Eisner wins award, Dec 4

[Maerj]

Eisner tapped for prestigious Pioneer award

By Borys Kit

Walt Disney Co. chairman and CEO Michael Eisner will receive the Pioneer of the Year award from the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.

Phil Collins has been tapped to perform at the 65th annual gala, which will be held Dec. 4 at the Century Plaza Hotel. The evening will benefit the Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund.

"Mr. Eisner is a respected leader in the motion picture industry," foundation chairman and MGM distribution president Erik Loomis said. "We are honored to recognize him for his professional accomplishments and charitable contributions."

Eisner, who took over the reigns at Disney in 1984, joins a distinguished list of honorees, including Cecil B. DeMille, Darryl F. Zanuck, Frank Mancuso, Terry Semel, Sumner Redstone, Robert Shaye, Sherry Lansing, Robert J. Dowling, Robert Rehme and Jonathan Dolgen.

Collins has been associated with Disney on two animated features -- the 1999 animated hit "Tarzan," which earned him an Oscar for the song "You'll Be in My Heart," and the newly released Disney animated adventure, "Brother Bear," which includes six new songs and marks Collins' debut as a film score composer. Collins is working on such upcoming Disney projects as a Broadway musical adaptation of "Tarzan" and new music for a home video sequel to the film.

The Motion Picture Pioneers Assistance Fund is owned and operated by the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers. The Assistance Fund provides financial assistance to motion picture industry veterans.

[Prince Phillip]

Ewwwwwwwww! I heard about this a little while ago, but still, you hope such things never come to pass ...

[Jake Lipson]

Ten years ago, Eisner would have deserved this award, but not now. He did great things for the company from 1984-1994 with Frank Wells, and for that he should be saluted, but the guy just doesn't know when to quit.

I think he'll probably use this award as leverage in his current battle with Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold: "I won an award for my extremely successful running of this company, and under my leadership 2003 is the best year we've ever had at the box office and on home video; and ABC's ratings are up, and the park attendance is up too, and did I mention I got an award? No? Well, I got an award!" etc.

[Jack]

My reaction

[Disney Guru]

They have got to be kidding the only award that Eisner should get would be a ticket telling him to get out of the DIsney Industry Completely and go jump a cliff. Boy that sure does ruin my good day to here this news.

[PatrickvD]

My reaction

ok that was funny, thanks for the laugh

[Uncle Remus]

NO!!! Phil Collins should not be writing music for a Tarzan sequel! This movie is going to be a disaster and Phil Collins is going to feel pretty bad if this movie fails.