Eisner's Before Bypass: "... Would Chose Diller"



The New York Times reports today (link via Drudgereport) that embattled Disney CEO Michael Eisner would have chosen Barry Diller to succeed him as he was going into bypass surgery back in 1994.

Laura M. Holson writes:

"As Michael D. Eisner, the chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, was being wheeled into an operating room for quadruple bypass surgery in July 1994, he called his wife, Jane, to his side and requested three things. First, she should not build a new house. Second, he wanted to be interred above ground. And third, she should tell Disney's board that if he died he should be succeeded by one of his two powerful Hollywood friends: Barry Diller or Michael Ovitz."

But, as always, there are doubts, continues Holson:

"Even in endorsing Mr. Ovitz and Mr. Diller, Mr. Eisner had reservations. Of Mr. Ovitz, once one of Hollywood's most powerful agents, Mr. Eisner wrote that he was a family man, motivated but 'somewhat untested.' Mr. Eisner said that Mr. Diller, his boss at Paramount Pictures in the 1970's, was smarter, more ethical and, although unmarried, would 'adopt to family values quicker' than Fred MacMurray, referring to the actor who played the single father in the 1960's television comedy, 'My Three Sons.'

"'Maybe I would choose Diller,' Mr. Eisner wrote. 'I don't know. I do know there is nobody else.'"
How very Hamlet-like Michael Eisner appears, when faced with the prospect his own mortality. But then, don't we all? As Augustine said, "Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos. " Even alpha male Bill Clinton, when faced with a bypass of his own, was reduced to Semon on the Mount-like humility, according to, the The Good Book,The National Enquirer:

"Bill Clinton made a stunning confession to his wife Hillary as he was hospitalized for chest pains and told he needed life-saving surgery.

"'I've made terrible mistakes, being unfaithful, but I love you and you're going to see a whole new Bill,' he told Hillary, according to an insider."

Of course it must be duly noted that Diller is now quite married, to hot international designer Diane Von Furstenberg, which may or may not strengthen his prospects after a decade.

And on those ten showbiz years (how does one translate showbiz Mouse years into human years? The Corsair, your modern-day media Hamlet asks):

"... A Disney spokeswoman, Zenia Mucha, said in a statement, 'This is a decade-old confidential memo from the C.E.O. in the wake of the serious medical condition outlining his qualifications for a successor.'"

And what is Hollywood without the sex?

"In the memo, Mr. Eisner also worried that his executive team had grown stagnant, and said he wanted to reshuffle Disney's executive suites. 'The seven-year itch is not only sexual,' he wrote. 'It is business sexual.'"

Is that anything like a Metrosexual? Explain, Eisner -- explain:

"His memo went on to say: 'People not excited by their wives get in trouble. So do businessmen and women who are bored. They become lazy, dangerous, egocentric, cocky and stupid. That is why we are doing what we are doing.'"

A September 16th Businessweek story muses:

"The board should ignore Eisner's (ed note: two year) schedule, plan an earlier departure, and begin a search for his replacement with or without Eisner's involvement. That doesn't mean Eisner's chosen successor, Disney President Robert Iger, shouldn't be considered. Though a strong No. 2, he has been tarred with ABC's lousy performance. To make the best choice, the board must hire an executive search firm and cast a wide net. Former Disneyites such as Gap (GPS ) CEO Paul S. Pressler and eBay (EBAY ) CEO Margaret C. Whitman are possibilities, as is News Corp President Peter Chernin. None of those top-flight outsiders will consider the job, however, if they think Eisner will continue to lurk for another 24 months."

The plot thickens. But, it appears, Diller is not interested as, just yesterday, he rejected the The Old Gray Lady's proposition:

"Q. The C.E.O. spot at Disney looks to be coming open. Would you consider the job?

"A. The fastest 'no.' The entertainment business hasn't had a new idea in years."

Sweet Barry, interactive mogul and principled enemy of media consolidation -- how about a slower no and an option to reconsider?