Steve Martin Event Ends in Refund

Maybe they'd have been happier if he'd done the interview in the sombrero from Three Amigos? The morning after The New York Times Magazine interviewer Deborah Solomon and Steve Martin met at the 92nd Street Y to discuss the art world, which Martin wrote about in his latest novel, the Y sent an email to attendees promising to refund their $50 tickets because the event "did not meet the standard of excellence that you have come to expect." Apparently, viewers of a webcast of the event sent emails complaining that the discussion was not focusing on Martin's acting career. Solomon said she was "appalled" at the reaction, and had no idea the Y wanted her to discuss Martin's celebrity. "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," she said.