A Racy Twist for "Survivor"

[Ryan]

I dont watch Survivor or any other reality tv, but seen this on yahoo and thought it looked like a really bad idea.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/eo/20060823/en_tv_eo/19833

A Racy Twist for "Survivor"

By Gina Serpe 11 minutes ago

Some may call it exploiting racial tensions. CBS calls it darn good television.


Jeff Probst popped in on The Early Show Wednesday morning, confirming the reports that the 20 castaways for Survivor: Cook Islands will be grouped by race, with competitors divided into four tribes consisting of whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics.

Apparently, "separate but equal" holds only the warmest of connotations for Mark Burnett.

Like a good host, Probst had nothing but praise for the producers' controversial brainchild, calling the exercise in segregation a valuable social experiment, rather than a stunt to dig up some controversy--and raise ratings.

"The idea for this actually came from the criticism that Survivor was not ethnically diverse enough, because for whatever reason, we always have a low number of minority applicants apply for the show," Probst said.

"So we set out and said, 'Let's turn this criticism into creative for the show.' And I think it fits perfectly with what Survivor does, which is, it is a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment, which is taking the show to a completely different level."

Different level, yes. Good level, still to be determined.

"If I had been a producer of this show, it is not an idea I would have come up with or given approval to," Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University, told E! Online. "It's like a return back to segregated leagues in sports. The unseemly interest this will invite certainly is not worth the dramatic elements it's going to bring."

"To the less-than-open minded person, it is very easy to trash us," Burnett explained to Entertainment Weekly. "But we're smart enough to not make it negative. We're smart enough to have gotten rid of every racist person in casting."

Though more to the point, the producers haven't and can't weed out every racially sensitive person in their audience who may take offense to the seemingly archaic, and potentially socially irresponsible, division.

While the 43-year-old host admitted that the players themselves had "mixed reactions" to the racial separation, he made clear that the division was not meant to incite any controversy, add to the tension during the competition or simply be viewed as a gimmick.

"Our original idea was simply to have the most ethnically diverse group of people on TV. It wasn't until we got to casting and started noticing this theme of ethnic pride that we started thinking, 'Wow, if culture is still playing such a big part in these people's lives, that's our idea. Let's divide them based on ethnicity,' " he said.

Though not everyone is as excited about the idea as Probst and his Survivor crew.

"It sounds like a gimmick a lot of people are going to have real issues as to the taste of," Thompson said.

Referencing Burnett's previous experiments on Survivor and The Apprentice to divide teams by boys vs. girls and, more recently on the latter, by street smarts vs. book smarts, Thompson said that "these things don't often work so well in less dicey situations."

And any publicity is good publicity, right?

"As far as getting some attention, getting it talked about again, this'll do it," Thompson said. "Survivor is a great game. It's the gold standard of reality TV. But nobody seems to talk about it anymore."

Or watch it.

Survivor: Cook Islands will be the reality show's 13th installment and comes on the heels of the least watched season in the series' history. Despite garnering an Emmy nod for Best Reality Competition, Survivor: Panama--Exile Island, which split the tribes based on gender and age, averaged a franchise-low 16.8 million viewers. Hence the latest drastic measure.

CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler told EW that while she was hesitant to give the go-ahead on the "risky idea," she finally relented, saying it was the logical next step in "a show that explores social politics."

"It's not just 18 white people," Probst told the magazine. "Suddenly you have new slang, new rituals--people doing things like making fire in ways that haven't been done on Survivor. I think we have a season where people will say you can never go back to what you were before."

It's not the first time a primetime reality show has flirted with race, though it will be the first time one follows through.

Last year, Donald Trump hinted that The Apprentice was toying with the idea of dividing his two teams by race, only to backtrack on the notion when backlash started up, saying "I personally don't like it, so it will never happen."

[Jing]

.... what the fuck.... that is a DUMB idea.

[cyanide]

So much for human rights and equality. They're just that desperate for more cash, eh?

I guess we can make the same case when a white family is kicking the shit out of a black family on Family Feud

I can see it now, a white guy rooting for the white team, while an Asian guy is cheering for an Asian team. Oh, that really helps the problem of racism in a growing multi-cultural society. Instead of rooting for a country, you're rooting for an ethnicity. No matter what happens with that show, whoever wins the tournament will be considered the "superior race" and hence, the root of this idiotic idea.

[Riot]

whoever wins the tournament will be considered the "superior race"

I think we already know who is the superior race.

I'm kidding, gosh!

[Ruff Ryder]

Yea, this is pretty retarded myself. And I'd hate to see what happens if white people are cheering on "their group" and a bunch of Hispanics beat them in a challenge. Are they gonna jump up and yell racial obscenities at the TV? Lol, all it's gonna do is complicate whats already too complicated.

