Survivors to be split by race

[Sydneyfan]

How exciting! Sorry, but I love Survivor.



CONTESTANTS in the latest US series of the reality TV show Survivor are to be divided into groups by race.

Network CBS raised eyebrows when it announced that the 20 people taking part will initially be in four tribes: black, white, Hispanic and Asian.

Later in the series, which begins in the US on September 14 and is expected to screen in Australia soon afterwards, the tribes will merge as usual.

Host Jeff Probst said he knew the twist would be controversial, but that the idea actually came from complaints that Survivor featured too many white contestants.

He conceded that racial divide was "risky" but said Survivor - in which players will be stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific - was a "social experiment" and this only added another layer to that.

"I think at first glance, when you just hear the idea, it could sound like a stunt," Probst said. "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.

"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."

The reaction among contestants had been mixed, Probst added. Talking about audience reaction, he said: "It's very risky because you're bringing up a topic that is a hot button.

"There's a history of segregation you can't ignore. It is part of our history. For that, it's much safer to say, 'No, let's just stick with things the way they are. Let's don't be the network to rock the boat. Let's not have Survivor try something new'. But the biases from home can't affect you. This is an equal opportunity game."

The castaways on the 13th season of the show include a police officer, a heavy metal guitarist, a lawyer and a nail salon manager.

[blueone]

Is that programme still going? I remember they showed the first series over here in the UK and then stopped.

'I'm a celebrity... get me out of here!' took its place. If you have never seen it then consider yourself lucky!

[foggy]

I didn't know it was still going either. I can't say that I've ever even seen a complete episode (not my thing) but my friend is a big fan.

[Sydneyfan]

Survivor will never die. I know its daggy and cheesy etc, but it sucks me in every season.

I like the idea of racial tribes concept too - my money would be on the Asians.

[trappss1]

I also love survivor. I can't wait to see how this race thing works out.

[Sydneyfan]

I also love survivor. I can't wait to see how this race thing works out.


Yay - finally someone else who likes Survivor. I think the race thing is a great concept, should make the pre-merge episodes really interesting.

[GibbasTV]

My owner can watch Survivor on me.

[hgrunwell]

Someone reported this thread as being rude & innapropriate. LOL

[Sydneyfan]

Someone reported this thread as being rude & innapropriate. LOL

:wtf

I blame it on my avatar.

[kees]

No, it's Foggy and her Rufus avatars......

[Sydneyfan]

No, it's Foggy and her Rufus avatars......


Pervert.

[blueone]

No, it's Foggy and her Rufus avatars......

Damn that Mr. Wainwright. ;)

[Factory Boy]

Thought I'd drop my Billy Joel avatar in here, just to make it even more objectionable!

[foggy]

No, it's Foggy and her Rufus avatars......

:lol Now that I know they wield such power I'll have to make up a batch of new ones.

[trappss1]

One more day till the premier:upyours ...don't worry Syd, I know that you don't get it quite as soon...I'll tell you what happens:D

[Rob]

Best reality show on the planet!

[trappss1]

Best reality show on the planet!

You know it!

[Rob]

You know it!
survivors ready!?!?!? GO!!!

[Rob]

Immunity back up for grabs.

[trappss1]

:lol:lol:lol

[Sydneyfan]

Sadly, on my planet, it doesn't look like we're going to get this anytime soon.

[trappss1]

Sadly, on my planet, it doesn't look like we're going to get this anytime soon.

I thought that I read that it would be shown in Australia shortly after it premiered here. I guess it didn't specify what was meant by shortly.

[Sydneyfan]

I thought that I read that it would be shown in Australia shortly after it premiered here. I guess it didn't specify what was meant by shortly.


They're not advertising it. I should check it out in more detail - maybe it is going to be on?

[risa]

grab your torches, head back to camp.

[Rob]

do you wanna know what you're playing for?

[Sydneyfan]

Survivor will be screened here "later this year". Which means Christmas non-rating period. Which stinks.

[trappss1]

Survivor will be screened here "later this year". Which means Christmas non-rating period. Which stinks.

