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« Survivor: Cook Islands
September 14, 2006: Survivor Confidential
I don't know if you've heard, but there's been some talk about this season of Survivor. Something about its being controversial. Set in the South Pacific's Cook Islands, this season's castaways have been divided into four tribes based on ethnicity and race ? black, white, Asian and Latino. Some think this is an outrageous stunt, an obvious ploy to raise the show's dwindling ratings. However, host Jeff Probst has been vocal about classifying the show as a "social experiment." So with lab coat on, I sat down to watch this season, and the preliminary results have boiled down to this: Survivor: Cook Islands is the same old Survivor.
As a viewer who is part of a represented group, I immediately found myself rooting for "my tribe," whereas in the past I had to warm up to players over a few weeks. On the one hand, it's nice to be able to get right into the game, but on the other hand you realize you've been completely manipulated by the show. However, I'm still drawn to the most interesting players, and that crosses racial boundaries. In the end, I suspect that's how the show will play out for most viewers, but since they want us to, let's break it down.
The Tribes
The Aitu tribe, Latino: J.P., Billy, Ozzy, Cecilia and Cristina
Right off, Ozzy and Billy make the biggest impressions, Billy mostly for his bamboo-breaking technique and Ozzy for pointing out Billy's bamboo-breaking technique. I don't think Cristina actually spoke during the first three days on the island, which in Survivor editing can only mean she makes it to the final four. J.P. has a lot to say, but I don't remember any of it. Cecilia may be a player on this team.
The Hiki tribe, African-American: Rebecca, Sekou, Stephannie, Sundra, Nate
This tribe found its rhythm quickly, breaking off into two pairs of buddies, leaving Stephannie the odd woman out and immediately giving her the most powerful position in the group ? that of swing vote. Stephannie looks like a strong player. Nate, Sundra and Rebecca better watch it. And Sekou? Well, he's just out. Early leaders rarely make it to final tribal, and as Stephannie pointed out, if you're going to tout yourself as the man who makes fire, maybe you should learn to make a fire.
The Puka tribe, Asian: Cao Boi, Yul, Becky, Brad and Jenny
Cao Boi is a little out of place in his tribe. It's not his flowing salt-and-pepper locks, his tattoos or his old-world charm. It's that he tested the wind with the spit-on-the-finger trick. I've only seen that move on Bugs Bunny cartoons. Yul, Jenny and Becky are not even having any of Cao Boi's tricks like pulling the "bad wind" out of Brad's head. Say what you will, Cao Boi cured Brad's headache. You got to give him props for that.
The Raro tribe, Caucasian: Jessica, Jonathan, Candice, Parvati and Adam
First off, everyone is really young and hard-bodied on this tribe. OK, Jonathan's a little older, but he stole a chicken. We all saw him do it, and he got sent to Exile Island for his actions. Then Jessica, aka Flicka, inadvertently freed the chickens leaving Raro with no meat at all. Karma. I'm not sure what's up with this tribe. Did they build a shelter or just opt to huddle in a cuddle puddle? This could come back to haunt them later on. Like when it rains.
The Challenge/The Council
Jeff is really pushing the social-experiment thing. After the first Survivor challenge ? a three-part fire, boat, puzzle thing that Puka won and Hiki lost ? Jeff awkwardly pointed out that the Hiki men took charge of choosing who would be sent to Exile Island while the Hiki women watched in silence. Two comments: 1) Jeff, you're smoother than that, and 2) I hope all the amateur sociologists out there took note. Even though he was the obvious choice for banishment, Jonathan was completely surprised that he was exiled. I wish Jeff had pointed this out, too. With Jonathan gone, that was the last we saw of Aitu, Raro and Puka. Hiki went off to tribal council where, in a fairly predictable move, they voted Sekou off the island.
Stunts are well and good, but what makes this show work is the cast of characters the producers assemble. As always, we have the outspoken leader, the oddball outsider, the jock, the older person, etc. Black, white, Latino or Asian, let's remember one thing: They are all there to win the million dollars. There's nothing controversial about that.
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Sep 15, 2006 7:52 AM
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Even though I agree that this whole setup was for ratings, one positive thing I can say about it is that it was probably the only way more than one or two Blacks, Latino or Asians would have been on this or any reality show at one time.
I don't think the strategy is going to work on me. I have only watched occasional episodes since the second season and last night I had to force myself to watch the entire hour. I was bored enough to unload and reload my dishwasher in order to get through it.
