So, these commercials have been running a lot, and they didn't bother me at first. Then, as they went on, I noticed that "Durrell" seemed to really be hamming it up a lot more with each new commercial. Now, I don't think there's anything 'racist' about "Durrell" (if that is his real name).....but make no mistake, Walmart made a conscious decision to cast a very 'non-threatening' black man for this campaign; race was very much on the ad executive's mind, I'm certain....I'm sure a lot of thought went into the creation of "Durrell", and his over-the-top friendly black gentleman act. There are echoes of minstrelsy in these commercials. Why does every black man on TV (the ones who aren't shooting each other, anyway) have to be so over the top friendly like this guy? Think of all the different types of white people we see portrayed on TV; now compare that to black people and you have basically two categories--1. hoodlum/gangster/rapper and 2. overly gregarious, happy-go-lucky non-threatening black man, like Durrell.

Then again, maybe I'm completely wrong. Are there any black people here? Is this man in any way offensive to you? Is this a fair representation of a regular black guy?

Anyway, I hate Durrell.



this second one is more of what I'm talking about.



stop it, Durrell! You don't have to step and fetch it so damn hard! Just say, "hey, I'm Durrell, here's some cheap shit."

Not as offensive as some of the "ethnic" McDonald's commercials...

Signatures are for fags

Harry Tuttle Wrote:
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> Not as offensive as some of the "ethnic"
> McDonald's commercials...

WacArnolds is tearing this family apart!

I'M A FIVE-STAR MAN!!

I don't see a hint of minstrelsy in those ads.

The fact is, if you're going to have a corporate spokesman, the person has to have some kind of distinctive personality -- like the goofy white "surfer" type who did all those Dell ads before he was fired for smoking weed (iirc), or the "cool" Apple dude juxtaposed with the square Windows guy.

Durrell comes across as a generic, friendly American who is black. I know many Durrell types in real life. I give props to Walmart for creating this character as a spokesman. They could have easily used a generic, friendly white American.

I'm sure black people love you, Miz, cos you treat them like they're normal human beings!! http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/


"Mr. Misery always says: 'I'm not racist; one of my best friends is Black!' I think he might mean me!"
Adiolla
(Actual African-American)size>


(Just kidding, Miz. I kid because I love.)

Why can't a black man get an acting job without someone complaining? People said the same thing about the guy in the Joe Boxer commercials.

my mee maw called me step and fetch-it

Did Durell go 2 school n Tampa FL?

I think it's very subtle. I guess if it was a white guy, or even an asian or hispanic guy acting the same way, nobody would say anything at all. It's just a lot more noticeable when you see a black guy doing this kind of act on TV because there are pre-existing stereotypes involved with that group of people. It just makes you think twice. It isn't Walmart's job or intention, I'm sure, to accurately portray anyone in a 30 second commercial, so a person of any color would end up looking like a one-dimensional jackass in this spot. Still, Durrell comes across just ever so slightly.....I don't know.....questionable.

but one thing is for sure: I fucking hate Durrell.

I think Durrell is completely, utterly, ANNOYING! He seems to get sillier with each commercial he does. My opinion has nothing to do with race, I would feel the same way had "Durrell" been any other race and acted the same!

The only thing I thought was odd is how at the end of the commercial he always seyz I'm Durrell and I save people money", like it is a commercial for "Durrell".
When he said "what's my super power? Rollin' back prices", made me think of how Barrack Obama was portrayed as some type of super hero, and that part of the commercial kinda makes it lame for me.

Other than that, you people are just jealous of "Durrell" if that is not just a made up stage name.

And no our society does not 'expect' 'blacks' or African Amercians to act quite this way. But it is refreshing sometimes like if you are being waited on by someone who is ANY COLOR and they talk to you normally, and don't make you listen to some retarded sounding drawl or try to pick out pieces of a conversation because someone wants to keep thier heavy accent and purposely mispronounce easy English language words just to annoy others and be stuborn.

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

Protestations to the contrary notwithstanding, you know Miz would give his left nut if he could wake up one morning and BE Durrell.

Walmartmelon Man.

The jury would love him - cuddly, regular ol' Durrell - and bust out the kind of pain-and-suffering damages that make headlines.

