How Jeremy Murphy’s Latest Book Redefines Media Commentary

Author Jeremy Murphy’s second book, Too Good to Fact Check: Flying the Skies with Stars, Scotch and Scandal is turning heads, and soon pages, with delicious, never-heard-before anecdotes about the celebrities he flew with around the world as the head of the now-defunct magazine, Watch! As its editor-in-chief, Murphy brought Neil Patrick Harris aboard the Orient-Express train from Venice to Paris; “Good Wife” star Julianna Margulies to the vaunted Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in the Cote d’Azur; “Mentalist” hottie Simon Baker back home to Sydney; and dozens of other stars to destinations as far as China, South Africa, Chile, even Bora-Bora. Each experience is detailed with self-deprecating humor and farce in the semi-auto biographical tome, out now at Post Hill Press . The stories seem too good to be true, which is the irony: Murphy spent months confirming each incident with co-writer Sophia Paulmier. What could not be verified was left as a blind item.

Park talked with Murphy in-depth about the decadent decade he spent circling the globe with celebrities, and the drain with his liver.

Park: What’s the Warhol connection?

Jeremy: It’s a three-degrees from Kevin Bacon kind of thing. Andy drew the famous banana cover used on the album The Velvet Underground and Nico. My mom grew up with the band’s drummer, Mo Tucker, who I’ve known since I was a kid. Years later, I got hired at Mediaweek to cover local TV, an editor next to my cubicle happened to be a fan. I wanted to impress her so I got Mo to sign a copy of the album.

Park: Tell us more about the turkey sandwiches and Fran Lebowitz.

Jeremy: It was endearing; I hired her to do a Q&A at a salon we held for advertisers, and the only thing she asked for was a sandwich and ride to and from the event. Despite being known as a curmudgeon, Fran could not have been more agreeable. She gave a great interview, talked with guests after, and even posed for photos. I loved her before. I loved her more after.

Park: What is the craziest story you recount in “Too Good to Fact Check”?

Jeremy (laughing): That’s impossible. There are too many! Setting a hotel room on fire is memorable. Crashing Valentino’s last haute couture show during 2008 Paris Fashion Week is something I’m quite proud of. I hired Patrick Demarchelier to photograph Julianna Margulies, Pauley Perrette (“NCIS”), Beth Behrs (“Two Broke Girls”), the cast of “Blue Bloods,” and Allison Janney and Anna Faris (“Mom”). I even did a surprise interview with Celine Dion at my desk and was amused to hear her compare her career to dipping in a hot tub.

Park: What lessons do you hope readers take from your book?

Jeremy: Don’t fear failure. When an opportunity arises, take it. Have fun, even if you mess up. Life is about taking risks and enjoying the journey.

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