[Jugs]

The Asians will win this for sure. They'll whip out their mobiles and video cams.

[Riot]

Yea, this is pretty retarded myself. And I'd hate to see what happens if white people are cheering on "their group" and a bunch of Hispanics beat them in a challenge. Are they gonna jump up and yell racial obscenities at the TV? Lol, all it's gonna do is complicate whats already too complicated.

Yes, because only white people will root for their own race. You are an idiot. I find your comment racist. You are a racist!

[J@3]

I agree with Riot on that one what a dumb thing to say.

[bigh0rt]

This is insanity, but it may be working... I almost want to watch it now, to see whathappens.

[Ruff Ryder]

Yea, this is pretty retarded myself. And I'd hate to see what happens if white people are cheering on "their group" and a bunch of Hispanics beat them in a challenge. Are they gonna jump up and yell racial obscenities at the TV? Lol, all it's gonna do is complicate whats already too complicated.

Yes, because only white people will root for their own race. You are an idiot. I find your comment racist. You are a racist!

I was just giving an example.... Next time I'll be sure to type out every single possible combination so nobody gets offended. And funny that Jae says thats a dumb thing to say but apparently when Riot calls someone the "n" word it's a...FUNNY thing to say! Okay, nevermind, let's not get back into this again...

[Riot]

I'm calling bullshit. You used the white race as an example for a reason. I know it and I think everyone knows it. So please don't give me that bullshit about how you were just giving a random combination. You think I'm racist...however, I feel you are more racist than I am. I may joke around and say some weird shit but you seem to have a serious grudge against white people. I'm sick of your "chip on my shoulder" attitude and the fact that you believe 80% of white people are racist.

[Ruff Ryder]

I'm calling bullshit. You used the white race as an example for a reason. I know it and I think everyone knows it. So please don't give me that bullshit about how you were just giving a random combination. You think I'm racist...however, I feel you are more racist than I am. I may joke around and say some weird shit but you seem to have a serious grudge against white people. I'm sick of your "chip on my shoulder" attitude and the fact that you believe 80% of white people are racist.

Well, it was more random but I was looking for some kind of beef and I don't know of any between blacks and asians, nor blacks and hispanics. First thing that came to mind was blacks and whites, but I decided against using blacks because I thought that would get to racy, but apparently you're crying about the fact that I used them instead of anyone else but I really think you're crying just for the sake of crying. Why do I say that? Well you also posted what you believe to be the funniest video in the world about blatant racism between whites and mexicans so if anybody were to take offense to it I'm surprised it's you...

Secondly, I'm sure you're the only one or one of the very few that feels I am more racist than you, so I really don't care. I expect to get it back I guess. And I never said I believe 80% of white people are racist, I don't know how you came up with that figure... And of course you would never understand because you probably never had a first person account of being a victim or seeing people close to you being victims of racism. I live in motherfucking Virginia, the western part. I go to a 90% white school. I'd say that 75% of my friends there are white and I'd say I get stereotyped on a daily basis. I don't have a chip on my shoulder, I have a fucking brick on my shoulder. I don't ever react to anything in school because I realize it won't help me at all anyway, and I've grown into the type of person that just holds everything in and when the right button is pushed, there will be a monumental explosion. Perhaps I "vent" a little bit online for the same reason you make your bullshit comments online. Because you feel secure due to the fact you are thousands of miles away from us and the only things we know about you are your username and rough location. But I bet you don't even act like this in real life. If you said some of the shit in real life that you say here on NLSC, you would get your little ass diced into fishsticks.

[Riot]

Well, it was more random but I was looking for some kind of beef and I don't know of any between blacks and asians, nor blacks and hispanics.

There are plenty of examples of racism between blacks and asians. In fact, I read online that quite a few black people are being charged for anti-asian assaults and murders. I'm pretty sure you could find some example of racism with any group. You just refused to look.

First thing that came to mind was blacks and whites, but I decided against using blacks because I thought that would get to racy,

Like you give a shit?

but apparently you're crying about the fact that I used them instead of anyone else but I really think you're crying just for the sake of crying.

I'm crying because I'm sick of you and your attacks on the white race. We all understand that black people and other minorities have to go through some tough times. It sucks and I wish it never happened. However, for some reason you think only white people are capable of racism. Or that is what I gather when I read your posts, which actually is starting to happen fewer and fewer.

Why do I say that? Well you also posted what you believe to be the funniest video in the world about blatant racism between whites and mexicans so if anybody were to take offense to it I'm surprised it's you...

It's a funny video. Those people were there illegally and they knew they were here illegally. The fact that you protect them it what worries me.

Secondly, I'm sure you're the only one or one of the very few that feels I am more racist than you, so I really don't care.

Good for you.

I expect to get it back I guess. And I never said I believe 80% of white eople are racist, I don't know how you came up with that figure...

