Heads and tales: Block history month
By Wade Kwon
From the Viacom empire: The 50-million-dollar man is coming to the BJCC Concert Hall. Comedian and Comedy Central fugitive Dave Chappelle will perform Feb. 25, along with two bands TBA. The quickie tour promotes the March 3 theatrical release of "Dave Chappelle’s Block Party." Shot in September 2004, the concert movie features Kanye West, Common, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, the Roots and a reunion of the Fugees (though none are likely to be onstage here). Tickets, $55, go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday through Ticketma$ster. We’d go, but who wants to listen to hundreds of rednecks drawl, “I’m Rick James, bitch”?
And from MTV, a reality show on the Hoover High football team will likely air in July or August. Despite our past criticism, we’d like to offer possible titles: “Buc It Up”; “Buc Fuddies”; “My Super Sweet 6A.” Go team.
Update: The MTV show could be called "Two-a-Days," referring to twice daily practices under the blazing August sun. “MTV is … offering an unvarnished look at the lives of young people in settings not often seen in primetime. … ‘Two-A-Days’ … will reflect not only the town’s rabid interest in high school football but also the pressures the players face to perform in order to secure college scholarships and live up to the lofty expectations of their relatives and friends.” Um, this ain’t “Friday Night Lights — the TV Series,” and Hoover ain’t some tiny town in the Texan Outback. We’re guessing it’s like “Laguna Beach,” where a privileged set of high schoolers is more powerful than other students, teachers, administrators, parents and school board. Whee.
• Chappelle comeback trail includes Birmingham stop [Birmingham News]
To serve (The) Man: In case Dave needs a little material, how about this nugget? The Museum of Slavery and Civil Rights in Selma will offer visitors a unique experience: working and living as 19th-century plantation slaves. The package includes shabby clothes, standing on the auction block, working construction and being called the N-word. It’s all a part of the new tourism push in Alabama. We’d go, but who wants to listen to hundreds of rednecks drawl, “You’re Rick James, bitch”?
• Soon, Selma museum’s visitors can spend the day as a slave [Birmingham News]
Masters of their destiny: Alabama had 14,707 black-owned businesses in 1992 — and 28,684 in 2002, almost double. Now that’s progress. Plus, not only are more minorities becoming entrepreneurs, but also possibly more young people, too.
• In business [(Florence) TimesDaily]
Also:
- Dollar store sees run on “slightly defective” lingerie, candles
- High school wrestling team to be featured on gay-themed cable channel
- Part of me wants Italian, part of me wants barbecue
• • •
Send us your news tips.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006, 6:40 pm
Wade, I’d like to see the “Dollar store sees run on “slightly defective” lingerie, candles” story, but you never seem to post any links?
Wednesday, February 15, 2006, 5:09 pm
It’s a conspiracy.
To deprive the people.
Of fake news.