'Survivor: Cook Islands' -- So Far No Race Riots

September 14, 06:28 PM

Well, you've got to give Mark Burnett credit for stirring up the "Survivor" pot just when people were beginning to say -- for the third or fourth time -- that his popular reality show had lost its mojo. But did this season's race-based twist make any real difference in Thursday (Sept. 14) night's "Survivor: Cook Islands" premiere?

How did host Jeff Probst arrive on the scene?
Standing amidst the players on a ship. Boring, Jeff. I liked when he entered on a helicopter or stood on the lip of a volcano. Jeff isn't supposed to be down amongst the contestants. He's supposed to be better than the castaways, sneering at their desperation and looking clean-shaven and well-fed.

How do the contestants react to the race-based twist?
"As a people who have the same ethnicity, maybe we'll clash on things." (Ozzy, Hispanic)

"When it comes to surviving, it's a human effort." (Sundra, African-American)

"I'm a little bit worried that it might be made out to caricatures and stereotypes." (Yul, Asian)

"Different ethnic types? Is that kosher? I don't know." (Pavarti, Caucasian, living up to her last name... Shallow)

Which were the first inadvertently presented stereotypes?
It's a toss-up: In the African-American tribe, we have big-and-strong Sekou, who likes to take breaks and has to listen to his new friends complain about how he can't stay focused. Over in the Hispanic tribe, there's Ozzy, who climbs a coconut tree like something "straight out of 'The Jungle Book.'" Over on the Asian side, Cao Boi can't stop telling stories and delivering ancient wisdom, plus he's got a magical headache remedy to pull out the "bad wind." My favorite reliable stereotype, though, is in just how quickly dimpled blonde cutie Candice begins cuddling up after dark with "copier sales person" Adam.

First obviously kick-butt move?
Writer-producer Jonathan stole a chicken from one of the other teams. While not quite as devious as Rupert stealing the opposing teams' shoes, we still applaud a certain level of cut-throat behavior. It almost makes me forgive his pretentious nattering about the show's racial possibilities. It doesn't come close to making me forgive him for writing and producing The WB's "Lone Ranger" telefilm starring Chad Michael Murray.

First obviously moronic move?
I've got no problems with Jessica's goofy tats. I'm willing to ignore that Jessica seems to have brought knee socks (or leg warmers?) as her luxury item. I can deal with the fact that she likes to be called "Flicka." I'm even able to turn the other way on her celebratory cheer of "The whiteys!" But she can't be cut any slack for accidentally liberating the purloined chickens. Then again, there's much to be said for any mistake that leads to a line of quotable dialogue like Jonathan's kiss-off, "I can forgive her, but I don't have to, because she screwed with my chickens."

Reward Challenge?
It's a pretty boring color-coded obstacle course. Do you want to know what they're playing for? First three tribes through get flint and immunity. The first place tribe also gets a full fire kit, containing kindling. Aided by their puzzlemaking speed, the Asian tribe, Puka, finishes first. Aitu, the Hispanic crew, finishes second. Raro, the white tribe, finishes third, leaving the African-American tribe, Hiki -- hampered in the paddling portion -- in last.

Is there another twist?
The losing tribe gets to choose one person from any of the winning tribes to go to Exile Island, where they'll get a machete, flint, water and a pot. Oh. and there's an immunity idol as well. The Hiki guys send Chicken Thief Jonathan into isolation. "It's because I took the Asian guy's chicken that the African-American guys chose me," Jonathan observes.

How did Tribal Council go?
It looks like the women are going to vote in tandem to eliminate Sekou, who may be lazy, but who also took an early leadership role. Stephannie is the only possible swing vote. Jeff reads two votes for Sundra and two votes for Sekou before, predictably, Sekou is the first person voted out. But at least they get fire.

Was the show shockingly offensive and an affront to people of all races?
Nope. Through the first hour, the editors have been very careful to only depict the racial attitudes of each group towards itself. Thus, we've only had people talking about how they want to disprove stereotypes and represent. Things only really get interesting if we start hearing how people view the different group.

Was anything at all offensive?
If anything, the most problematic aspect of the show was the commercials. There was one ad in which an African-American guy lounges around and complains about how he can't be bothered to multi-task and another in which a Hispanic dude gets excited by how full he got from a Taco Bell burrito. There was an ad for that awful looking penguin movie ("Happy Feet") with Robin Williams caricaturing dozens of ethnicities.

Any predictions?
My instinct is that with Jessica and Billy, Raro and Aitu have obviously weak links and that Hiki is already short-handed and may have eliminated their strongest player physically. I have Becky pegged as Puka's major X-factor. If she's even moderately strong and minimally annoying, Puka could be really tough for a few episodes.

What'd you think, faithful readers? Were you surprisingly offended? Surprisingly unoffended? Who are you rooting for this season?

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Comments (21)

Comments

Too. Many. People. I have much more to complain about regarding 20 contestants and 4 tribes than the division itself. It's a cluncky format that makes watching tribes strategize incredibly boring because, well, there's only FIVE of them to do it.

Hopefully it will get easier as the weeks go by. But so far? That's my biggest complaint.

Zoot | Sep 15, 2006 7:19:52 AM | #

I thought it was the funniest first episode of any season of Survivor. That many of the contestants don't watch survivor should add a X-Factor we haven't seen in survivor since the first season.

It looks like it will be a very exciting and entertaining season.

nisleib | Sep 15, 2006 8:47:52 AM | #

I actually really enjoyed the premiere ... could've done with 2 hours of it, though.

Gotta agree with Zoot ... FAR too many people. Twenty is an insane number to keep track of.

Bring on a double-vote week sometime soon!

