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.