I pulled it out of my pasty ass.

And of course you would never understand because you probably never had a first person account of being a victim or seeing people close to you being victims of racism.

I've never been apart of a serious hate crime. You are 100% right. What I don't understand is why you have this definitive opinion about me that I am racist. You seem to have this thinking that I like hate crimes and that I support them. I don't support them and it's one of the main reasons why I want to become a police officer. I make a lot of jokes but so does Chris Rock, is he racist or is he just a comedian?

I live in motherfucking Virginia

I live in motherfucking Minnesota!

I go to a 90% white chool. I'd say that 75% of my friends there are white and I'd say I get stereotyped on a daily basis.

Guess what? We all get stereotyped. It's part of the society we live in! I get called cracker, white boy, pasty, geek, dork, trash, etc. I don't give a fuck. You probably get it on a more personal level but so what? People who call each other names are idiots. It doesn't matter if they are calling you out because of your skin color or because of the clothes you wear. It's high school and everyone gets sterotyped and judged.

I don't have a chip on my shoulder, I have a fucking brick on my shoulder.

Okay, fiddy cent.

I don't ever react to anything in school because I realize it won't help me at all anyway, and I've grown into the type of person that just holds everything in and when the right button is pushed, there will be a monumental explosion.

Holding it in is a good thing. I'm glad you don't react to anything because if you do it will only cause the situation to escalate. If you are really a part of serious racial attacks then I feel bad for you. I truely do. It's something that needs to stop. What you need to understand though is that not everything is serious. Not everything is black and white. You should be able to laugh at the serious things or else you will have a monumental explosion and you will pay for it. Does it seem right that all that vent up angry caused by others will end up costing YOU and not them?

Perhaps I "vent" a little bit online for the same reason you make your bullshit comments online.

For some reason I don't think we do.

Because you feel secure due to the fact you are thousands of miles away from us and the only things we know about you are your username and rough location. But I bet you don't even act like this in real life.

You are partly right. I'm not afraid to speak my mind on here because there is nothing anyone can do about it. Let it be known that I do speak like this to my friends and people I know. I wouldn't go up to some random black guy and start roasting him like I do to my black friends. I understand that there is a time and place for everything and usually I log into the internet to have fun. You think I'm racist because I laughed at a video of illegal Mexicans being sent to the immigration office and because I called Mafia, who I've known and spoken with for years, a "nigger". And that is why I've had doubts about your experience with racism. That isn't racism. That's joking around. You laugh at Chris Rock one minute and the next minute you can't use that word ever? I would never use that word in a degrading way. Hell, I've said the word maybe 5 times in my life at the most (that includes song lyrics!). I'm just sick and tired of you attacking me about me being a redneck racist. I don't care if you call me gay or call me blind Bush cock lover. Don't call me racist.

If you said some of the shit in real life that you say here on NLSC, you would get your little ass diced into fishsticks.

You could say the samething about Chris Rock if he preformed at a KKK rally. It's all about knowing your audience, buddy.

[Its_asdf]

Riot, you're racist.

[/sarcasm]

[J@3]

And funny that Jae says thats a dumb thing to say but apparently when Riot calls someone the "n" word it's a...FUNNY thing to say!

That's like the third time you've said that sort of thing about me, find some new material, it's growing old. Or alternatively stop appointing yourself the NLSC's black racial crusader and don't take everything so fucking seriously.

[Amphatoast]

The Black Death, you shoulda used hispanics and asians if you wanted to completely avoid any contraversy lol

[Silas]

wow and we thought the show was bad, but geeze people talking about it is even worse.... lol

[#12]

seems interesting... i havent watched survivor since the 3rd one

[Jeffx]

Give CBS a Black Eye for 'Survivor' Segregation

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/sto ... 6563c.html

[Riot]

Give CBS a Black Eye for 'Survivor' Segregation

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/sto ... 6563c.html

It's all volunteer segregation, though. The people on there agreed to it so I see no problem with this. They did battle of the sexes and did you hear people complaining about it being sexist? Segregation by choice happens in our society a lot (black colleges and organizations for example) but that isn't racist. I'm not going to watch this show because I think Survivor in general is a crappy show but I see no problem with what they are doing.

[Axel]

I might watch it now... I was getting pretty bored with the show after so many redundant seasons.

Yea, this is pretty retarded myself. And I'd hate to see what happens if white people are cheering on "their group" and a bunch of Hispanics beat them in a challenge. Are they gonna jump up and yell racial obscenities at the TV? Lol, all it's gonna do is complicate whats already too complicated.

Kind of got the racist vibe from that, but I knew you didnt mean it that way. If you're not trying to be racist, you have to be extremely careful, especially when typing it on the internet. It's hard to judge tone and intent on just text because we dont know you personally.