GUEST BELI-BLOGGER LEE MCD: TURN THE PAGE: ONE AT A TIME

I recently renewed my subscription to Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. I practically feel rejuvenated each month as I receive my copy - not because of the quality of the writing, or the focus of the photography, or the editorial decisions about the cover interview or other content. Rather, it is because of the fresh, crisp, clean, and page-turning style of the magazine's content and design. The articles consist of interviews with media, tv, film, fashion, and other celebrities - all conducted by other celebrities or one of Interview's editors, like the fabulous Ingrid Sischy.

And the best part of it? Almost without exception, each interview begins and ends on the same page or the same 2-page spread. Or, it will continue on to the next page - not some random page in the back of the issue. In other words, there are no "jumps," for those of you familiar with publishing jargon. I can read the entire magazine, literally, from beginning to end. THAT is what I really love about it. Maybe I'm just obsessively particular, but I like that about this magazine. It's a whole lot better than having to find the concluding paragraph(s) from a selection of about 6 or 8 on one of the back or middle pages. And to show you just how obsessive I can be: before I read ANY magazine, I remove all the "rip cards:" the advertising inserts and subscription cards. Here's to good reading!

The public is fascinated with fame, grasping any old fleeting and tenuous degree of "intimacy" with famous people. Though Rolling Stone, GQ, Playboy, Vanity Fair, US, and People magazine have for many years featured in-depth interviews with persons of notariety, "interview only" magazines seem to be a recent development. I was vaguely wondering why I have not seen any recent issues of TALK MAGAZINE at the neighborhood Barnes & Noble. The answer, it seems, is that 1) The Magazine was too bold, unlike LIFE and LOOK in their respective heyday, and 2) They were a shill for Miramax. (http://www.salon.com/media/feature/1999/12/02/tina_brown/index.html), (http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/jan02/jan21/2_tues/news1tuesday.html)

There is an obvious parallel between the proliferation and mutation of reality TV and Interview based magazines. One can visualize editors and publishers discussing magazine ideas over martinis and canapes (I've always wanted to use the word "canape") "Hey, since TALK failed, and they actually used professional interviewers and writers, let's use other celebrities. We'll also keep it short and concise - the bottom left column will never bear the words "continued on page. . ." F*%K objectivity, we'll stage interviews where the interviewer is biased. David Furnish (www.davidfurnish.com) and Nicole Kidman? Ron Howard by Jim Carrey? If sales are flat, then they can get creative. How about Rush Limbaugh by Donovan McNabb? Or combative: Puffy Combs by Ben Affleck, Marilyn Manson by Tipper Gore and Michael Moore by Charlton Heston would increase circulaton exponentially. As long as the participants are of they type pitted in oppostion on MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch, the pictures are still in color, on glossy paper, and the inserts are easily removed by a robust shake of the magazine's spine, Interview can expect a steep and rising circulation curve. I immediately requested a subscription online (Lee, be sure to send Mikal his spiff for generating a subscription via the link from belicove.com. . .LOL)

Note: Bowling for Columbine is a great movie, in spite of Michael Moore. I liked it, and I'm a right wing pro gun nut.

Thanks, Will. But just so you know, Interview has been around since the late 70's, I think. Andy Warhol started the magazine and it holds true to his vision. I like your idea of Celebrity Deathmatch-type interviews. Maybe I'll email Ingrid with the suggestion.