October 21, 2004
Wal-Mart Nixes Stewart's "America"
Despite being the bestselling book in the country, Jon Stewart's America doesn't appeal to the average Wal-Mart customer.
At least that's what the minds behind the retail behemoth have chosen to believe.
The chain canceled its order for the book after learning that page 99 features a doctored photo of nine naked bodies with the heads of the Supreme Court justices attached.
The book also contains cutout robes, and encourages the reader to "restore their dignity by matching each justice with his or her respective robe."
But Wal-Mart execs felt that the shock of full frontal nudity might be too much for the unsuspecting shopper's eyes.
"We felt a majority of our customers would not be comfortable with the image in our stores," Wal-Mart spokeswomen Karen Burk told the New York Daily News.
America was still available at Walmart.com at 45 percent off the $24.95 list price. "[W]e still wanted to give [customers] the option of buying it from Walmart.com," Burk explained.
Burk did not return E! Online's repeated calls for comment.
Stewart's spoof of a textbook (full title: America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction) has ranked number one on numerous bestseller lists for two consecutive weeks.
Jamie Raab, a publisher for Warner Books, producer of America, said she was "disappointed" in the store's choice not to stock the tome.
"They're within their rights, but I think it's best to let the customer decide," Raab told USA Today.
Co-author and Daily Show executive producer Ben Karlin was also miffed by Wal-Mart's decision.
"We even have an American flag on the cover," Karlin griped to the Daily News.
The chain has a history of doing away with products it deems offensive. Blacklisted items include Maxim magazine and any albums with sexually explicit or violent lyrics. A pregnant doll was yanked from the shelves in 2002; Sheryl Crow's self-titled album got the boot in 1996 because of a song that suggested Wal-Mart sells guns to children.
Raab said she didn't think that Wal-Mart's decision would hurt America's sales. The book, which is promoted on The Daily Show is "selling itself," she told USA Today.
Stewart has enjoyed more attention than usual this week since his appearance last Friday on CNN's Crossfire, when he got into a well-documented exchange with conservative host, Tucker Carlson.
Carlson, frustrated by Stewart's serious attitude on the show, remarked that the comedian was "more fun" on his own show.
"I think you're as much of a dick on your show as on any other," Stewart replied.
We're guessing that kind of language isn't Wal-Mart appropriate either.
Posted by MK Magazine at October 21, 2004 12:34 PM