Ooooo boy, did Michael Eisner just take a beating. So you know that Disney shareholders' meeting was today, right? And you know all about how departed directors Stan Gold and Roy Disney (yes relation) have been calling for investors to withhold their votes for Eisner's reelection to the board in order to send a message that he should step down? And you're no doubt aware that analysts were saying a 20% withholding would be a serious vote of no confidence in Eisner, while Stan 'n' Roy were hoping for 30%? Well, someone toss Eisner a parachute and a fire extinguisher, because he appears to be going down in flames; faithful viewer Jonathan was first to point out that anti-Eisner votes (well, really, the absence of pro-Eisner votes, but you get the point) hit a staggering 43%, which, according to the New York Times, Stan Gold called "an unprecedented vote of no confidence."

We're guessing that somebody needs a hug right about now.

So what does this mean in the context of the Disney-Pixar Conspiracy Theory™, the gist of which is that Steve Jobs (known to be buddy-buddy with Roy Disney) ended contract negotiations with Eisner and deprived Disney of billions of dollars in future revenues solely in order to help Roy foment anti-Eisner sentiment among the stockholders? Well, adherents to this theory are generally split into three distinct camps: those who believe Steve did it to clear the CEO position and take Eisner's place; those who think he did it in exchange for a promise of better terms in a post-Eisnerian Disney-Pixar contract; and those who figure he did it solely to screw with Eisner because he thinks the guy's a big ol' jerk. And now that Disney's board-- filled with Eisner lackeys though it may be-- can't possibly refuse to ask for Eisner's resignation without inciting mass shareholder riots, well, we figure the guy has to step down soon. Then we can see if the "Jobs as CEO of Disney" contingent were right.

Meanwhile, the evidence of Jobs's role in an anti-Eisner conspiracy continues to mount. Faithful viewer wavdancr noted that, on the eve of the big vote, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Roy Disney had stated that if Eisner steps down, "Pixar Animation Studios could have a new deal with Disney 'in a matter of weeks.'" (Ladies and gentlemen: in tonight's performance, the role of "Carrot on a Stick" will be played by Pixar. Thank you.) And folks in the "Jobs as CEO" camp are no doubt smiling knowingly at the comments of "veteran entertainment industry headhunter" Brad Marks: "Steve Jobs has already proven that it doesn't seem to matter what industry he's running a company in: He's been very effective in every regard. He could fit in very well."

We'll see-- maybe. At broadcast time, faithful viewer Elliott noted that Reuters was reporting that the board's only move so far has been to split the roles of CEO and chairman into two separate posts and replace Eisner with George Mitchell as chairman; unbelievably, Eisner's still CEO, and the party line is that the board is "confident in the company's senior management and strategic direction." Mmmm-hmm. Too bad so many of the shareholders don't agree. And seeing as new chairman Mitchell himself received a 20% "no confidence" vote today for being little more than an Eisnerian puppet, maybe it's time to steer clear of this whole thing until the riot gas clears and the rubber bullets stop flying. How do you suppose Mickey looks in riot gear?