The Press Box Graydon Carter on ‘Vanity Fair,’ ‘Spy,’ and the Glorious Excess of the Magazine Era
29 snips
Mar 24, 2025 
Graydon Carter, former editor of Vanity Fair and Spy Magazine, joins the conversation with his sharp wit and insights. He shares the backstory of Spy Magazine's satirical edge and the heavy impact it had on its targets. They discuss his complex perception of Donald Trump and speculate whether Spy could thrive today. Carter also recounts landing the explosive 'Deep Throat' story and the glamorous Vanity Fair Oscar Party, while reflecting on what we've lost since the magazine era, revealing the unique era of print journalism.
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Spy's Genesis
- Graydon Carter and Kurt Andersen, both writers, launched Spy Magazine in 1986.
- New York City's post-bankruptcy era provided fertile ground for Spy's satirical take on the city's nouveau riche.
Tina Brown Letter
- Obtaining Tina Brown's letter to Mike Ovitz was a coup for Spy.
- The annotated letter, published in Spy, highlighted Brown's perceived fawning over powerful figures.
Spy's Targets
- Spy targeted figures like Abe Rosenthal and Shirley Lord.
- Lally Weymouth remains unforgiving, while others eventually forgave Carter's satirical jabs.