Dave | Sep 15, 2006 10:05:55 AM | #

I thought the show very entertaining. Those camera guys are the best. When Raro's boat starting coming apart...very funny. Its fun TV and I wish they would start the first show with a 2 hour episode.

Vince | Sep 15, 2006 10:08:46 AM | #

Why don't they refer to the Asians as Asian-Americans like they do with the African-Americans?

John | Sep 15, 2006 11:01:01 AM | #

I thought it was an interesting way to start the game off. And we know it won't last too long before they merge into two tribes.

Greg | Sep 15, 2006 11:53:43 AM | #

i thought the show was great. I can't wait to see how things unfold as it starts getting more into it.

jessica | Sep 15, 2006 1:17:06 PM | #

there should be same number of men and women on each team. the top 2 teams in challenge had 3 men and 2 women. the bottom 2 had 2 men and 3 women. If the challenge is mostly physical, the men usually have an advantage.

mb | Sep 15, 2006 1:45:04 PM | #

...and why aren't the caucasian tribe 'caucasian-american" etc etc

fm | Sep 15, 2006 2:34:05 PM | #

(I'm African): I agree with nisleib. I thought this first episode was funny because you start to analyze and look for and listen to the comments about all the racial stereotypes. Kinda' like watching Chapelle's Show or Mind of Mencia. I do have to say I was let down when the blacks lost the first competition and couldn't quickly figure out how to put the boat together. I think any real racial clash, IF ANY, will come after tribes merge. It's so nice to finally see some diversity on TV for a change. Am I the only one who is just totally offended and infuriated by the lack of diversity on shows like Friends and all its imitations? Yet these are shows that are supposed to represent Generation X and Y even, in diverse cities like New York?!!!!!!!!

Seye (i'm african) | Sep 15, 2006 3:40:23 PM | #

I am a survivor addict. I loved the episode and will watch the entire season. If its a gimmick, so what, it is entertainment.

gena | Sep 15, 2006 4:57:57 PM | #

This survivor is crap. The worst of all tribe selections I've ever seen goes to the African American tribe. The average age of the group is 34+ (the highest out of all the groups) and overall they're all out of shape! The women of the tribe calmly took a backseat role and then united to vote the only person who actually took charge out. Regardless of his lazy activity or not, he was the only person putting together ideas!

The Caucasian tribe has 4 people in their twenties! The Hispanics and Asian are marginally matched with the Asians getting a slight edge considering that their oldest person seems to have the enery of an 18 year old.

However which way you look at it, racist segregation theme or not, the selection board who picked these contestant did not do a fair job in evenly matching these teams.

Q | Sep 15, 2006 5:49:17 PM | #

I very much agree with Q that the tribes were not evenly matched. I think the obvious power houses right now are the Asians and the Hispanics.

As for the show, I hope it will gain a bigger interest factor when we see clashes of races or within races.

I was also impressed by the Latinos and disappointed by the African Americans.

The Causasians? They need to bring the heat or they'll find a one-way ticket to tribal council before too long.

Princesse S | Sep 15, 2006 6:54:41 PM | #

I Loved it as usual. Jeff's entrance was a throwback to the very first episode of Survivor. Very creative.

Brett | Sep 15, 2006 9:48:35 PM | #

Can anyone tell me which tribes were which colors? And I don't mean color as in race, but as in, red, yellow, blue, gree, matched to hiki, raro, puka, and aitu?? If you could answer i would love you forever!

Ronni | Sep 15, 2006 9:57:35 PM | #

There's more to Survivor than youth and energy. Saying one tribe is better than another or the selection process was unfair, based on the edited footage from one episode, isn't the wisest move.

The first challenge was not just about strength. It included teamwork and puzzle-solving. Notice how the team that did the worst was the one that couldn't figure out how to get their boat together for ages.

I wonder if anyone else thought anything of the comment made by one of the black women, that "Black people don't like to be told what to do"? I'm quite sure most white people, or Asians, or Hispanics, or what have you, also don't like being ordered around.

Angie | Sep 16, 2006 12:06:09 AM | #

Well Ronni I hope you are still checking for your answer because here it is:

Puka (the Asians) are GREEN
Hiki (the African-Americans) are YELLOW
Raro (the whites) are BLUE
Aitu (the hispanics) are RED

Now love me forever!

Kevin | Sep 16, 2006 9:44:02 PM | #

I love this season. Lot of great cast. As for the age matters, I think that it won't be a big issue as the tribe will soon become 3 or 2. Beside I prefer to see out-of-shape Cirie rather than hunkie Osten. Cirie is loveable. Yeah

I guess as they have 4 tribes, they should start with at least 1 hour and half premiere witha additional reward challenge.

Exile Island?? It just another twist with no heat. And to let the losing tribe choose any member from winning tribe is just unfair. What the point of winning the first place but then you'll be send to Exile Island. And Exile Island is just stealing other 19 contestant's tv time.

Amri | Sep 20, 2006 6:14:59 AM | #

I like the idea of dividing the tribes according to Ethnicity and really see no problems there. There are no clear disadvantages based on race in my mind. However, to me there are disadvantages based on gender/sex and athletics. I especially do not like the fact that the ratio of men to women is not the same on all tribes. But, I look forward to see how everything would work out. I look forward for the merger...that's always when the fun begins for me.

Candid | Sep 20, 2006 2:49:21 PM | #

I think it is funny, for some reason when I read a post from a supposed "African American" the phrase I am African American follows. It makes me wonder, do you really need to prove your point by saying your race?

matt sean | Sep 26, 2006 1:12:00 AM | #

Thanks Kevin for the answers to the colors.

Tina | Sep 29, 2006 6:45:34 AM | #