Survivor: Cook Islands to Divide Tribes By Race
I was going to try to stay away from anymore reality TV news here on Film Junk, but what the heck… it’s pop culture, and this tidbit was simply too juicy to pass up. CBS has just announced the list of castaways for the next installment in their long-running reality show Survivor. While most people are growing tired of the formula, somehow they manage to come up with enough new gimmicks every season to keep viewers hooked. For this, the unlucky 13th season, they’ve devised a concept that is simultaneously underhanded and brilliant: the tribes on Survivor: Cook Islands will be divided up (at least initially) according to race. That’s right, it’s blacks versus whites versus latinos versus asians in an all out race war.
Is this inspired television or just backwards thinking? One thing’s for sure, it’s probably going to generate some controversy… but if you think about past seasons, they’ve previously divided tribes by age and gender. Is this really any different? I’m a little undecided about the appropriateness of it all, but I will say that I’m now interested enough to give the new season a chance. Host Jeff Probst says that this idea simply adds another layer to the social experiment that is Survivor. You can view the bios of all the new castaways over at the official CBS website now. Survivor: Cook Islands premieres on Thurs. September 14th at 8 pm EST.
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Comments (11)
And here I’ve been complaining about the previous divisions (based on age and sex) and they go out and really get me reiled up. I haven’t watched surivor in years and I doubt this will get me back in front of the tv. Sad and pathetic.
Posted by themarina on August 23rd, 2006Definately a new spin on old things. Should be interesting.
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on August 23rd, 2006Wow, that’s terrible.
Posted by Boooo. on August 24th, 2006i like Survivor and they do have to do some things differently instead of the same old thing season after season. i mean over all its the same thing, but i liked the women vs men, or even when they did the young vs old. but this is alittle crazy doing the race card, should be interesting.
Posted by Chopper on August 24th, 2006Oh don’t you guys worry, the whites will either lose (through a mole), or win by deception. Its already pre-scripted.
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on August 24th, 2006Another thought….or just maybe towards the end, a huge group hug of all the races involved to show that we’re all winners in this game called life. For the Human Race!
(and the couch potatoes at home will lap it up while shedding tears of joy!)
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on August 24th, 2006But Tom, doesn’t everyone on Survivor win by deception?
This is my point though, it’s a competition that ultimately results in one winner so how can they can avoid hurt feelings and accusations of prejudice? Since they’re drawing attention to such divisions they’re going to have to have people commenting on it throughout the show one way or another. It should make for some uncomfortable viewing.
Posted by Sean on August 24th, 2006This rules. Reality TV is horrible, so might as well make it ridiculous as well.
Posted by Henrik on August 24th, 2006I’ve never watched an episode ever, but….
From causal observation, the ratings might be low enough for them to take a risk on this approach. I’m all for it, but I’d rather see “survivor” involving real survial. Like being dropped of in a jungle full of cannibals hungry for fresh meat.
That would be interesting!
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on August 24th, 2006You should check out the show Survivor Man on OLN. They drop this guy off in different remote areas with no food or tools, and he has to survive for a week. He films it all himself too.
http://www.survivorman.ca
Posted by Sean on August 24th, 2006I’ve watched a couple of episodes of that show. I just happened to come across it by accident. I don’t watch much t.v., but I when I do, I like to make it worthwhile (besides the Food Network and Discovery).
Thanks for that link, Sean.
Posted by Bassmasta-Baychuk on August 25th, 2006Leave a Reply