisner.” Eisner notes a couple of his blunders, such as saturating the air with “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and passing on making “Private Benjamin,” the Goldie Hawn hit.
In the program, which can be seen at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Eisner interviews Hawn, Regis Philbin and Bette Midler.
Philbin complains to Eisner that Disney-owned ABC ruined “Millionaire” through multiple showings each week. To Philbin’s questions, Eisner finally says, “We killed the gold goose. … Can’t we be stupid?”
Not with Reeg, Mr. Eisner.
Hawn and Eisner discuss “Private Benjamin,” which became a major hit for Warner Bros. in 1980. “That was probably the biggest film you made, right?” says Eisner, sounding like a boss who would like to have the mistake back.
Midler talks about her reputation for being difficult. “I was probably difficult because I was very ambitious,” the Divine Miss M says. “And I didn’t have any other interests, which is not good … not really healthy.”
Eisner tells Midler that she wasn’t difficult when she worked at Disney. “By that time, I had been so beaten up that … I was a desperate housewife,” Midler says. “I was playing a part for real.”
Hawn also talks about seeing Kurt Russell, her future love, in 1968 on a film set. “I thought he was awful cute, but he was too young,” Hawn says. “So … two husbands later, children later … and (I’m auditioning) guys for ‘Swing Shift’ … and in walks Kurt Russell.”
It sounds as if Eisner’s interviewing is producing real insights — from his guests and from Eisner. That’s unusual in this celebrity-saturated culture.
