Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
This is odd.
Famed New York cultural and community center The 92nd Street Y is offering full refunds and an apology to all those who attended a recent interview with comedian, novelist, movie star, and all-around legend Steve Martin. What did he do? Spit at the audience? Fall asleep in the middle of the interview? Drop an insulting reference to Alice Walker?
Nope. He just wasn't funny enough.
Martin and his interviewer, Deborah Solomon (a writer for The New York Times Magazine), made the mistake of talking more about art than about comedy, and the Y's audience apparently took a dim view of that choice -- although one might reasonably expect an audience of New Yorkers who have the inclination, let alone the discretionary income, to spend fifty bucks on an evening at the 92nd Street Y to have even a manqué's interest in the subject of art. Particularly when the interviewee is a well-known art collector who has just come out with a new novel about...art.
Apparently, viewers watching the conversation via closed-circuit TV around the country sent in a flurry of emails complaining that the conversation was too art-focused (read: boring). A note was duly handed to the interviewer to get onto the comedy, stat. (Martin later said that this was “a little like an actor responding in Act III to an audience’s texts to ‘shorten the soliloquies.’ ”) Solomon gave the audience a chance to address Martin directly, and he politely fielded about seven questions from the floor about his film and TV career. Neither Solomon nor Martin knew they had disgraced the Y until after the fact, when Sol Adler, the center's executive director, sent out the following message to ticket-holders:
We acknowledge that last night’s event with Steve Martin did not meet the standard of excellence that you have come to expect from 92nd St. Y. We planned for a more comprehensive discussion and we, too, were disappointed with the evening. We will be mailing you a $50 certificate for each ticket you purchased to last night’s event. The gift certificate can be used toward future 92Y events, pending availability.
Solomon is peeved. Yesterday, she said:
Frankly, you would think that an audience in New York, at the 92nd Street Y, would be interested in hearing about art and artists. I had no idea that the Y programmers wanted me to talk to Steve instead on what it’s like to host the Oscars or appear in ‘It’s Complicated’ with Alec Baldwin. I think the Y, which is supposedly a champion of the arts, has behaved very crassly and is reinforcing the most philistine aspects of a culture that values celebrity and award shows over art.
See, that's the thing, though. Martin sold the place out because our culture, even highbrow New York arty culture, values celebrity (and juicy stories about same; the more the better). It was probably a little silly to pretend that it didn't. But going so far as to refund the tickets?
Martin himself, who is surely the classiest guy ever to appear regularly in public with a fake arrow through his head, called the refund "discourteous," but beyond that doesn't seem particularly bothered. (He pointed out that “As for the Y’s standard of excellence, it can’t be that high because this is the second time I’ve appeared there.”)
I don't know. On the one hand, there's something refreshing about a bunch of allegedly art-loving New Yorkers admitting they'd rather be amused than edified. On the other hand, when you buy a ticket to something, you risk not liking it. It happens. In fact, unless I'm much mistaken, it happens all the time. This episode strikes me as a weird new strain of pandering and a bit of a dodgy precedent at that.
Although I'd love my ten bucks back for There Will Be Blood.
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Sep '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!
May '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Oh, for Pete's sake. What's he supposed to do? Wear his arrow-through-the-head and sing "King Tut"?
Sep '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
I like Steve's line the best:
Martin later said that this was “a little like an actor responding in Act III to an audience’s texts to ‘shorten the soliloquies.’ ”
Jul '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Unless the signage clearly indicated otherwise, the assumption is that a Steve Martin appearance will be a comedic performance. Even if the signage indicated otherwise but fell short of a "not comedy" disclaimer, then Steve Martin's trade in the agora is comedy and comedy is the reasonable expectation. (Sorry, found some Donald Kagan pod casts. He says very nice things repeatedly about VDH, by the by.)
As for your movie refund, normally a theater will only entertain such a notion early in the showing, how early varying according to house rules. Any reasonable refund request after that will usually require that you rent a TARDIS. Please note, the Time Lords do not accept food stamps or fiat currencies.
Jul '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Double post.
Edited on Dec 2, 2010 at 3:12amNov '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Hypocrisy is at work here, too. Steve Martin deserved an Oscar for Roxanne (1987), but did not get it because he is, you know, only a comedian — not a "real" actor. The highbrow crowd punished Martin, then, for being a comedian, but turned right around and insisted he play the comedian for the interview.
I am beginning to notice that the Left enforces a sort of "cultural caste system." They like Steve Martin as a funny man, but, if he "rises above that," so to speak, and makes a mark as a serious actor (or author, for that matter), not only will they not acknowledge it, they will get downright peeved about it.
The mentality of the plantation overseer is deeply entrenched in the Liberal Mind
Sep '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
The mentality of the plantation overseer is deeply entrenched in the Liberal Mind
I think they liked him best in his movie The Jerk.
May '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Anybody else have the strong urge to hear this "boring" interview? Rob Long, is there any way your people could talk to Steve Martin's people so we could get a copy of the audio and make it into a podcast? Bet there are elements of the interview that could start a lively Rico discussion.
To take this thinking further, I don't know Steve Martin's political preferences, but whatever direction he leans wouldn't he be a fascinating guest contributor? What better place to have a civil, intelligent, respectful discussion than right here? And he doesn't even have to be funny unless he wants to be. You never know, he might just go for it. Never know unless you ask...
