Survivor: Cook Islands

[invaliduser88]

20 players divided into 4 ethnic tribes this season.

African-Americans
Asian-Americans
Hispanic
&
White

Interesting now the divide by race impacts viewership and what happens on the show when the eventual mergers happen.

Also, this is one of the younger groups. Oldest player is 45.

[Capmeister]

I dislike the idea.

[Ron Barry]

I read the news clip on this one. Not sure what to think but I am not a big fan of creating a show because you are getting too many complaints that the show is not culterally diverse enough. I never liked the fact that the contestents mix was based around some demographic formula, but this take the concept to new heights. With 4 teams, a merger will likley occur quickly so I don't see the big benefit of seperating on race.

As for a show being a social experiement, maybe parts of it but overall I would disagree. Too much manipulation occurs from the show to try and acheive the results they are looking for.

Case in point:

Last seasons final challange. You have two guys that have been battling it out and one person that is basically a no-op. What do you do? you create a challange that gives a huge advantage to the no-op and thus creating a situation where you take opportunity away from who in my opinion should be given the opportunity for a victory and place it in the hands of a no-op to decide.

Last season was not the only time this was done and there is at least 3 other survivor episodes where this has happend.

I for one don't buy the statement that all challanges are pre-selected. I think they create a pool of challanges to draw from and then use the ones they feel would be beneficial at a given point in time and this is the main reason I don't think it is a social experiment.

Will I still watch.. Oh yeah... Why? because I enjoy the show and feel it is well edited. It is one of those take the bad with the good. What I don't like about the show is I feel as time has gone on they have gotten better and manipulating it rather than letting the cards fall where they may.

Well enough of that..... Hopefully they picked a good group of people that are interesting and that are willing to play the game rather than "Go under the radar" and not make any moves what so ever in hopes that luck will take them to the final 2.

[Chris Blount]

Actually I find the whole thing rather interesting but of course, since it's not PR, there will be some controversy.

You have to admit though, many more people will be watching the show which is what CBS wants.

[Ron Barry]

Not sure about that Chris.. If they have not already jumped the shark, they might have with this one. ;)

[Capmeister]

I dislike yet another place where the idea that your color or ethnic look is of some importance. The show is judging people on the color of their skin rather than the content of their character, and I don't care for it at all.

[Mark Lamutt]

Oh please...This is the same thing as dividing tribes along gender lines or age lines. Anyone who's got a problem with it is waaaayyyyyyyy too sensitive.

[Capmeister]

Oh please...This is the same thing as dividing tribes along gender lines or age lines. Anyone who's got a problem with it is waaaayyyyyyyy too sensitive.

I didn't care for the age/sex tribes last season either. Tell me, if the white tribe makes a "WHITE POWER" flag, wouldn't you be offended? I would. Just as I would if the black tribe makes a black power flag and so on.

But then again, I'm one of those silly people who refuses to tell people what 'race' he is, unless there's a box to check marked HUMAN.

[Mark Lamutt]

Cap, if Survivor were real life, I'd agree with you.

[Ron Barry]

Yeah.. that is why I have issue with them talking about it being a social experiement. ;)

I personally wish they would field a group in attempt to mix people that will play it from the mental side with people that are strong physically rather than trying to fill the team to meet cover as much of the demographic spectrum as they can.

I could be wrong, but I think personally it would make for a better game and in the end people watch Survivor for what the game is about and not the demographic make up of the teams.

I personally don't like this twist, but like most of the twists my guess is after a week or two it really won't come into play much.

[djlong]

Initially I disliked this angle but, after thinking about it, I have to say that it seems no different than dividing along gender or age.

Let's face it, in seasons past, the contestants divided up along gender lines and that's just as 'illegal' (in areas like job opportunities) as racial discrimination.

[Chris Blount]

Initially I disliked this angle but, after thinking about it, I have to say that it seems no different than dividing along gender or age.

Let's face it, in seasons past, the contestants divided up along gender lines and that's just as 'illegal' (in areas like job opportunities) as racial discrimination.That is why this is all a non issue. The Survivor series has had a long history of "division". This is just another angle.

Heck, this season might put reality back into the reality TV. As much as we all pride ourselves on the fact that we don't discriminate, it does exist whether we like it or not. If this season of survivor is repulsive to your beliefs, don't watch it. I for one will watch at least the first couple of episodes. The examination of racial separation has always fascinated me.

[Capmeister]

There have been neither age wars nor gender riots that I remember.

[djlong]

Not in this country, but in others you can kill a woman for insulting your honor if you're male.

[Capmeister]

Not in this country, but in others you can kill a woman for insulting your honor if you're male.

Hardly applicaple.

I see now some politicans are asking CBS not to run the show--as if THAT will happen. I wouldn't stop it from running--I'll even watch. But right now I don't think it was the swiftest idea and we'll see if the show as presented changes my mind.

You'll excuse me if I don't have a lot of confidence in a show that used to pretend that Jeff took a chopper-ride that lasted 3 months.