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Sep 15, 2006 9:04 AM
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I am shocked that there has only been one other comment posted! I love "Survivor", but I thought this episode was kind of confusing and hard to follow. They usually replay the first episode on the following Saturday. That usually annoys me, but I hope they do it this year so I can get some things cleared up. I have said it once before and I'll say it again: I don't think "Survivor" fans are going to care what ethnic group people are in. You either like some body or you don't. However, my son kept asking me which ethnic group I was rooting for so I could be wrong. Like I told him, I am not rooting for a particular ethnic group and it's too early to pick a favorite although Cao Boi was my favorite from last night's episode.
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Sep 15, 2006 10:28 AM
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I'm' embarrassed to be Caucasian. Those people were idiots last night.
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Sep 15, 2006 10:38 AM
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I agree that it's pretty much the same old Survivor. But, as someone who's only missed one episode EVER (due to the President's speech pre-empting my preset VCR), that's good enough for me.
And no disrespect to The Amazing Race, which I also enjoy, but Survivor's production values have no equal. I'm glad the new season is finally here!
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Sep 15, 2006 10:56 AM
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I really wanted to see this but I had a birth class to attend and a vcr that doesn't work. So I hope it gets better than what everyone is talking about it, so in 7 weeks I can totally get involved!
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Sep 15, 2006 11:04 AM
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I thought the episode was good, although I think voting out Sekou this early was a huge mistake. It is never good to vote out such a strong player this early as you need them for challenges, and of course Sekou was correct when he told Stephannie that she needed to stick with the guys because the girls probably wouldn't vote out their only other man but will get rid of her next. This tribe did, on the surface seem to bond pretty quickly, but of course we saw them the most. I really liked Cao Boi, and I do feel he was correct in about his other tribe members not really being in touch with their heritage as much as he is since he actually came from Viet Nam. I hope he stays around for awhile, but I am afraid the first time they lose immunity, he will go. Overall, I am liking my survivor!
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Sep 15, 2006 11:05 AM
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I must be crazy, because I loved it. I thought it was hilarious!! I am so hooked, I will not miss an episode. I love Cao Boi, I hope he stays around for a while. I actually watched the whole time, instead of cleaning the house and sort of watching. I just dont like the Exile Island stuff...
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Sep 15, 2006 11:15 AM
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The premiere was boring-- the tribes talking about the racial divide felt forced and was overly focused on, distracting from what we like best about Survivor: WATCHING THE GAME not listening to people talk about race.
The Caucasians made me very uncomfortable when they got to their new "home" and declared something along the lines of "Can we just talk about how we are the best tribe? Go Whitey!" Reeked of elitist snobbery, and I'm white myself.
I hope they stop focusing on race and start showing the contestants as people playing a game!
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Sep 15, 2006 11:16 AM
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I thought the "experiment" was a great idea. There's no other way to increase the racial diversity of the casts.
But unfortunately people are going to read more into it because of this. Jeff has been pointing out social structures for the last few seasons. He didn't just start doing it last night because they were the black team.
Like Rhoda I found myself initially rooting for "my tribe" but that quickly changed as we got to know the people invovled.
The only downside I see is that the Hiki is going to fail miserably. Continuing the awful performances African-Americans have made on Survivor.
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Sep 15, 2006 11:27 AM
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hedy1019, you took the words right out of my mouth (fingers?). While the other teams were working to get shelters put together, and get their camps set up, the Caucasians were talking about how cute their teammates were. UGH.
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Sep 15, 2006 11:40 AM
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For anyone who missed the 1st episode you can watch it right now for free at CBS.com on Innertube. They did this for Big Brother as well, and each episode was up on the site by the next morning.
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Sep 15, 2006 11:43 AM
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I thought the show was great, but I feel as though they are focusing too much on the race issue. They can divide the tribes according to race, but don't dwell on it show after show and have Probst point out the "differences" between them all. I'm vastly different than the caucasians on the show, and I am so thankful for that! I'll end up rooting for the tribes/players who work hard and strategize well.
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Sep 15, 2006 11:45 AM
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i loved it too, but i have always enjoyed survivor. any show that gets people talking and debating can't be bad. and it shows the same issues come up over and over in life -- man/woman, young/old, level of education, liberal/conservative, fit/fat, leader/follower, urban/rural, affluent/middle class/poor, 1st/5th/10th generation american/immigrant/refugee -- are about life not about race. and surviving on an island, by making yourself useful and getting along and identifying with other people as human beings, is about more than those issues alone.
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Sep 15, 2006 11:47 AM
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I thought the new season opener was great! Loved the "Cowboy" and didn't really get to know anyone else. I sure did not cheer for the tribe of my ethnicity!
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Sep 15, 2006 11:55 AM
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