It will prolly definately be ruined for you by then.

[Sydneyfan]

It will prolly definately be ruined for you by then.

Indeed.

[Rob]

everyone have their buffs ready for tonight?

[trappss1]

everyone have their buffs ready for tonight?

You bet! Can't wait!

[Sydneyfan]

Looks like two people got voted off already. Quite a twist. :downyours

[hgrunwell]

Gotta love it!

http://bootcity.org/hgrunwell/images/assbandit.jpg

[finchattack]

"Karma is a bizzle"

[Sydneyfan]

"Karma is a bizzle"


What's a bizzle?

I really need to watch this show :(

[foggy]

A bitch. Snoop dogg, yo.

[Sydneyfan]

A bitch. Snoop dogg, yo.


:lol P is so street. Ta, now I understand.

[foggy]

:lol P is so street.

y'know it homeslice.

[Sydneyfan]

y'know it homeslice.



What happened to my piano man by the way? Not that Bowie with a sax isn't nice.

[foggy]

He'll be back, he always comes back. I just realized the Bowie pic matches the color of my name so now I gotta keep him for a bit.

[Sydneyfan]

He'll be back, he always comes back. I just realized the Bowie pic matches the color of my name so now I gotta keep him for a bit.


Is that you, Anna Wintour?

[foggy]

Is that you, Anna Wintour?

Nope, definitely not. :downyours

[Sydneyfan]

Nope, definitely not. :downyours


I would love to be her actually - although maybe just a little while. The power would be great. I don't know if I'm enthused enough to see the Devil Wears Prada though....

[foggy]

I'd take a pass on that one, I'm not exactly her biggest fan.

[Sydneyfan]

I'd take a pass on that one, I'm not exactly her biggest fan.


She's a fairly formidable woman by all accounts. I read an interview with her a little while ago and the journo was amazed at how she managed to speak in these clipped, perfectly neat little sentences which basically gave nothing away. She must be an utter control freak.

[trappss1]

How did the survivor thread devolve into this...

[Sydneyfan]

When you don't keep us updated with Survivor news, this is what happens.....

[trappss1]

When you don't keep us updated with Survivor news, this is what happens.....

I didn't think that you would want me to ruin it for you.

[Sydneyfan]

Ha, I think the internet has already taken care of that.....

[finchattack]

That was trecherous what the latinos did this week!

[Sydneyfan]

Is that the tribe that lost the immunity challenge on purpose just to get rid of one guy? They'll be decimated by the merge with that kind of thinking. :imp

[trappss1]

This "social experiment" didn't last to long did it. 2 episodes and they already combined into 2 tribes. What a gimmic!:downyours

[Sydneyfan]

This "social experiment" didn't last to long did it. 2 episodes and they already combined into 2 tribes. What a gimmic!:downyours


Seriously? That's hopeless. This starts here on Wednesday night - why they couldn't have started it at the same time as the States I have no idea. :downyours

[trappss1]

Seriously? That's hopeless. This starts here on Wednesday night - why they couldn't have started it at the same time as the States I have no idea. :downyours

I'll try to stop ruining it for you then but yes they merged into 2 tribes at the start of ep 3 and they did their very best to make sure that the races were split up as evenly as possible.

[Sydneyfan]

I'll try to stop ruining it for you then but yes they merged into 2 tribes at the start of ep 3 and they did their very best to make sure that the races were split up as evenly as possible.


Its okay, don't worry too much about ruining it for me - I usually check the net for spoilers anyway. Sounds like the producers are really trying too hard this time around. I mean, there's always a fair degree of outside manipulation with Survivor, but the outcome sounds really set-up here.
Which of the race tribes did the best overall?

[trappss1]

Its okay, don't worry too much about ruining it for me - I usually check the net for spoilers anyway. Sounds like the producers are really trying too hard this time around. I mean, there's always a fair degree of outside manipulation with Survivor, but the outcome sounds really set-up here.
Which of the race tribes did the best overall?

I would say that the Asians were probably the most successful racial tribe in the 2 episodes.