[SamC]

Survivor is just a fake as 'raslin. Anybody who has ever been camping or hunting knows that after a few days away from modern society, people don't look like they do on that show.

CBS plays the race card to draw attention to this tired format.

[djlong]

I'm curious as to what you mean by "people don't look like that". Have you seen how some of those people lost a TON of weight? I mean, during some of the relatives-reunion-challenge shows, the loved ones use words like "emaciated".

[Mark Lamutt]

So, it's started.

The challenge was pretty cool (like the puzzle boat - that was a neat idea), liked the older Vietnamese guy's getting rid of the headache by pulling the bad wind out. Like that Exile Island is back with the immunity idol. Like the tribal council set on the boat.

With all that to like, I have to wonder why I was bored to tears by it. Because I was...maybe it was letdown after BB and Rockstar ending this week, but I hope that it gets better as the weeks go by.

[Ron Barry]

Based on a Mark B. interview. You should fall off your chair at the end of episode #2. I did find that the show went quickly.

I thougth the bad wind thing was funny.. When the guy asked how long will I have this read dot, the guy should have replied.. "39 days" that would have made the sitatuion even funner.

When I saw the teams together for the first time, I thought by the teams with the 3 guys and 2 girls seem like physically in much better shape and what do you know... Come challange time the teams with 3 guys 2 girls smoked the 2 girl 3 guy teams. I don't think it was as much as 3 guys vs 2 guys as much as it was that on the 3 guys teams the guys look overall in better condition.

Overall I think the asian and the hispanic teams at better staffed.

Hmmm.. I do find it odd they allowed them to grab stuff and also gave them fire really quickly. Lot quicker than in previous shows. Wonder why? is Cook island that more extreme than previous shows.

I also found the first episode a bit flat. I really hope they have some major tweaks lined up because the first episode did not.

[djlong]

Maybe they were having pity on them because those islands look a LOT smaller than the islands they usually strand them on.

I just can't believe the bit about the chickens though... I mean, how can you get the chickens, coop them in a box and *NOT* make a LOUD announcement to EVERYONE that THIS box is NOT to be casually lifted?

[Jack White]

My big problem is that they're not representing all Asian Americans, they're just representing EAST Asian Americans/Orientals.
People in the US try to pretend that South Asian, West Asia, Central Asia, etc don't exist. If you go to Europe and ask them to point you to an Asian restaurant, they'll send you to an Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi Restaurant.
It's Americans EXTREMELY poor knowledge of geography that even allowed the word Oriental to be replaced by the word Asian.
How the hell can you replace the word Oriental with a word that already HAD A MEANING. Asian=ANOYNE who is from the CONTINENT of Asia or to stretch it, anyone whose ancestors are from Asia.
How would you like it if Texas decided that it wanted to change its state name from Texas to "The United States of America"?


20 players divided into 4 ethnic tribes this season.

African-Americans
Asian-Americans
Hispanic
&
White

Interesting now the divide by race impacts viewership and what happens on the show when the eventual mergers happen.

Also, this is one of the younger groups. Oldest player is 45.

[TomH]

My big problem is that they're not representing all Asian Americans, they're just representing EAST Asian Americans/Orientals.
People in the US try to pretend that South Asian, West Asia, Central Asia, etc don't exist. If you go to Europe and ask them to point you to an Asian restaurant, they'll send you to an Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi Restaurant.
It's Americans EXTREMELY poor knowledge of geography that even allowed the word Oriental to be replaced by the word Asian.
How the hell can you replace the word Oriental with a word that already HAD A MEANING. Asian=ANOYNE who is from the CONTINENT of Asia or to stretch it, anyone whose ancestors are from Asia.
How would you like it if Texas decided that it wanted to change its state name from Texas to "The United States of America"?

I would agree with you except that we're not told we can't use the word "Oriental". I'm told that's offensive?

By your example, Europeans are just bad at geography if they only point towards middle-east style restaurants and not include east Asian restaurants. Not sure what your point is there except to show Europeans don't know geography any better than people in the US.

Texas (the second largest state) is another bad example. They already think they're their own country already :)

[Capmeister]

Are the Honkeys winning yet? ;)

[djlong]

Let's face it - with only 5 contestants, you're not going to sample all of Asia...

[skidog]

:lol:

[Ron Barry]

Lets try and stay on topic here and not get into discussion about how bad Americans are with Geography vs. Europeans. Lets try and keep the discussion towards Survivor and Cook Islands.

I am always amazed there is someone that always does something stupid the first few episodes.... Like lifting the box up. I guess flipping the box would not have worked since the chickins could have jumped out. Also... Even if you were careful and open it up it would be pretty easy for a chickent to jet out. Be interesting to see if they find the chickins or if something else finds them first.

So my guess is one more week then a merge. Looks like Excile island is pretty dang small. Should not be too hard to find the Idol and my guess is it has something to do with that A looking thing the guy was hanging on.

[buzzdalf]

Are the Honkeys winning yet? ;)

That comment put me in tears.