DANCING QUEEN: After readings by the likes of Vanessa Redgrave and Bob and Lee Woodruff, Hearst magazines president Cathie Black was introduced thusly at the Literacy Partners gala Monday: "If I had known that she was going to be such a giant, maybe I would have been nicer to her," said Liz Smith, one of the night's honorees. Bette Midler made a surprise musical appearance and tried her hand at stand-up. Referring to that night's White House state dinner, she said President Bush had "congratulated Queen Elizabeth on her Oscar win." When it was time to accept awards from the event's chair, Black, Arnold Scaasi remarked of himself and co-honoree Parker Ladd: "We have to go up together, because some newspaper said we were the cutest couple." (For the record, it was The New York Observer, and the phrase was "cute.") Black, motioning for Smith, said she had saved the best for last, and Scaasi looked exaggeratedly put out. "Are you chopped liver?" queried Smith. "What a question. Of course you are." Black saved her own best for the dance floor, where she was seen tearing it up for several songs, including "Play That Funky Music, White Boy." — I.C.
TEENS ARE ALL ALIKE: From Argentina to Turkey, it seems teens across the globe are concerned with beauty, dating and fashion, according to the topics discussed at the Seventeen International Summit last week at Hearst's New York headquarters. But how that information is packaged varies, especially when it comes to covers. Hearst gathered the editors of Seventeen's 13 international editions to discuss challenges and trends at their titles. Editors said that, for the most part, American or British celebrities work best on their covers. There were a few exceptions — Seventeen India features mostly Bollywood stars, and Seventeen Turkey was launched in June with international celebrities, but now sells more copies with local faces. Seventeen Indonesia is increasing its prom coverage, since the American tradition is growing in popularity there, and the Thailand edition recently published its first graduation issue — graduation there involves prom-like fancy hair, makeup and dresses. The meeting was the first time Seventeen editor in chief Ann Shoket met her counterparts from abroad since she took the top job in January. Will the roster of international spin-offs expand? A Seventeen spokeswoman said, "Asia and Russia are possible areas of interest for us in the future." — Stephanie D. Smith
TEENS ARE ALL ALIKE: From Argentina to Turkey, it seems teens across the globe are concerned with beauty, dating and fashion, according to the topics discussed at the Seventeen International Summit last week at Hearst's New York headquarters. But how that information is packaged varies, especially when it comes to covers. Hearst gathered the editors of Seventeen's 13 international editions to discuss challenges and trends at their titles. Editors said that, for the most part, American or British celebrities work best on their covers. There were a few exceptions — Seventeen India features mostly Bollywood stars, and Seventeen Turkey was launched in June with international celebrities, but now sells more copies with local faces. Seventeen Indonesia is increasing its prom coverage, since the American tradition is growing in popularity there, and the Thailand edition recently published its first graduation issue — graduation there involves prom-like fancy hair, makeup and dresses. The meeting was the first time Seventeen editor in chief Ann Shoket met her counterparts from abroad since she took the top job in January. Will the roster of international spin-offs expand? A Seventeen spokeswoman said, "Asia and Russia are possible areas of interest for us in the future." — Stephanie D. Smith
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