'Survivor' Plans to Divide Teams by Race Next Season
 

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.....html#comments

I cannot believe they are actually going to do this. I hope somoene pulls the plug on this one...quick.

Haha, I think its awesome. Granted, I won't watch it, but its cool to see somebody not give a damn about political correctness.

HA HA I just posted about this in our forum, Soror because I read it like :eek:

As I said in the DST forum..... gooooooooo Black People!

On a more serious note, it's nice to know that people are race-aware in prime time. I think this will spark lots of discussion.

I don't. I think all it will do is have people sit in their living rooms and allow the show to feed their pre-conceived notions, stereotypes, etc. This isn't about political correctness or not caring about PC-ness, this is about stirring up prejudices and ignorance. I don't think many people in this country are mature enough to take this show with a grain of salt. Its going to lead to ignorant and hurtful jabs after each episode on the job, at school, and everywhere in this society where people of the different groups have to interact and are going to cause animosity among and between the groups.

I hope people pay just about as much attention to this season of Survivor as they have to the last few ... It really pisses me off that they're using race as a publicity stunt to try and save their show they've let go on way too long.

What is the prize? Is this a trick to give us 40 acres and a mule? Hmmmmm

While I think you might be completely correct in your cause->effect relationship here, I don't really think it's CBS's responsibility to actively prevent people the opportunity to buy into their own prejudices.

Unless CBS is actively promoting stereotypes or portraying people in negative situations (such as the white team being exempt from a dance-off, or something equally ridiculous), it seems like they're not really doing anything wrong.

Perhaps on some level, it could possibly change peoples' minds for a few who are not exposed to other races - since you're saying the downside is playing into pre-existing problems, wouldn't this (admittedly tiny) chance provide some positive to offset any uncomfortable water cooler jokes?

Phasad1913, You are all the way 100 with this. America is not mature enough to deal with a show like this.

What a total ratings scam.

It seems like something they would have made up on The Chappelle Show.

I think it's ridiculous and stupid. I highly doubt CBS will use the show for anything but cheap race jokes and stereotypes.

That's the exact problem I see with it. I didn't go look at the cast, but I'm sure they picked people who deliberately fit the stereotypes, and even if the cast tries their hardest NOT to be stereotypical, they'll just fix it all up in the editing room.


ETA: The other problem I just thought of is when the teams merge, there's going to be racist lines as far as the whites voting with the whites and the hispanics voting with the hispanics, etc...and their going to paint it as racially motivated, even though that's how it's naturally going to go because people (except maybe the odd man out) tend to stick with their orginal teams for awhile after the merger.

And whoever wins, I'm sure it will be "not of their own merit". It will be "Well, he was black, so they felt sorry for him", or "He was white, and white people always have the advantage" or some other stupid BS.

http://www.survivorfever.net/gallery...ast_thumbs.jpg

There's a picture of the cast.

I think a better idea would be just cancelling the show cuz it sucks.

FWIW, here's the cast by tribes:

http://www.survivorfever.net/gallery...ricanTribe.jpg

http://www.survivorfever.net/gallery...ricanTribe.jpg

http://www.survivorfever.net/gallery...panicTribe.jpg

http://www.survivorfever.net/gallery...WhiteTribe.jpg


I would like to think the show will be used to break down stereotypes, but who knows. Time will tell, I guess.

I wonder how many of those on the Hispanic tribe actually speak Spanish? That could get interesting. Being able to "covertly" communicate on the playing field could be an advantage.

I would wonder the same about the Asian team, but there are so many different Asian languages: Korean, Chinese-Mandarin, Chinese-Cantonese, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc I think you'd have a far-less chance of them being able to communicate in foreign language. Spanish (for the most part) is Spanish, with some dialect differences.

I, for one, am glad that they're doing this. It's bound to be such a trainwreck that hopefully after this, they'll have to cancel the show and we can all stop hearing about it.

Someone on another MB suggested that perhaps next time they will divide them by religion. I guess whoever wins will have the best god. :rolleyes:

Ha. I love it.

I think this will be an interesting show.

I hadn't thought about the Hispanic Team and their possibile advantage when it comes to speaking Spanish, but that will add an interesting dynamic.

When I heard about this new Survivor format, I actually thought it would be good for the people of color on the show b/c I thought it would give them the opportunity to be a real part of the game. Often times people associate (and ultimately build alliances with) the people who look like them and share similar life experiences. This occurs both on television and in real life. IMO this phenomenom makesn it more difficult for people of color, if in the minority on the show, to build the alliances to make it to the end, even in the absence of racism. In this new Survivor format, at least until the teams merge, everyone will equal alliance building opportunity.

