Barry Diller

The Barry Diller Story: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Entertainment Mogul
$24.95
Ok, for a business history of mergers, deals, movies, cable channels and so forth. It does give some glimpse into Diller's Jewish background and childhood, as well as, the vulgar and occasionally violent way he assaults his employees. However, it barely mentions his co-leadership of the notorious Velvet Mafia. Biographers of David Geffen, the long-time "associate" of Diller, are more forthcoming. Stephen Singular in "The Rise and Rise of David Geffen" discusses the Velvet Mafia and its bisexual media mogul leaders including Diller and Geffen. Tom King's "The Operator" flatly states the gay preference of Barry Diller. George Mair's book is well worth reading as is his biography of Si Newhouse, "Newhouse."

Charlie Rose with Barry Diller; Lesley Stahl (February 10, 1999)
$24.95
USA Networks Chairman and CEO Barry Diller discusses his merger with Lycos, the synergy between television, branding, and the internet, management strategies and the future of e-commerce. Then, Lesley Stahl discusses her new book Reporting Live, her career in journalism, and her personal priorities.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Boy Did I Get a Wrong Number [VHS]
$19.98
The three Bob Hope/Phyllis Diller comedies made in the mid 1960's, ie "Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number", "Eight On The Lam", and "The Private Navy Of Sgt. O'Farrell", despite being blasted by the "critics", have always been great favourites of mine since I was a child. The crazy duo of Hope and Diller at first glance might appear mismatched as screen personalities however in their movies together they always manage to produce comic magic in my belief. As a clear sign of the very real chemistry between the pair you only have to witness any scene they share in this particular film to see the screen literally light up, as they go through their verbal and physical highjinks together. Never a romantic couple on screen their main trademark was an hilarious banter sprinkled with critical barbs that were ping ponged back and forward between them. Their first effort together in 1966's "Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number", is my favourite of their three films and is a fun filled crazy romp filled with hilarious lines, innocent (for nowadays) sexual innuendo, great physical comedy performed by both Hope and Diller, with all ending up in the expected zany car chase that seemingly no 1960's comedy could be without. Bob Hope was a shrewd manager of his career and clearly saw how movies were changing by the mid 1960's and obviously realised how attuned Phyllis Diller's broad style of comedy and wisecracking was with the comic films of that decade. She was a natural for films such as "Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number", and she has a comic field day here as the unorthodox (of course!) housekeeper Lily, trading insults with Hope, listening in to private phone conversations while registering hilarious facial expressions, riding a motorbike, and doing great physical stunts involving her "household duties".

Never to be taken seriously for one moment, films such as "Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number", are sadly nowadays largely a thing of the past. I doubt very much whether Bob Hope's quipping and one liners and Phyllis Diller's crazy antics would find an appreciative audience among today's jaded younger movie goers but they are still good for the soul in these depressing times. A total escape is what many of us often look for in movies and "Boy Did I Get A Wrong Number", made just before the close of the age of movie innocence is still guaranteed to lift your spirits and definately tickle the funny bone. Enjoy!

60 Minutes - Barry Diller (June 10, 2007)
$17.95