Radar Aims High, Hits

Well, no one is ever going to accuse Radar of elevating the discourse: For this month's issue they go lowest common denominator via the tried-and-true custom of superimposing heads on other people's bodies who happen to be naked. In this case, they are inflicting the execrable Tom Ford/Keira Knightley/Scarlett Johanssen Vanity Fair cover on us yet again, this time with images of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani. Ew. Though it has obviously achieved the desired effect — Radar's Tyler Gray has already been on MSNBC twice this morning to discuss it (and the politics-themed issue it graces). Folio's Dylan Stableford notes that it's a gimmick that works (he calls it a "Roshan tradition" thanks to the Tom Cruise/George Lois cover, though really the tradition seems to be photoshopping, given the Paris Hilton/George Bush, Prince Harry and Colin Farrell covers), but the question is, will it actually sell? It's not a very, er, appealing cover image — MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski looked at it, expressed revulsion and said "Get it off the screen" — and she tasked Gray to come back to her after it had hit newsstands to report on whether people actually bought it, because she had her doubts. There's no question that it's a mesmerizing image — you really can't look away, possibly because Rudy's head just looks so natural on Tom Ford's skin-crawlingly skeevy body — but it will be genuinely interesting to see how that translates into sales. So far, not surprisingly, it's translating into buzz. The devil's in the follow-up.

p.s. In case anyone's wondering, I don't particularly feel like Hillary's being objectified here — it is clearly a spoof, and hey, she looks pretty good. It's actually Obama who comes off worst, smooth and feminine and clearly not part of the conspiratorial whispering going on quite literally over his head. Sort of not something that emphasizes his raw strength as a candidate — a message that targets one of his weak spots. Whether or not that was intentional, that's an element Radar captured surprisingly effectively.

Hot On The Trail [Radar]

Related, because I can never erase that searing image:
Tom Ford's skeevy, lecherous Vanity Fair [Tomatoes Are Delicious]

Also related in superimposed heads on magazine covers of naked-ish people:
ETP Photoshops Radar, For Kicks [ETP]

Comments

[glitchr]

This is a real publication? Excuse my ignorance. That has to be the WORST Photoshop work I have seen (with the expectation of appearing real). Hillarys head is about 60% as big as it should be for that body. You think the elongated neck would have been a clue to do something about the head. I guess not. I realize there are more important things in the world than Photoshop skills but man that is weak..

[deckard70]

It is supposed to look fake. It is a parody. If it was a perfectly done recreation it wouldn't be as funny because it would look as if the people actively participated in it.

[Zina]

Disturbing.

[Wiredwilly]

Satire is one thing, fart humor is another.
$ 8.9 Trillion in debt, men dying in a War in Iraq and we have to put up with this adolescent nonsense. No wonder China will own us. Why is this even Posted ?
I wouldn't buy that mag if they paid me.

[Leefeller]

As an artist, I find the cover amusing, the idea anyone would consider this sexual is moronic. May not necessarily be in good taste either. If instead if it showed car bomb carcass's with the same three standing over them like Lyon hunters, now that would be in better taste.

[FirstShirt]

Finally, a bipartisan intercourse.

[wijg]

More like a bipartisan three way. Ewwwww!

[Carolanne]

I used to think I was open minded when it came to satire regarding anyone. I find this totally disrespectful and disgusting. With this campaign being entirely too long, who knows how much more of this crap is going to come out.

[wldnswmmr]

If Hillary really has that bod, what was Bill doing with Monica?

[SensibleAmerican]

I want to see some Barack Hussein on Guiliani action with Rudy dressed up in drag! Also, Mrs. O on Ms. O would be just fine (Michelle on Oprah)!

If such sickness needs to be posted here, might as well vitiate it even more ...

[SeanGardner]

If KKK golden boy David Duke had a lovechild with xenophobic Republican Presidential Candidate Tom Tancredo, that lovechild would be "SensibleAmerican".

The truth hurts.

[OhPlease2007]

Damn, too bad Rosie O'Donnell didn't pose in that original naked picture; it would have made for a more realistic cover for Radar.

[SILLYME]

Where's Bill Clinton? Oh well, looks like Obama and Rudi are ready for tag team.

[Ginzaman]

When things get slow, sex sells every time.

[getoffmedz]

Now, that is tacky, folks!