Then I decided my positive attitude regarding the show, I'm still not sure however, may need to be re-thought after receiving this via email:

[Edited to delete the article originally posted since Phasad1913 posted it below as well- no sense in having to copies of the same hella-long article on here.]

I just wanted to add that I received this article this morning via email. I typed in +Limbaugh +Survivor on google to try and see where the friend who emailed me found it, but I couldn't pull it up. I then emailed my friend and asked where it was published- when she replies I will post this info.

If this is true,

"Limbaugh handicapped races in new Survivor series, suggested "African-American tribe" worst swimmers, Hispanics "will do things other people won't do"


On the August 23 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio program, Rush Limbaugh suggested that the competition in a new season of CBS' reality TV program Survivor, in which contestants are reportedly divided into competing "tribes" by ethnicity, "is not going to be fair if there's a lot of water events." In support of this assertion, he cited a March 2 HealthDay article reporting that "young blacks -- especially males -- are much more likely to drown in pools than whites."

During the program, Limbaugh suggested that "people at CBS" are "scratch[ing] their heads" and asking whether "the swimming portion" of the new Survivor competition is "going to be fair." When pressed by an African-American caller to identify "[w]hich team ... would be the worst swimmers and why," Limbaugh stated that "the white tribe would be the best swimmers" based on the performance of white athletes at "the Olympics." After apparently disconnecting or cutting the volume level of the caller, Limbaugh said: "[Y]ou're saying I'm being racist because I'm saying blacks can't swim." He further protested: "I mentioned the swimming comment only because it's not going to be fair if there is a lot of water competition in this. It just isn't. It is not a racial or racist comment at all."

In support of his assertion that his comments were "not ... racist," Limbaugh cited a March 2 HealthDay article reporting that "young blacks -- especially males -- are much more likely to drown in pools than whites." But the study on which the HealthDay article was based did not address the swimming abilities of African-Americans in general. HealthDay reported that "[r]esearchers don't know why black kids are at higher risk of drowning," that "[m]ost of the black [drowning] victims ... drowned in public pools," and that "[t]he study didn't examine whether the victims had taken swimming lessons or whether the pools were supervised by lifeguards." Additionally, the article noted that according to the study, "people from poorer families were more likely to drown" -- "regardless of race," and that one author of the study suggested "[f]uture research" will be done to "examine whether swimming instruction reduces the risk of drowning."

Regarding the new Survivor series, Limbaugh also stated that there "are many characteristics ... that you would think would give [the African-American tribe] the lead, and the heads up in terms of skill and athleticism and so forth." He also stated that "our early money" is on "the Hispanic tribe" -- which he said could include "a Cuban," "a Nicaraguan," or "a Mexican or two" -- provided they don't "start fighting for supremacy amongst themselves." Limbaugh added that Hispanics have "probably shown the most survival tactics," that they "have shown a remarkable ability to cross borders" and that they can "do it without water for a long time, they don't get apprehended, and they will do things other people won't do."

Limbaugh also asserted that "the Asian-American tribe" -- whom he called "the brainiacs of the bunch" -- "probably will outsmart everybody," but while "intelligence is one thing ... raw, native understanding of the land -- this is probably why the Native Americans were excluded, because they were at one with the land and they would probably have an unfair advantage."

He added that "the white tribe," "if it behaves as it historically has," will "bring along vials of diseases" and "will wind up oppressing" the other tribes by "deny[ing] them benefits" and "property," but will later "try to put [the other tribes] on some kind of benefit program." He further asserted that if CBS "allows ... cheating" and "oppression," "then of course the white tribe is going to win."

Limbaugh's statements about the swimming abilities of people of African descent recalled recent comments by Tramm Hudson, a Republican candidate for a Florida congressional seat who stated that "blacks are not the greatest swimmers or may not even know how to swim." Hudson has apologized for his comments, calling them "stupid."

From the August 23 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show:

LIMBAUGH: The new Survivor is actually a race between races, ladies and gentlemen. It premieres on September 14th. They're going to pit four tribes of people against each other: the African-American tribe, the Asian-American tribe, the Hispanic tribe, and the white tribe. And they are going to actually have a battle of races on the next Survivor. They know that it's going to be controversial. They know it's going to -- and people at CBS, behind the scenes, who just have heard about this, sort of scratch their heads -- say, "What the hell are we doing? What are we going to do -- the swimming portion, how is that going to be fair?"

