Hijinks

In October 1986, Kurt Andersen and E. Graydon Carter, two brash, young-ish editors, unveiled a brilliant new magazine called SPY, conceived in Time Inc.'s 23rd-floor men's room (adjacent stalls) and dedicated to ridiculing Donald Trump. Twenty years later, they've collaborated once again (along with former SPY staffer George Kalogerakis) on a coffee-table book commemorating their proud achievement. Through a series of unseemly channels we'd rather not disclose, Radar managed to obtain a printed record of the formerly estranged coeditors' correspondence dating from the project's early stages. †

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From: ‘Kurt Andersen’ <kurt@studio360.org>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 07:23:00 AM
To: ‘Graydon Carter’ <gcarter@vanityfair.com>
Subject: (no subject)

Graystoke:
I hope this note finds you well (or finds you at all; I know your stance on electronic mail but can’t seem to reach you by phone).

I’m sure you can guess my reason for contacting you: George Koliggerakis has been pestering me about the idea of doing a best–of–SPY book, and I imagine he’s approached you as well. He’s gum on the shoe, I know, but I actually think he might be onto something. Maybe we can call it, "SPY: The Only Decent Magazine to Be Published in the Last Half Century." Could be fun, no? My agent, Suzanne, has been talking with Harvey’s people about remuneration. Will keep you apprised.
Your brother in arms,
–Kurt

P.S. Sending you an early draft of my new fiction manuscript. Enjoy!

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From: ‘Kurt Andersen’ <kurt@studio360.org>
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 11:06:00 AM
To: ‘Graydon Carter’ <gcarter@vanityfair.com>
Subject: Spy Book

G–Money:
Just following up with you re: SPY book. What do you make of Kaligorarkos’s Big Idea? The title still needs work. Perhaps something like, “SPY: Chicken Soup For The Mind,” or “SPY: Brain Nuggets for the Smart Set”? Just seeing what sticks. Let me know as soon as humanly possible.
All the best,
–Kurt

P.S. Did you get that draft of my new novel? Would love your thoughts...

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From: ‘Kurt Andersen’ <kurt@studio360.org>
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 06:26:00 AM
To: ‘Graydon Carter’ <gcarter@vanityfair.com>
Subject: spy

Graydon:
ARE YOU GETTING THESE???
George tells me he’s yet to hear back from you about the book, which we’re now calling, “SPY: The Thinking Man’s ‘80s.” (Speak now, old friend.) By the way, I’d like to include ‘91, the year I put out the magazine on my own (rather successfully, I might add). I’m forever being told it’s when we really hit our stride. (Kidding!)
Thoughts?
–Kurt

P.S. Still awaiting your notes on my latest fiction effort, which I sent over weeks ago. Be gentle :)

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From: ‘Kurt Andersen’ <kurt@studio360.org>
Date: Mon, 14 May 06:26:00 AM
To: ‘Graydon Carter’ <gcarter@vanityfair.com>
Subject: $py Book

Graydon:
How can I put this delicately? Kalloragikis said he’s going to “rip your fucking wings off” if you don’t get back to him about this book deal.

Granted, he was shitfaced at the time. So much so that he held forth at great length (and volume) about a rumor that Fran Lebowitz is going to be on your “Best Dressed List.” Can you imagine? Fran Lebowitz? I said, “Condi Rice has a better chance of making it!” George was in old form—before publicly lamenting the loss of your mind, he managed to capture Fran’s unique sartorial constitution in a brilliantly SPY–esque phrase: I believe it was “frizzled dyke–mortician meets Chauncey Gardner.” Didn’t have the heart to stop him.

Anyway: the book. I’m told George just needs your sign-off. Word from Miramax is we have a definite green light. And before I forget: Caught a few minutes of Alfie the other night on TBS. You’re a natural! And looking very slim. I know you’re a busy man these days, acting career aside, so if you prefer, I can just write up a quickie intro for the book and send it over for your okay. Don’t worry, I don’t mind sharing a byline.
–Kurt

P.S. If you need me to send over another copy of my manuscript, just say the word.

