“Blacks to the right. Whites–you go over there. Asians, step to the left. Latinos, stay where you are. Remember to stay within your groups. We’re going to drop you off in the middle of nowhere, with limited supplies, and want you to fight for your lives.”
Sounds like a sadistic case study in Social Darwinism, no? Well it might be, depending on how you look at it, but it’s also the format for the new season of CBS’s “Survivor.” In what’s being called a “social experiment,” this season’s teams, called “tribes” on the show, are based solely on ethnicity–whites vs. blacks vs. Asians vs. Latinos.
In an interview with The New York Times, series producer Mark Burnett acknowledges that the new setup is “going to be controversial,” adding, “I’m not an idiot.” Burnett also says that the idea actually came from criticism about the show’s lack of diversity. He says approximately 80 percent of the show’s applicants are white. For this season’s crop, host Jeff Probst says blacks, Asians and Latinos were actively recruited to participate.
This isn’t the first time Burnett, who is also the producer of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice,” wanted to pit ethnic groups against each other. Last year, Burnett tried to do a race-war edition of the hit business competition show, after “The Donald” suggested it during an interview. However, NBC heads–who obviously have a bit more sensitivity than those at CBS–scrapped that idea.
Although many are sure to find the show’s new format in bad taste, as I do, others will undoubtedly be curious as to how the competition is played out. Will fans of the show start rooting for tribes and contestants on the basis of their skin tone? And, if say, a Latino decides to root for the white tribe, will he or she be looked at as a traitor by other Latino fans?
In the end, the winner isn’t a team–it’s an individual (who wins $1 million)–but this format can only bring out the worst in America’s racial stereotypes and prejudices, conscious and subconscious. If a black person wins, will people say it was a set-up designed to finally let a minority win? If an Asian wins, will people say it’s because he or she was way smarter then everyone else and therefore, at an advantage?
As in all competitions, there are winners and losers. How “Survivor” presents each of them will make or break the show, and, perhaps, destroy any improvement in race relations this country has achieved during the past 60 years. Well, maybe our race relations are safe. But the show’s plan still doesn’t seem like a good idea.
The new season begins September 14th. Will you be watching?
posted August 25, 2006 at 12:48 am
I think the social experiment on Survivor sounds fascinating. I didn’t hear any uproar when Survivor pitted men against women.I like to keep an open mind and see what does happen.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 4:08 pm
I’ll be watching – the interpersonal dynamics of the contest fascinate me. However, if teaming racially ruins the “personal effort” emphasis of the show, and if ugly negativity comes out in the contestants, I may very well drop survivor this time. We certainly have enough hate and discontent in the world already.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 5:33 pm
I didnt hear this opposition when females and males were pitted against each other on Survivor did we go back to women being slaves in the kitchen and men the slave drivers uh no we didnt. Suddenly when races are involved it has to become a bir issue well I for one am sick of hearing about these issues it sickens me. Get over it we are so beyond that, yes we still have our problems but this reality tv show isnt going to break that. Watch it if you want, root for who you want. I am white and have rooted for a black man, an asian woman, and a phillipino man before among others and yes also white contestants. I care less about color and care more about personality and perserverance which more than likely others will too.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 5:48 pm
I\\\’ve never been a fan of \\\”Survivor\\\” because it has always seemed to bring out the very worst qualities in the participants, so it will be no surprise that I won\\\’t be watching the upcoming season. However, I think they\\\’ve hit a new low pitting ethnic groups against each other. Should Jewel record a new song – \\\”In the end, only competition matters\\\”?>
posted August 25, 2006 at 5:57 pm
I think its time we looked at one another as human beings and not as color.May the best human win.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 6:16 pm
I’m not as much a fan of this program as I was for the earlier presentations – past few have watched only towards the end. Am tired of the plethora of reality shows as much as the money-grubbing t.v evangelists like the Crouch’s – drawing down $1MM a year (on the record), $5MM+ home, begging persons on fixed income to strain to send them as much as possible for their “work,” Latter translates to more outlets so can ask more people for more money… obnoxious contestants on relairt shows are just as greedy, but at least don’t get money from the public. As far as this make-up for Survivor – at least it’s different, and there are more important things to worry about in the world than this year’s tibal configurations.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Actually, the show doesn’t have to prove that a minority could win on Survivor. I recall that a black woman did win awhile ago. I must admit that this is a great gimmick to generate interest in an aging show. A lot depends on how this is presented. It could challenge stereotypes if done right.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 6:53 pm
You go CBS! I knew I could count on you to add to the already pending wars of the world!>
posted August 25, 2006 at 8:36 pm
This is just another exploitation of the racism. And we really need to start loving each other and making it a point to get along with each other.Expecially when there are people trying to kill American citizens. Taking GOD out of the school,etc. And getting our family values back, instead of all this other negative mess that will fill our lives and our childrens lives with.>
posted August 25, 2006 at 11:42 pm
I think it’s a great idea. I will definately watch.>
posted August 26, 2006 at 7:13 am
So, were biracial applicants screened out from the beginning? This feels a little creepy.>
posted August 27, 2006 at 4:29 pm
God sees hearts not colors. God bless all of you!>
posted August 27, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Controversy is entertaining. To say otherwise is hipocritical. It’s cheap, unimaginative, and vulgar, but so is the worlds most extreme amazing shocking scary funny police stunt animal accidents. The both satisfy an instinctive curiosity. Plus, curiosity is an easy emotion for a director to fish out of his audience. Emotions like happiness, excitement, despair or rage, are very difficult to entice. So if ratings equals cash, and emotional involvement equals ratings, then a cheap and vulgar curiosity is the most profitable way to go. This show will never be a classic. It will not be something you ever care to revisit, but in its first run the whole world will be watching.>
posted November 7, 2006 at 10:33 pm
I am a huge fan of Survivor, I watch the show every week and enjoy the closing when every one comes together and they meet each other in a new way. It seems to me that the people that don’t watch it or watch it and have nothing good to say, need to change the channel. Survivor is a show, It’s entertaining, and none of us know, what we would do, if we were put in that situation. I say your rated #1 in many of our lives’, so keep going strong. About the race idea? Maybe not my idea of a big controversy, people are who they are, when they meet there is either a bond or there isn’t. I really do not believe race had anything to do with who they chose to be in aliance with. Sue Ten. 11/07/06 – 5:12 pm>