I say: "Serves 'em right... Suckers!"

OK. So, have you heard the recent scandal on the Upper East Side of Manhattan? The 92nd Street Y hosted a public conversation with Steve Martin Nov. 29th and, apparently he was so dull that they've now decided to offer a refund to all 900 audience members. (You heard me!)

Here's the deal, kids. We live in a celebrity-obsessed culture, so much so that people will fork over fifty bucks just to sit and listen to anyone who's famous chat. The problem is, if you're bored enough to go for this sort of "talk-show-tainment" then you ought to be ready to suffer the consequences when the celebrity you've chosen is having a bad day. A dull day. A quiet, introspective day.

Steve Martin is a comic actor and writer. But maybe he just wasn't feeling funny. And if he and Deborah Solomon wanted to discuss Art and 900 people were desperate enough to pay to sit in a room with them while they did so, that's their problem.  No? Here's a priceless quote from Executive Director Sol Adler on the whole snafu:

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.

You gotta be kidding me? Really? Now, I've heard everything.

Full story here.