The New Survivor

Are they REALLY this desperate for ratings?

By Luvn29 on Saturday, August 26, 2006 - 11:05 pm:

I didn't go to your link, but I read an article on this the other day, and supposedly it is because they kept getting complaints that they didn't include enough people from different races. So they are doing it this way to prove they will allow anyone on the show. Still not sure what they are thinking, though. Not a big deal to me, but I can almost guarantee it will cause problems, both on the show with cast members, and with viewers.

By Bea on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 12:27 am:

Right-wing mouthpiece Rush Limbaugh, always keen to wax bluntly on delicate subjects, took to handicapping the new season on his radio show Wednesday.


Hispanics, he said, "have shown a remarkable ability to cross borders" and "will do things other people won't do." Asians, per Limbaugh, are "the best at espionage, keeping secrets." Blacks "lack buoyancy" and are "more likely to drown," while the white man's burden will weigh down the last team with "guilt over the fact that they run things."

....and so it starts!!!!!

By Melanie on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 12:46 am:

I am actually interested in how this show plays out. In a couple of seasons that I can recall, race has already been an issue. A couple of people teamed up and talked about their race as being why they feel like outsiders. So why not create a season where race is the central issue? This is, after all, a show about social interactions. They have separated by age and by gender...why should race be so taboo? I am truly hoping that when merges start happening the players start bonding over something more than just race to vote people out (those early alliance very rarely hold until the end!). Maybe, just maybe, this season will show that race isn't such a factor after all. Too idealistic? I don't think so. There have been a lot of white players on the show I know *I* would never bond with. And several whose skin color differed from mine that I would love to play the game with. I think it will be an interesting season and I will definitely be watching.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 01:58 am:

I think it is done to boost tired ratings, for sensationalism - look at all the publicity they've gotten so far. Personally, I think it is a dreadful idea, and will only fuel the prejudices of those who are already prejudiced or biased. And yes, I think it will make trouble on and off the show.

Gee, Rush Limbaugh doesn't sound so funny when it is in the printed word instead of being "cleverly" put forth on the radio. I like that phrase, Bea - "always keen to wax bluntly on delicate subjects" - except, of course, prescription drug addiction.

By Breann on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 03:07 am:

I don't think it's any different than when they did "boys against girls" or "old against young". Just another scenario.

By Karen~admin on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 08:10 am:

Ditto Ginny!!!!

By Reds9298 on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 12:40 pm:

Ditto Breann. Huge Survivor fans here...I personally thought dumbing down the challenges when it was girls vs boys was a huge insult to females, but it makes for great conversation! I don't think this is any different than anything they've done before. There have been racial issues before, so that's nothing new. I read the same article Adena mentioned, and I've seen every Survivor season and the diversity IS low. According to Jeff Probst, most of the people who try out for the show are white. They actually went searching for people to create diversity this season because a diverse population does not try out.

By Cocoabutter on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 11:50 pm:

You can HEAR Rush, if you wish (wink), on his website, but only until Monday evening (8-28-06) when the guest webpage is updated to reflect the contents of Monday's radio broadcast.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_082306/content/rush_on_a_roll.guest.html

Something you have to understand about Rush,some of his show is satire, and is meant only to point out the hypocracy or lunacy of some things, much as a stand-up comedian might do. And, quite amusingly, he gets taken seriously by the left when he does this because they don't listen to him enough to know when he is being satirical and when he is not.

I listened to Rush's segment on this ludicrous Survivor season, and he feels pretty much the same way we do:

CALLER: Right. I like the way you play around with that and what you do is you tease the racism card throughout this nation right now, and instead of trying to elevate it...

RUSH: I'm telling you what a major network is doing in its prime-time schedule. They're pitting races against each other in this stupid Survivor format and you're telling me I'm being racist.

RUSH:The show is about one tribe being better than the other three. It is a contest! It is a competition. That's precisely the purpose and the format. You say nobody talks about anybody being the best. That's what's so interesting about this. They're pitting races against races to see who's better as a race at surviving anybody else.

The story on CBS News Early Show

If you think what Rush said was bad, you should read the comments at the bottom of the CBS story.

By Cocoabutter on Monday, August 28, 2006 - 06:01 pm:

Rush left the link up to his comments regarding Survivor. He also had more to say today.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_082806/content/rush_on_a_roll.guest.html

I understand sarcasm is difficult to hear when you are reading. I am simply giving you an opportunity to hear it for yourself rather than rely on what all the mainstream media has been saying about his remarks.