MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS: In a heavily scripted evening, an off-the-cuff comment stirred people up. At Tuesday's National Magazine Awards, guests at Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center were surprised to see that perennial favorite New Yorker editor in chief David Remnick came away empty-handed, despite leading with nine nominations, while New York magazine's Adam Moss ascended the stage to accept five prizes, two of which he won for the second year in a row. So it was that former Newsweek editor in chief Mark Whitaker commented from the podium, "If brown is the new black, then Adam Moss is the new David Remnick." The barb drew audible gasps and, later, critical sniping. (Said Details editor in chief Dan Peres, "Remnick is beloved, as you know. It would have been much funnier if it had been about someone we all can't stand." Another attendee likened the comment to "a fart going off in the room.") Moss said, "It's the kind of thing Mark could say because he's leaving the industry," referring to that day's announcement that Whitaker would take the number-two job at NBC News.
"Adam didn't seem to mind, but David didn't seem to have a great sense of humor about it," Whitaker admitted on Wednesday. Remnick, who reminded WWD that Moss had edited him at Esquire in the mid-Eighties, did joke, "Adam Moss is much better-looking than I am." He added, "The New Yorker has had the experience that he had last night, and I wouldn't begrudge [Moss] for a second." Later on Wednesday, Whitaker, who told WWD he had not intended offense with his unscripted comment, called Remnick to apologize and said his apology had been graciously accepted.
As for other shenanigans of the night:
-- Vanity Fair editor in chief Graydon Carter elicited winces of another sort when he accepted an award on behalf of his columnist and self-styled rabble-rouser Christopher Hitchens. He said Hitchens was writing a column about self-improvement, and after a manicure, was told waxing was next. When Hitchens asked his editor to elaborate, Carter told him, "There's something known as the back, the crack, the sack." Carter told the audience that Hitchens responded, "In for a penny, in for a pound."
"Adam didn't seem to mind, but David didn't seem to have a great sense of humor about it," Whitaker admitted on Wednesday. Remnick, who reminded WWD that Moss had edited him at Esquire in the mid-Eighties, did joke, "Adam Moss is much better-looking than I am." He added, "The New Yorker has had the experience that he had last night, and I wouldn't begrudge [Moss] for a second." Later on Wednesday, Whitaker, who told WWD he had not intended offense with his unscripted comment, called Remnick to apologize and said his apology had been graciously accepted.
As for other shenanigans of the night:
-- Vanity Fair editor in chief Graydon Carter elicited winces of another sort when he accepted an award on behalf of his columnist and self-styled rabble-rouser Christopher Hitchens. He said Hitchens was writing a column about self-improvement, and after a manicure, was told waxing was next. When Hitchens asked his editor to elaborate, Carter told him, "There's something known as the back, the crack, the sack." Carter told the audience that Hitchens responded, "In for a penny, in for a pound."