Wow...it's not all that complicated people. I too have watched the Durrell commercials these last few months and was thinking how did he get this job, is he a real person, is THAT really his name? Well lo and behold I happen to be backstage this past weekend at a concert and who should walk past me but Durrell, and yes I shouted his name to him like I knew him from the corner, he turned around with that big Walmart smile and came right over and started chatting with me. He and his wife were both there. So Yes his real name is Durrell. They hail from Richmond,VA, he does work at a local store. Walmart announced auditions and he was one of the chosen few to get a spot...turns out he is the one audiences have repsonded to the most, good, bad or otherwise. Folks approach him much as I did and blame him for Walmart running out of items he has been pushing that week. He tells the execs to please stop running the ads when the item is no longer available. He was raised right there in Richmond so his accent is real, he is just a pleasent guy tryin to make a living for his family. The fame is new to them, but they are extremely down to earth. Truthfully, he doesn't know how long this Rollback guy stint will last but of those chosen he is the one folks ask for. In fact he just filmed a spot with his kids. Good luck Durrell.

nthpowerofone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow...it's not all that complicated people. I too
> have watched the Durrell commercials these last
> few months and was thinking how did he get this
> job, is he a real person, is THAT really his name?
> Well lo and behold I happen to be backstage this
> past weekend at a concert and who should walk past
> me but Durrell, and yes I shouted his name to him
> like I knew him from the corner, he turned around
> with that big Walmart smile and came right over
> and started chatting with me. He and his wife were
> both there. So Yes his real name is Durrell. They
> hail from Richmond,VA, he does work at a local
> store. Walmart announced auditions and he was one
> of the chosen few to get a spot...turns out he is
> the one audiences have repsonded to the most,
> good, bad or otherwise. Folks approach him much as
> I did and blame him for Walmart running out of
> items he has been pushing that week. He tells the
> execs to please stop running the ads when the item
> is no longer available. He was raised right there
> in Richmond so his accent is real, he is just a
> pleasent guy tryin to make a living for his
> family. The fame is new to them, but they are
> extremely down to earth. Truthfully, he doesn't
> know how long this Rollback guy stint will last
> but of those chosen he is the one folks ask for.
> In fact he just filmed a spot with his kids. Good
> luck Durrell.

if this is truly the case, then my apologies to Durrell. Maybe I just wanted to believe Walmart was up to no good.

Durell and his wife backstage at Essence Musicfest.
Attachments:

boy, do I have egg on my face...

Yeah for Durrell! I also wondered if he was a real Walmart employee. I'm black and he reminds me of my cousin and his friends. Black men can be funny, happy, friendly people like anyone else. It's a breath of fresh air to see us represented in a positive, happy light! I love it! I hope this gig lasts a while for him and best wishes to him and his family.

I'm a black woman from Detroit. The commercials are running a bit too frequently but they are very cute. I have known many loveable,goofy and (yes) chubby black men like Durrell... MANY of them. I've none some straight up nerds too. It's all good:)

Di Wrote:
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> I've none some straight up nerds too. It's all
> good:)
Attachments:

I love durrell!! congratulation Durrell keep up the Great work. I don"t like walmart, but have considered going there because of your commercials!!

.
Attachments:

I love Durrell, he's awesome. People will turn anything into a race issue; it's unbelievable. Mean black guy? Stereotype. Nice black guy? Uncle Tom. Lay off people, Durrell's probably just a nice guy.

Why's ^^ THAT ^^ guy pointing a GUN at me???

Isn't that that crazy guy from Family Spoons or something with that nasaly black kid?

And why is he so dark skinndid?

Where is his hair?

Does he walk around everywhere with that thing on him?

When I say 'thing' I'm not not talking about his "thing" thing(his doodle)

By the way, are blacks longer in that area like they say they are. I mean, I don't mean 'they' like black

people, but they like they, well then again the second they was them, oh fuck it.

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

Reggie V Johnson will FUCK YOU UP, bitches...

I love Durrell from WalMart! To the pure, all things are pure and one should be able to tell that he is a genuinely, kind person. His wife and family should be proud. I don't even know him but when I see the commercials I wish my daughter had had such a person in her life.

Continued success, Durrell!

---------------- ^ ^ ^ the next 'Durrell' ^ ^ ^

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2010 08:43PM by Troll@AOL.

I just think it goes against Michelle Obama's obesity campaign. Here is a FAT FAT man taking home ice cream to little kids. What about VEGETABLES?
Plain and simple, he is obese, probably gonna get diabetes and heart trouble.
He needs to stop eating so much ice cream and encouraging others to do the same!

what would you have him promote, then? Grape soda? Newports? Afro-Sheen? It's Walmart, for the love of Ray-J, not Whole Foods!

black man can't catch a break....

---------------------------------------------------------------------
I apologize to those I unfairly hurt. To Harry Tuttle in particular.

Fucking niggers, fucking Walmart, hate them all!!!

way too many fucking niggers in commercials can t make a White commercial anymore without a fucking nigger in it. Have to have a nigger with every white woman on the fucking TV

run by Golman Sach's chinese main HQ

why do you think they carry NOTHING made in usa to target closer of usa factories in the 80 to present ?