[Sydneyfan]

I would say that the Asians were probably the most successful racial tribe in the 2 episodes.

Ha, just as I thought :imp

Thanks. Brains will beat brawn every time - even in Survivor.

[trappss1]

Ha, just as I thought :imp

Thanks. Brains will beat brawn every time - even in Survivor.

:lol I love stereotypes:lol

[Sydneyfan]

:lol Am I wrong? No I'm not.

They could outwit, outplay, outlast and probably manage to open a 7 - Eleven on the island at the same time. :upyours

[trappss1]

:lol Am I wrong? No I'm not.

They could outwit, outplay, outlast and probably manage to open a 7 - Eleven on the island at the same time. :upyours

:lol no you aren't wrong. That's what makes it :lolz

[Sydneyfan]

Actually, that's probably why they decided to merge the tribes so quickly. They were kinda playing with fire with all the racial stuff.

[trappss1]

Actually, that's probably why they decided to merge the tribes so quickly. They were kinda playing with fire with all the racial stuff.

Every time they do the 4 tribe thing at the beginning it doesn't last long. No matter what the divisions are. It just messes the numbers up to bad. Plus its hard to do challenges with that many teams.

[Sydneyfan]

Every time they do the 4 tribe thing at the beginning it doesn't last long. No matter what the divisions are. It just messes the numbers up to bad. Plus its hard to do challenges with that many teams.


Yeah, true enough. The producers must be running out of gimmicks by now - they've done men/women, racial, young/old. Not much left.

[trappss1]

Yeah, true enough. The producers must be running out of gimmicks by now - they've done men/women, racial, young/old. Not much left.

The challenge last night was very familiar to me. They either used it once before on Survivor or it was on some other show.

[Sydneyfan]

The challenge last night was very familiar to me. They either used it once before on Survivor or it was on some other show.

It wouldn't surprise me, they must be running out of ideas. A couple of years ago we had our own version of Survivor - it lasted one series and then got mercifully put to sleep. It was terrible. All the contestants were way too nice to one another and they had lame challenges like history quizzes, truely. :upyours

It made me appreciate the original show a lot more.

[trappss1]

It wouldn't surprise me, they must be running out of ideas. A couple of years ago we had our own version of Survivor - it lasted one series and then got mercifully put to sleep. It was terrible. All the contestants were way too nice to one another and they had lame challenges like history quizzes, truely. :upyours

It made me appreciate the original show a lot more.

They should have known that you Aussie's just aren't cut out for survivor. Leave it to us merciless Americans!:upyours

[Sydneyfan]

They should have known that you Aussie's just aren't cut out for survivor. Leave it to us merciless Americans!:upyours

You might be right. The Aussies just sat around chatting and all the guys wouldn't betray alliances because they were mates. :\ You guys do it much better.

[trappss1]

You might be right. The Aussies just sat around chatting and all the guys wouldn't betray alliances because they were mates. :\ You guys do it much better.

They probably didn't offer a big enough prize. Anybody will go ape shit if the money is right:upyours Isn't that what capitalism is all about?:lol

[Sydneyfan]

They probably didn't offer a big enough prize. Anybody will go ape shit if the money is right:upyours Isn't that what capitalism is all about?:lol

I think the first prize was about $50,000 Aussie dollars.

Which is about US$12.43. :lol :downyours

[trappss1]

I think the first prize was about $50,000 Aussie dollars.

Which is about US$12.43. :lol :downyours

They probably got more out of just being on the show then if they would have actually won. Do you guys have reality tv stars that stay celebrities after the show over there?

[Sydneyfan]

They probably got more out of just being on the show then if they would have actually won. Do you guys have reality tv stars that stay celebrities after the show over there?

Yep, a few but most don't last long. Usually if they are in the first series of the show they do better. By the third or fourth series, people are not so fascinated anymore. I saw a girl who was a finalist in the third series of Australian Idol handing out leaflets at a shopping mall a couple of weeks ago. So not much long term fame for her.

Also, we have a reall smally population in comparison to the US, so its harder to make a buck out of having been a reality star.

