Quoted from CBS News:

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New 'Survivor' A Race Among Races
Probst Reveals Contestants And Controversial Tribe Change

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2006

(CBS) In just a couple of weeks, the new season of "Survivor" takes 20 castaways to the Cook Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

They will be split into four tribes, but how they will do that is guaranteed to be a talking point. For the 13th installment of the series, producers have yet another controversial way to begin the game: 20 people, four tribes — each divided by race.

Jeff Probst is back as host of "Survivor: Cook islands" and spoke with The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith about the controversial new season, which premieres Sept. 14 at 8pm ET on CBS.

Smith asked Probst whether the new way of dividing the "Survivor" contestants was a good idea for a reality show.

"Well, that's probably one of the reasons it will be interesting and controversial, maybe, as you say. I know, from where I sit, I found it to be one of the freshest ideas we've had going back to the beginning of this show in season one," said Probst.

Smith asked him if this new twist was taking the reality show too far.

"I think at first glance, when you just hear the idea, it could sound like a stunt. Especially with the way reality has gone, it wouldn't be unusual. But that's not what we're doing here. The idea for this actually came from the criticism that 'Survivor' was not ethnically diverse enough," he said. "Because, for whatever reason, we've always had a low number of minority applicants apply to the show. So we set out and said, 'Let's turn this criticism into creative for the show. I think it fits in perfectly with what 'Survivor' does — it is a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment, which is taking the show to a completely different level."

How did the new players react when they were told they would be divided by race?

"The reaction was mixed. (Contestant) Yuhl wasn't sure. Yuhl was concerned we were going to turn this into something that would show stereotypes and reinforce them," Probst said. "On the other hand, you have people like Rebecca, who said, 'I don't really care how you divide it because I know that I need a certain amount of people to be on my side to help me get through this.' Ultimately, to win this game, you're voting people out that are then on the jury that have to come back and vote for you. So, the person who wins is actually going to do the best job of merging with all different ethnicities."

Smith asked Probst if he thought the tribal divides would divide the viewing audience as well.

"I think it's very likely," he said. "In fact, our original idea was simply to have the most ethnically diverse group of people on TV. It wasn't until we got to casting and started noticing this theme of ethnic pride that you're alluding to. So, yes, I think it's very natural to assume that certain groups are going to have audience members rooting for them simply because they share ethnicity. At the end of the day, I think it will come down to what it always comes down to: who do I like?"

Probst announced the new crop of castaways and the tribes that they will be divided into:

African-American Tribe:
# Make-up artist, Rebecca Borman, 34, from Laurelton, N.Y.
# Jazz musician and recording artist Sekou Bunch, 45, of Los Angeles
# Nursing student Stephannie Favor, 35, of Columbia, S.C.
# Retail salesman Nathan Gonzalez, 26, of Los Angeles
# Sundra Oakley, 31, an actress from Los Angeles

Asian-American Tribe:
# Nail salon manager Anh-Tuan "Cao Boi" Bui (pronounced Cowboy), 42, from Christianburg, Va.
# Attorney Becky Lee, 28, of Washington, D.C.
# Management consultant Yul Kwon, 31, of San Mateo, Calif.
# Real estate agent Jenny Guzon-Bae, 36, of Lake Forest, Ill.
# Fashion Director Brad Virata, 29, of Los Angeles

Hispanic Tribe:
# Heavy metal guitarist Billy Garcia, 36, of New York
# Professional volleyball player J.P. Calderon, 30, of Marina Del Rey, Calif.
# Police officer Cristina Coria, 35, of Los Angeles
# Waiter Oscar "Ozzy" Lusth, 25, of Venice, Calif.
# Technology risk consultant Cecilia Mansilla, 29, of Oakland, Calif.

White Tribe:
# Copier salesman Adam Gentry, 28, of San Diego, Calif.
# Writer-producer Jonathan Penner, 44, of Los Angeles
# Boxer-waitress Parvati Shallow, 23, of Los Angeles
# Performer-roller girl Jessica Smith, 27, of Chico, Calif.
# Pre-med student Candice Woodcock, 23, of Fayetteville, N.C.

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1. Each minority racial category has a participant with a stereotypical occupation. The black "jazz musician." The Asian "nail salon manager." The Hispanic "waiter."
   
2. I find it amusing that one of the white participants is named "Parvati," a traditionally Asian (specifically Asian-Indian name).
   
3. The attempt at a level playing field using a quota system for ethnicities in a game with a theme revolving around "survival of the fittest." (Affirmative action, anyone? This game has the same [mis]conceptions about defining what "fair competition and equal opportunity" for minorities should accomplish.)
   
4. Race controversy is the new "audience appeal factor." I honestly don't see this reality show doing anything but highlighting superficialities and regurgitating harmful stereotypes from time to time.
   
5. Sadly, this is portraying reality accurately because it's a microcosm of what race theory and relations is to America: a superficial novelty of entertainment that's navigated through thoughtlessly without recognizing the negative assumptions that went into the framework.

Quoted from girlsgonedocile:

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I don't get why it's controversial. America really needs to become able to distinguish race and racism. The way it seems to me is that everyone is way too touchy about race. No one would care if they segregated the tribes by male and female or young and old, why should race be any different? As long as they treat each tribe equally it should be okay.

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Quoted from girlsgonedocile:

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I guess we'll have to see how they approach it, because I agree with Skye that it could be harmful if done wrong, but I also strongly believe that we need to stop treating race like it's a diseased rat or we'll never see equality because of our unwillingness as a society to discuss anything involving it. They say communication is the biggest problem in failing marriages, and I think that that applies on a massive social level as well. Avoidance solves absolutely nothing.

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Quote:

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they shoudl play race=themed games like basketball for blacks, starcraft for asians, whatever hispanic people do, and creating civilization for whites

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Quote:

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Nah, man, you need Tims or Lugz for that shit. Wear boots.

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