[...]

LIMBAUGH: All right. Back now to this Survivor story: A race between races. In just a couple of weeks, the new season of Survivor will take 20 castaways to the Cook Islands -- the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They will be split into four tribes and they will compete against each other. The four tribes are these: the African-American tribe, the Asian-American tribe, the Hispanic tribe, and the white tribe. Noticeably absent here -- the Native-American tribe. But I guess they had a full boat, so to speak, when they have -- when they have 20.

So, you look at this and you say, "OK, here we are. We live in a society where we're not supposed to cause racial friction. We've been getting away from this, so we're all one, we're all the same." This is -- this is incredible. Now, we've got the Survivor series segregating contestants into tribes. Not even groups! We're calling them tribes. I don't know how many people still watch this show; I guess quite a few, because it's still on the air. You might cause riots on this show, or in the country as a result of this show. But here are the -- here are the tribes: the African-American tribe, the Asian-American tribe, the Hispanic tribe, and the white tribe. Now, of these four tribes, just off the top of your head, who do you think has the advantage? Who do you think here is going to win? Do you think it's going to be the white tribe? The Hispanic tribe? The African-American tribe? Or the Asian-American tribe? We've been looking at this here amongst ourselves, and our early money is going on the Hispanic tribe, providing they stay unified.

We don't know who makes up the -- I mean, we've got the names here of all these members of the tribes, but Hispanic encompasses a lot. You could have a Cuban in there. You could have a Nicaraguan. You could have a Mexican or two. You could have any number. And you know, if they start fighting for supremacy amongst themselves, that could lead to problems. But our early money is on them anyway, because these people have shown a remarkable ability, ladies and gentlemen, to cross borders, boundaries -- they get anywhere they want to go. They can do it without water for a long time. They don't get apprehended, and they will do things other people won't do. So, our money, early money, is on the Hispanics.

The white tribe, I have to tell you -- I don't have a whole lot of hope in the white tribe. The Asian -- the Asian-American tribe probably will outsmart everybody, but will that help them in the ultimate survival contest? Intelligence is one thing, but raw, native understanding of the land and so forth -- this is probably why the Native Americans were excluded, because they were at one with the land here, and they probably would have an unfair advantage.

The African-American tribe, tough to handicap on this one, because you just -- it's -- it's -- there are many characteristics here that you would think give them the lead and the heads up in terms of skill and athleticism and so forth. The Asians, as I say -- the brainiacs of the bunch. The Hispanic tribe -- they've probably shown the most survival characteristics of any -- What? What are you shaking your head about for? What are you -- well -- well, I don't know that CBS is going to let them get away with that. The -- we were talking about the white tribe. We're speculating among ourselves that if the white tribe behaves as it historically has, they will bring along vials of diseases; they will end up oppressing the other groups; they will deny them benefits; deny them their property, steal it from them, and you know, put them on some kind of a benefit program. The white tribe put everybody else on some kind of benefit program, but the benefit program, of course, will not be enough. There will be no education. The white tribe will not allow any health care.

[...]

CALLER: You just made it something right here. When you said, right before your first break, right before your break, you said, "Who has the disadvantage for swimming?" You know, how can you say any team has a disadvantage for swimming? Which team do you think would be the better swimmers? Which team do you think would be the worst swimmers and why?

LIMBAUGH: The best swimmers?

CALLER: Go ahead and say it.

LIMBAUGH: Uh.

CALLER: Say the word.

LIMBAUGH: If you would just let me answer the question I'd be happy to tell you. OK, who's gonna be the best swimmers in this group. Ah, put those African-Americans, Asian-American tribe, Hispanic, uh. Well, no, I'm -- looking at the Olympics, you'd have to say the white tribe would be the best swimmers.

CALLER: The Olympics. You're judging by world-class athletes?

LIMBAUGH: Yeah, you just look at the Olympics.

CALLER: Ha ha. Nice. Good one. You're looking at world-class athletes. I'm an African-American man. You know, mid age, you know. I'm 35 years old.

LIMBAUGH: Well, now, wait, wait a second, though. If the Hispanic tribe has a Cuban in it, those people swim 90 miles, you know, sometimes for freedom. So you know, you just never know. That's why you've got to watch the show.

