"Survivor's" New Cast Most Ethnically Diverse Yet

16. One giant step backward for television...way to go!!!

If I needed an excuse NOT to watch, this would be it.

Posted at 1:38PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Karen

17. So is CBS saying screw civil rights, diversity and testing the theroy if aint white it aint right? WTF?!?!?!

I can see rating dropping dropping and a show being cancelled

Posted at 1:43PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by DeAnna

18. This is ridiculous. It's only 2006 and we've not come nearly close enough to amending race relations. This will pit White against Black and Asian and so forth : for what? to prove this one or that one is the strongest, weakest and so forth. It's a disaster waiting t happen.

Posted at 1:48PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Adele

19. Lame, horrible idea. If they really want to mix it up, how about ANY location other than an island. How about a winter Survivor? Dividing by race is antagonistic, sensationalistic, an obvious ratings-seeking ploy which could backfire BADLY.

Posted at 1:53PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Heather

20. OMG.....*seething with sarcasm*

Wonder how those pesky Olympics get away with such horrific racial dividing too. What an oppressive tradition eh? GASP! Can't believe Survivor would do such a thing! GET A LIFE! This overbearing political correctness is going to KILL this country. Unbelievable.

Posted at 2:20PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by duhneece

21. Comparing Survivor to the Olympics is one of the stupidist analogies I've read. The olympics divides competition up by country, not by ethnicity. There is a difference (countries usually have more than one ethnicity). The race issue is a big deal.. the civil rights movement, the holocaust, that wasn't too long ago, and there is still genocide and tons of crime motivated by racism throughout the world. Citizens of different countries do not face the same kind of hate from each other as members of different ethnic and racial groups do. A lot of hate crimes occur where the victim and perpetrator are citizens of the same country. So start making smarter analogies if you're going to make a point. This overbearing insensitivity to real issues is really what's going to kill this country.

Getting upset over this is not an overreaction or being too politically correct. If you think racism doesn't exist in this country, then you need a serious reality check. Survivor was criticized for it's lack of diversity, because viewers wanted to see an INTEGRATED cast, NOT a SEGREGATED cast. I don't think competition amongst ethnicities is going to bring more pride about one's ethnicity than simply honoring traditions and culture inherent in those ethnicities. All this is going to do is make ethnic groups compete against each other and realize/notice differences between each other. This move by CBS is ridiculous and stupid.

Posted at 2:47PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by jessica

22. People, chill out!! I don't know about the rest of you psychos who are all pissed off about this, but I don't really look to reality tv to educate me on race and society. I haven't watched Survivor in years, but I'm going to watch this. It will be interesting to see if the ethnic groups do follow certain stereotypes, or if they all strategize and compete similarly. The real mistake was not dividing the group into their respective races, but rather casting more than half of them from Calfornia.

Posted at 2:47PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by John

23. Cheering your race on!!!!!!! How primal. How backwards. How racist.
I will not tune in at all. Can you imagine the remarks made among the tribe and among the respective viewers. They could not think of anything else? What is next - homosexuals against heterosexuals? Muslims against Jews?

Logically, how about:

Lawyers vs. Doctors
Army vs. Navy
Children against Parents
Ex husbands against Ex wives
the list is endless and not insulting or inflammatory. Shame on "Survivor"

Posted at 2:49PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Pieta

24. They will only fit stereotypes, if producers select folks that fit stereotypes. Of course, the producers are going to select folks that fit the stereotypes. I mean TV is not there to educate only to reinforce ppl's stereotypical beliefs. If people watch, it’s because they want to see the groups fit a certain standard they have in their head.

I don’t think you can call the show racist or anything, but I am sure it will be controversial. It’s like the show on FX “Black and White. I only had to watch one episode to know that this was something cooked up by producers to get folks watching or riled up or whatever…not to educate or anything. In fact, that’s not their job…they should leave this stuff to NPR or POV on Public Television. Its stupid to think you can pick a random Black, white or Asian person and say “Hey, you go represent your entire race”.
In the end its TV and you can choose not to watch it.

Posted at 3:02PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by janine

25. They will only fit stereotypes, if producers select folks that fit stereotypes. Of course, the producers are going to select folks that fit the stereotypes. I mean TV is not there to educate only to reinforce ppl's stereotypical beliefs. If people watch, it’s because they want to see the groups fit a certain standard they have in their head.

I don’t think you can call the show racist or anything, but I am sure it will be controversial. It’s like the show on FX “Black and White. I only had to watch one episode to know that this was something cooked up by producers to get folks watching or riled up or whatever…not to educate or anything. In fact, that’s not their job…they should leave this stuff to NPR or POV on Public Television. Its stupid to think you can pick a random Black, white or Asian person and say “Hey, you go represent your entire race”.
In the end its TV and you can choose not to watch it.

Posted at 3:04PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by janine

26. I think the racially motivated division will actually be a lesson in society. It will show how cultures cooperate within themselves, and when taken out of thier comfort zone, with others. My thought is, couldn't they find a racially diverse cast anywhere other than California? Is this Survivor: California? Really, 65% of the group hails from CA. Not so diverse, are they?

Posted at 3:14PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by Libby

27. I have to say that it isn't really ridiculous for people to be mad about a tv show. TV and media play a huge role in shaping this country (think about the 2000 presidential election). Furthermore, it is a reflection of our society. Why is "All in the Family" talked about in every decent history book about the United States in the 20th century? Because TV is important in our culture. It is our culture (depressing, right?). And we need to seriously reconsider our priorities if we value having an entertaining show over having a more civilized TV program. And maybe you think you won't become more racist or believe in stereotypes by watching Survivor, but there are naive, gullible people out there. The masses are stupid. Don't trust them to differentiate between "reality TV" and reality itself.

Posted at 3:14PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by hollycow

28. Holycow, I couldn't have said it better myself. There are millions of AMericans who believe anything on TV must be true or never interacts with other groups and only see what's on TV.

Posted at 3:28PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by janine

29. I am trying to teach my 8 year old daughter to be *color blind*.
She didn't even see other people's race until she went to school. ( and learn about it from other kids) How am I going to explain this to her since wehave watched it from the beginning. When she was young she really did not realize that people are *different*. My daughter and her dad are Native American and I wonder if they are not even represented... How am I going to explain that to her........................???

Posted at 3:55PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by MIssy

30. "How much prouder can you possibly be than to represent your ethnic origins in a competition against other ethnic groups."

That may just be the stupidest thing I have ever read. Achievements are individual in nature. Why would one be "proud" of an innate characteristic he did nothing to accomplish? Actually accomplish something on your own merits as a unique individual, then you have something to be proud of.

Posted at 6:32PM on Aug 23rd 2006 by John Jackstone