Essay 261

MultiCultClassics Minutes presents The Saturday Evening Post…

• Wal-Mart wants to improve its image, particularly with urban and coastal markets. The holiday campaign stars celebrities Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Queen Latifah and Destiny’s Child, a distinct departure from the real people that have built the retailer’s corny personality. “[The] associates and customers look like they came from Memphis or Birmingham — and they usually did,” a company vice president said. “They didn’t resonate with people in the metropolitan areas and the coastal areas.” But the spot with Beyoncé and the crew makes the glamour girls look as plain and homely as the folks in past ads.

• The guy who bashed the knee of skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1994 sought to have his record cleared; however, a judge denied the request. Convicted whacker Shane Stant wants to become a Navy SEAL, but the military won’t accept candidates with felony records. Which is great, because this moron doesn’t even deserve to work as a SeaWorld seal.

• Various media groups delivered report cards to ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, rating the diversity of programs. Chairman of American Indians in Film and Television Mark Reed graded the four major networks with an ‘F’ and declared, “The American Indian is invisible in primetime television.” Except when the Washington Redskins battle the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

• After years of unintentionally inspiring a lot of comedy, the Reverend Al Sharpton is launching a CBS sitcom. The show in tentatively titled, “Al In The Family.” It’ll probably be just like “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Except everybody will be Black. And nobody will be funny.