Help me find a classic Spy Magazine Article

September 20, 2006 1:18 PM

I am looking for an article from Spy Magazine about America's colorful track record with politically appointed ambassadors. The title set the tone nicely--something along the lines of: "Hey Jambo, Does Anyone Here Speak American?"

Google turned up a reference to it in the December 1991 issue, that may or may not be the correct date. [BTW, if you find it, be sure to read it--it's hilarious.]

posted by Phred182 to Writing & Language (6 answers total)

Ah, good old SPY. I suspect I have this issue at home. Are you looking for an online copy to read? Or just confirmation that it is in fact in Dec. 1991 issue?
posted by GaelFC at 1:52 PM on September 20, 2006

You probably want to get in touch with this guy or hunt around in the index there. It doesn't look like he's done December 1991, and I'm not up for a scavenger hunt, but perhaps you are? If you could link to the Google search that convinced you it was 12/91, that might help other searchers.
posted by jessamyn at 5:52 PM on September 20, 2006

Well, I just paged carefully through my Dec. 1991 issue (with Pee Wee Herman and Clarence Thomas sitting together in a movie theater on the cover!) and don't see it. I do remember the article. It's probably in an issue I have, so if you get any more clues, I can check through other issues. It's just a bit much to page through every single issue I own.
posted by GaelFC at 9:13 PM on September 20, 2006

I just checked through my almost-but-not-quite-complete collection of SPY from 1991-93, and I couldn't find it. I think I might have loaned a few issues to my boyfriend, though (he wanted to read their article on Jerry Lewis's "The Day the Clown Cried"), so I may be able to track it down yet. The article title definitely rings a bell.
posted by scody at 11:14 PM on September 20, 2006

Response by poster: First of all, how cool. Thanks for your responses. I will try to get a better date. [I gave away my Spys last year.] I am up for a scavenger hunt, Jessamyn, and thanks for letting me know that site was back in business.

Still interested in ambassadorial misconduct, even if it's not presentend with early 90s irony--probably should have broadened the question.

Thank you GaelFC and scody for your meatspace efforts. Maybe we can wait for the book.
posted by Phred182 at 5:30 AM on September 21, 2006

I write (or wrote ) Ten Years Ago in Spy and I don’t remember that article. I do remember some other article on ambassadors.

Somebody work up an index! (Somebody other than me.)
posted by joeclark at 5:37 AM on September 21, 2006