Excellent LATimes Letter to the Editor in response to Disney's banishment of all Walt-era material from the Disney Channel:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-letters8sep08.story

quick quote:

>>In the last few years, they have been alienating the very audience that loves their products most, and probably contributes the most to Disney's bottom line--adult Disney fans. The ones who spend
tens of thousands of dollars on Disney weddings, Disney home furnishings, Disney vacations and
even Disney time-shares.

As Eisner & Co. wring their hands over ABC's decline, they are neglecting the core Disney
businesses and letting it be run by people who insist that "Disney" equals "kids."

Disney is not a kiddie company. It is in the business of family entertainment. Frank Wells and
Jeffrey Katzenberg seemed to understand that in the late '80s and early '90s; the one who apparently
does not understand that is the last remaining member of that triumvirate.

Disney seems intent on alienating grown-ups. And they seem to be succeeding.<<

I believe that Wells' heart was in the right place, but Katzenberg? After reading your story about feature animation, MJ, I'm not so sure. Care to shed some light on that observation?

>>I believe that Wells' heart was in the right place, but Katzenberg? After reading your story about feature animation, MJ, I'm not so sure. Care to shed some light on that observation?<<

My opinion: Type-A personality, obsessive opportunist cut from the same general cloth as his mentors (Eisner and Diller), but perhaps more shrewd in his gut reactions of what would work with audiences (within the confines of his taste), able to contribute more effectively in hands-on creative supervision (through trial and error, if not vision), and smoother at political/talent relations (when deemed useful short term). Seems to be more quality product oriented (define quality, though...).