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From: ‘Kurt Andersen’ <kurt@studio360.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 08:37:00 AM
To: ‘Graydon Carter’ <gcarter@vanityfair.com>
Subject: $$$$$$$

Graydon,
Call me naïve, but I actually thought you’d be eager to help with this project, given how you left me at the proverbial altar (holding not flowers, but the unedited musings of Bruce Handy on Driving Miss Daisy). Bygones, of course.

And while VF is undoubtedly a big accomplishment for you—putting Aniston on the cover this month was, admittedly, a masterstroke—SPY was something altogether different; an entire order of magnitude more brilliant, daring, and visionary than either of us, or anyone for that matter, has done since. (Yes, including Studio 360—though our upcoming episode unpacking the meaning of grounded–ness, with special guest Lyle Lovett, is a rather heady audio brew.)

SPY was special. SPY was genius. SPY was sui generis. (Sorry for the Latin—I keep forgetting you never graduated.) It was, I daresay, the most influential journalistic endeavor of the past 50—100?—years; the philosopher’s stone of magazine publishing. This book is not only an essential gift to the world—given the journalistic heights to which we’ve since ascended—but also a matter of profound historical responsibility.

But protecting and burnishing SPY’s legacy is only part of it; I’m really more concerned about George. I should think you’d have the humanity to respond to his many pleas for help. You know he’s been making ends meet doing travel guides.

Graydon, I promise you won’t have to do a damn thing.

And here’s the kicker: Harvey is offering us $800,000. I’ve done the math and it works out like so: You and I are responsible for a 4,000–word introduction and, as they envision it, about 2,000 words worth of “editors’ notes.” That’s $133 a word—or $2000 a sentence. Of course, that’s not counting George’s fee.
–Kurt

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From: ‘Leigh’ <Assistant2@vanityfair.com>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 09:31:00 AM
To: ‘Kurt Andersen’ <kurt@studio360.org>
Subject: Re: $$$$$$$

Dear Mr. Andersen,
Graydon says to tell you that he received your messages and hopes to follow up with you at his earliest convenience. You’ll also be glad to know that he seemed very excited about this last email. He also asked me to mention that the reason he didn’t reply sooner is that he didn’t have your proper contact info. I reminded him you weren’t at New York magazine anymore. But we also have a number for you at something called Inside.com that’s been disconnected. Are you at Colors now? I must say, the “Refuse Issue” is very popular here—a copy has been making the rounds at the office for as long as I can remember.

Graydon is in Cap d’Antibes and wants to know if you are in the neighborhood as he is throwing a little party at Eden Roc this evening beginning promptly at 7 p.m. and would be honored by your attendance. (Dress: Riviera Tartan.)

In addition, he wanted me to ask you, what’s Studio 360? Did you mean Studio 54?
Sincerely yours,
Leigh

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From: ‘Kurt Andersen’ <kurt@studio360.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 09:39:00 AM
To: ‘Leigh’ <Assistant2@vanityfair.com>
Subject: The Studio 360 Story

Dear Leigh,
Recently nominated for its third NURBY (an annual award created by the National Union of Radio Broadcasters to honor the very finest in freeform radio programming), Studio 360 (the name of which is meant to harken back, somewhat winkingly, to the Golden Age of radio broadcasting, which may well predate you) is a wide–ranging and deliriously cerebral weekly exploration of ideas‚ which airs on more than 154 NPR–affiliated stations and is heard by as many as 72,000 incredibly devoted listeners.

Here’s a link to our website—http:///www.studio360.org—featuring streaming audio of a recent segment, “Making Sense of Scents,” which sought to illuminate the very meaning of odor itself from a variety of perspectives—sociocultural, enviro–political, psycho–philosophical—with our very special guests the Indigo Girls.

You seem like an unusually intelligent young woman, Leigh, and I’d be very curious to know what you think of the program. By the way, thank Graydon for the invitation but I’ll have to beg off as I’m hosting what Moby has taken to calling “The Wine Slam,” a delightful, fortnightly evening of vino and poetry at my home, with avant–garde playwright Richard Foreman (who makes a delicious organic wheat germ bunt loaf) and Guy Laliberté of Cirque du Soleil. Dick and I nicknamed it “Wi–Po,” which drives Moby nuts. You must attend sometime!

All Best,
–Kurt

P.S. I sent your office an early copy of my new novel a while ago. Can you make sure Graydon sees it?

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