Sep 14, 2006 11:31 pm US/Central
Racially-Divided 'Survivor' Tribes Divide Viewers
by Jason DeRusha
(WCCO)
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The 14th season of "Survivor" features tribes separated into African-American, Asian-American, Latino and Caucasian tribes.
CBS
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Show host Jeff Probst called the season's segregated tribes "a social experiment like never before."
CBS
The CBS show "Survivor" premiered last night to a large audience and a high level of controversy. In its 14th season, the show has stirred up a lot of emotion by dividing its 20 contestants by their race.
There are four tribes: African-America, Asian-American, Latino, and Caucasian. Show host Jeff Probst called it "a social experiment like never before."
But some have other words for it. The Minnesota Daily newspaper wrote an editorial blasting CBS for its "grotesque marketing attempt."
"This program doesn't seem to be bringing people together but potentially pulling them apart," said John Rash, senior vice-president of Minneapolis advertising agency, Campbell Mithun.
Rash helps clients decide which TV shows to place their ads in.
"It's a misnomer to think that corporate clients want controversy," said Rash. "They usually want the opposite."
Mark Burnett, executive producer of "Survivor," has been quoted defending the idea. He told The New York Times: "In America today, I really don't believe there are many people who hate each other because of their race. But even though people may work together, they do tend in their private lives to divide along social and ethnic lines."
On the premiere episode, Rebecca, an African-American contestant, talked about her desire to "step up" and show the world "yes, black people do swim. We do know how to get on a boat and paddle. I mean, we don't just run track."
"Survivor" is in the midst of a slide from its once-massive ratings. In 2001, it peaked with nearly 30 million viewers. Last season, nearly 17 million watched.
"As with most gimmicks, which is what this is -- this one with a much sharper sociological edge -- it's mostly a ratings ploy," said Rash.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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