CALLER: Right, well, I like the way you play around with that. And what you do is you tease the racism card throughout this nation right now. And of trying elevate it and say you know what --

LIMBAUGH: Look at this! I am playing the racism card! I'm telling you what a major network is doing in its prime-time schedule. They're pitting races against each other in this stupid Survivor format, and you tell me I'm being racist. [laughs]

[...]

LIMBAUGH: Now, I want to address one thing. I heard you, [caller]. You accused me in a sly way of being racist by making comments about who would win the swimming competition. I know what you're saying. You're saying I'm being racist, you're saying I'm being racist because I'm saying blacks can't swim. I have here a story, and I read this from HealthDay news. "One of the largest studies of its kind confirms that young blacks -- especially males -- are much more likely to drown in pools than whites. In fact, almost half of all recorded drowning deaths among people aged 5 to 24 are among blacks, according to the study in the American Journal of Public Opinion [sic: American Journal of Public Health]. Blacks are especially likely to drown in motel and hotel pools, while whites tend to drown in private pools." Now, I mentioned the swimming comment only because since this is known, this is not going to be fair if there is a lot of water competition in this. It just isn't. It is not a racial or racist comment at all. It's an example of how we're so tightly wound. And I am by no stretch am the first person to reference these studies and these facts. "

-then this illutsrates my point to a "t". When you have idiots like this on the loose on the radio waves with millions more idiots following him daily like a cult, then that makes for a mass of uneducated, ignorant people getting fed and influenced by even more unintelligent ignorance promoting even more prejudice and ignorance. This show is a trainwreck waiting to happen...and the train is beginning to skid down the tracks already.

FYI: That article was posted just a few posts above by Exquisite5.

Right or wrong, it's a brilliant (to some, ethically questionable) marketing ploy for an ailing reality show. Look at all the buzz it has created in every news media and at every water cooler.

I haven't watched Survivor for years, but I think this is really interesting and I might even watch an episode or two (until they get to the eating gross stuff/animal killing point, assuming they still do that).

And it was way too long to bother with reading either time.

Here is where the Limbaugh article/transcript is currently published:

http://mediamatters.org/

Just found that the player Becky is from Pittsburgh (but lives in DC) and went to my law school- Pitt. She's only 3 years older than me... wonder when she graduated law school. She doesn't look familiar. ETA: they also mention in her profile on the cbs website that she was president of the Asian Law Students Association... wonder if they were purposing picking people who were very active in groups that were associated with their background?

Can't believe the local news media hasn't picked up on hyping her up yet...

Question: One of the girls in the white tribe is Parvati. The name sounds South Asian (Hindi, perhaps?), so do you think she's mixed? If so, shouldn't the "white tribe" be the Caucasian tribe?

Caucasian = white
Same difference.

But the US Census definition of "white" does NOT include Indians and other South Asians.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-1.pdf

Just because she has an Indian name does NOT mean that she is of that heritage. People name their kids all kinds of things. Just by looking at her picture, she does not look like she is of any Asian ethnicity to me.

Sidenote: her profile says she's an Alpha Omicron Pi from UGA.

Also:
Adam is a SAE
Brad is a TKE
Stephannie is a SGRho

Yay for Survivor including greek affiliations

So what? I bet I could find 1,000 websites that DO include Indians & South Asians in the "white" category. Mark Burnett can use any definition of white that he wants to. The US Census is not the be-all-to-end all.

We were just looking at an "official" definition. Many Indians/South Asians don't really consider themselves "white" anyway.

Anh-Tuan the Nail Salon manager.

WOW. :eek: It doesn't get more stereotypical than that.

I'm surprised they don't have a Korean liquor store owner in the cast. :rolleyes:

LOL! I went to college with a lot of blue-eyed, blonde-haired kids with names like Parvati and Kerala. HIPPIE PARENT ALERT! ;)

Munchkin's right. Hey, I"m so old I REMEMBER hippie folk doling out some of those, uh, "alternative" names!

I haven't read the entire thread about this, but I am a very long time watcher of Survivor. I do not like this format at all, and I think it just goes against so many things we've had to work on and should continue to work on in this country. Some might say they're sick of PC, and some aspects of it bother me as well, but this is just putting a fresh log on a fire that should just die out.

That's my two cents.

That reminds me of that kid who's got Hodgekins and only wants herbal treatment. As if the herbal only wasn't an indicator that his parents were weirdo hippies, his first name is Starchild. Poor guy.

Parvati is the name of a Hindu goddess. I suspect parents who were not only hippies, but were drawn to TM or Beatle-style Hinduism.

According to Vegas the white team is the favorite with the Asians a close second.