[trappss1]

Also, we have a reall smally population in comparison to the US, so its harder to make a buck out of having been a reality star.

You don't have Playboy Australia?:lol

[Sydneyfan]

You don't have Playboy Australia?:lol


:lol The career option of choice for the young and untalented.

[trappss1]

:lol The career option of choice for the young and untalented.

See Anna Nicole Smith:lol

[Sydneyfan]

See Anna Nicole Smith:lol

Didn't her husband leave her a gazillion dollars when he died? I wouldn't have thought she needed the money.

[trappss1]

Didn't her husband leave her a gazillion dollars when he died? I wouldn't have thought she needed the money.

She was in Playboy before she married that old guy. She still hasn't inherited though cause the geezers son from a previous marriage has tied it up in court for years.

[Sydneyfan]

She was in Playboy before she married that old guy. She still hasn't inherited though cause the geezers son from a previous marriage has tied it up in court for years.


Oh okay. That would explain why she was over here sleazing around and promoting some skin cream or something last year. I can't say I blame the old guy's kids for trying to stop her getting the money. Somehow, I doubt she earned it.

[trappss1]

Oh okay. That would explain why she was over here sleazing around and promoting some skin cream or something last year. I can't say I blame the old guy's kids for trying to stop her getting the money. Somehow, I doubt she earned it.

You mean you don't think that these two people slept together
http://www.tvsquad.com/media/2006/05/annanicole.jpg

[foggy]

Oh god. That is just wrong.

[trappss1]

Oh god. That is just wrong.

:lol :lol :lol I say you go old guy:lol :lol :lol :banana :banana :banana

[Sydneyfan]

Oh god. That is just wrong.

Oh come on, he's hot and you know it. :lol

[Rob]

This "social experiment" didn't last to long did it. 2 episodes and they already combined into 2 tribes. What a gimmic!:downyours
the show is pathetic

[foggy]

Oh come on, he's hot and you know it. :lol

Hey, it's the age difference I was commenting on. I never said he wasn't hot, I mean just look at him. :upyours

[trappss1]

the show is pathetic

Your Project Runway Avatar is pathetic!

[Rob]

Your Project Runway Avatar is pathetic!
This huge social experiment lasted two episodes. :wtf

[trappss1]

This huge social experiment lasted two episodes. :wtf

I'll admit that it wasn't the greatest moment in Survivor history, but :wtf is with that Av?

[trappss1]

Rob still refuses to discuss the ROB of his av?

[Rob]

I'll admit that it wasn't the greatest moment in Survivor history, but :wtf is with that Av?
I can't like a television show?

[Starlite]

The 1st episode aired last night! Go the Asians - how about that 'cowboy' dude?
Hey, we've got Australian 'Celebrity' Survivor at the moment! A couple of years ago they did an Aust Survivor and it was a HUGE flop! But they're trying again. Anyways, the term celebrity loosely applies - they've got former soap stars who I didn't even know were still alive ie. no TV appearances in 15 years: Bobby from Home & Away :lol Also, our Princess Mary's bestie :lol
I don't think I know any of the others :confused (but I refuse to watch it...)

[Sydneyfan]

The 1st episode aired last night! Go the Asians - how about that 'cowboy' dude?
Hey, we've got Australian 'Celebrity' Survivor at the moment! A couple of years ago they did an Aust Survivor and it was a HUGE flop! But they're trying again. Anyways, the term celebrity loosely applies - they've got former soap stars who I didn't even know were still alive ie. no TV appearances in 15 years: Bobby from Home & Away :lol Also, our Princess Mary's bestie :lol
I don't think I know any of the others :confused (but I refuse to watch it...)


Don't forget Guy Leech and Wayne Gardiner. :lol They're in there, believe it or not. And Dicko is the host. So you know its quality.

[la twinkle]

Australian reality tv is really the only thing worse than american reality tv! I was once a Survivor addict I've weened myself off I'm happy to say. Missed the first episode lets hope I continue doing so.

[thefed]

Rob still refuses to discuss the ROB of his av?

project runway is punk as shit!