Aug '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Steve Martin would be a great moderator for a discussion based on the thread from yesterday about " Contemporary Artists that Don't Suck By Trying to Rub Agendas In Your Face" . He is, after all, one of the country's top collector of same . Lady K hits the nail on the head with her plantation allusion. Darnedest bunch of spoiled people ever with adult privilege. Perfect place for adult discourse about liberal dissatisfaction with contemporary criticism is probably Katrina vandenHeuvel 's salon. I heard it seats 8. Back to Martin , give him a chance to get mugged by these libs one more time and he'll turn conservative. I saw Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, the first of many times , in Paris which was perfect because we could smoke and drink beer and laugh 15 seconds before the crowd read their subtitles. Thank you Steve for the adjustments. Rachel, any chance of a TSA posting ?
Edited on Dec 2, 2010 at 2:44pmOct '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Perhaps a shade off topic, but relevant to my tangentially tracking brain. Every time I am unfortunate enough to catch a moment of popular television programing, particularly of the "edgy" and "hip" comedic variety, I scratch my head in wonder that these actors and producers and directors are the same people calling Americans out for lack of sophistication. How is that possible? If the shows are intended as a parody on our culture, then why is it that the only real people the characters resemble are the fashionistas who consider themselves above that culture?
Aug '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
It is a shame. His dramatic work is quite good, if less well-known. Pennies From Heaven. The Spanish Prisoner. Shopgirl. These are all really great movies.
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Steve Martin is a serious guy! Even his autobiographical book on COMEDY is serious. A fabulous book on tape, which he reads himself, laying out a true embodiment of an example of Malcom Gladwell's "Outlier" theory: Ten years of engineer-like reworking his comedy in clubs (10,000 hours) plus timing (he lived near newly opened Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm where he was able to learn magic and stagecraft) made him the "wild and crazy guy." Which he certainly isn't.
He is truly a renaissance man...art collector, novelist, playwright and comic genius. (If you haven't watched The Great Flydini you've missed out.) And I would be happy to watch him pick navel lint. Although the times I've encountered him in LA settings he's seemed very unapproachable.
As a Los Angeleno what I take away from the Y's "misstep" is actually quite wonderful: New Yorkers think they corner the market on high-brow, but what they really want is the arrow through the head. I can tell you Martin could have talked art at Bergamont Station in Santa Monica for hours and no one would have asked for a refund.
Aug '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
That a bunch of New Yorkers got their money back after a performance failed to live up to their expectations doesn't shock me: it's New York, innit?
I can see how going to an interview of a funny man who turns all serious on you could be pretty disappointing. Laughter is important, and New Yorkers could probably use a good laugh more than most.
Edited on Dec 2, 2010 at 9:07amRe: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
This is a troubling trend. And I'm furious with the Y for allowing the concept of a "refund" for an experience the audience didn't enjoy to take hold. The entire entertainment industry -- which is the only place I've worked in my entire life; it's the only thing I know; I have zero other skills to support my sad little existence -- is based on two bedrock principles: 1) get the money from the audience up front, and 2) no refunds.
Oct '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
I feel sorry for Mr. Martin, trying to be himself and talk about things that interest him and the audience tries to shove him back into his typecast box.
From an old episode of the Simpsons: Homer is out to watch Bachman Turner Overdrive at a state fair. They start introducing themselved and saying they are going to play a few songs from their new album and Homer interrupts:
"Oh No! No talking, no new crap, Taking Care of Business! NOW!"
After they meekly comply and start the song, he interrupts again:
"Skip to the working overtime part!"
That is this audience and Steve Martin. Or at least what they wanted to say..."Hold it right there Steve! No art, no talking! Say you're a wild and crazy guy! SAY IT! Then sing King Tut!"
Edited on Dec 2, 2010 at 9:42amSep '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Steve should sue the city of New York; everyone else is.
Aug '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
I had something witty and incisive that I was going to ad to the conversation, but then Denise Moss wrote a parallel of my thoughts in her post.
So, I'll just say ditto to what she wrote.
Nov '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
these libs one more time and he'll turn conservative.
Steve Martin is obviously one of the Smartest Guys on Earth — more intelligent, say, than anyone at The New York Times. So is Robin Williams. Together, Martin and Williams acted in a brilliant production of Mike Nichol's Waiting For Godot (which is not even mentioned in the "Production History" at the play's Wikipedia entry). Seriously, can you think of a better duo for Waiting For Godot?
In my gut, I strongly suspect that Martin and Williams are probably a tad more conservative than we think. If you scratched them deeply enough, you might even find a grudging respect for the Tea Party.
They are smart guys. How liberal can they really be?
Nov '10
Re: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Or, as the old saying goes, "You pays your money, and you takes your chances."
Back in the days of vaudeville and the music hall, people simply accepted the fact that some acts were going to bomb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_Sisters
But the audience was happy to go without a refund as long as they could express their disapproval with an occasional barrage of rotten produce.
Edited on Dec 2, 2010 at 12:16pmRe: Okay, Then I Want a Refund for the Last Eleven Big-Budget Movies I've Sat Through
Denise Moss:
He is truly a renaissance man...art collector, novelist, playwright and comic genius.
Don't forget bluegrass banjo player