new "survivor" divides groups by race.....(updated)..

New 'Survivor' divides groups by race 30 minutes ago



LOS ANGELES - Get ready for a segregated "Survivor." Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups.

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The announcement was made on CBS' Early Show. Host Jeff Probst says the idea "actually came from the criticism that 'Survivor' was not ethnically diverse enough." He says the twist fits in perfectly with what "Survivor" does, saying the show is "a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment." Probst says contestants had mixed reactions to the racial divisions.

This time the new Survivors are stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific. The castaways include a police officer, a heavy metal guitarist, an attorney and a nail salon manager. The new season of Survivor debuts September 14th.

Message edited 8/25/2006 1:57:01 PM.

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.......

hmm not sure if this will be a good idea, but interesting to see how it plays out

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.......

And I have a problem with this "Latinos"...so only people of Latin American descent will compete? What about all the Hispanics that aren't from Latin America?

I think this is an attempt to generate buzz since the show has sucked recently. Great job!

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.......

Now how the heck are we gonna talk dirt about the show without sounding racist????

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.......

I think they will get a lot of slack for this!

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.......

I think it is going to be very interesting, but it's a total ratings ploy. I read somewhere that last season was by far the worst ratings-wise.

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.......

This is gonna be interesting! Do you think they will catch flack for it?

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.......

So which tribe are you rooting for?

Re: new "survivor" divides groups by race.....(updated)..

NYC Officials Want New 'Survivor' Pulled
Thursday August 24 8:54 PM ET


As CBS prepares to launch a new season of the hit reality show "Survivor," this time featuring teams divided by race, enraged city officials are saying it promotes divisiveness and are calling for the network to reconsider.

"The idea of having a battle of the races is preposterous," City Councilman John Liu said Thursday. "How could anybody be so desperate for ratings?"

For the first portion of the 13th season of "Survivor," which premieres Sept. 14, the contestants competing for the $1 million prize while stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific will be divided into four teams blacks, Asians, Latinos and whites.

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Liu, who is Asian-American, said he was launching a campaign urging CBS to pull the show because it could encourage racial division and promote negative typecasts. He and a coalition of officials, including the council's black, Latino and Asian caucus, planned to rally at City Hall on Friday.

In a statement, CBS Entertainment, which is part of New York-based CBS Corp., defended the ethnic twist, saying it follows the show's tradition of introducing new creative elements and casting structures that reflect cultural and social issues.

"CBS fully recognizes the controversial nature of this format but has full confidence in the producers and their ability to produce the program in a responsible manner," the statement said. "'Survivor' is a program that is no stranger to controversy and has always answered its critics on the screen."

Last season, the show divided contestants into groups of older men, younger men, older women and younger women.

The show's host, Jeff Probst, said the network was aware this season's race ploy might offend viewers.

"It's very risky because you're bringing up a topic that is a hot button," he told asap, The Associated Press service for younger readers. "There's a history of segregation you can't ignore. It is part of our history.

"For that, it's much safer to say, 'No, let's just stick with things the way they are. Let's don't be the network to rock the boat. Let's not have "Survivor" try something new,'" he said. "But the biases from home can't affect you. This is an equal opportunity game."