# Survivor: Cook Islands-- a new twist (possible spoilers!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927 "2006-08-23T19:07:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/1 "2006-08-23T19:07:21Z")
So, the upcoming Survivor will have 20 contestants, with 4 teams divided by race (White, Black Asian, Hispanic) to start off. Good idea or bad? They’ve done gender and age, so I guess race is a logical next step. How about straight vs gay for a future survivor? [Link.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/eo/20060823/en_tv_eo/19833) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/2 "2006-08-23T19:38:49Z")
Race? Sounds interesting, but will they keep them segrated for a long time? They’ve done this before, but ended up combining into two regular tribes them rather quickly. Last time (was it last time?), they were divided into four groups by age and gender, but regrouped them by the second or third episode. The time they grouped them by gender (Amazon), they mixed them up before the merge because it was boring. That list of contestants only lists 19 players. I wonder if someone got left off by mistake or if someone dropped out right away. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/3 "2006-08-23T19:40:45Z")
I’m not offended by dividing the teams initially by race - it’s just as valid as using, say, hair color. It’s not like any team would have a natural advantage over any other. But what really bothers me is the trend toward increasing the pool of players. 20 is too many!! Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/4 "2006-08-23T19:44:15Z")
Good Lord. Twenty players? It’s gonna take me weeks to figure out one fake boob-job from another! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/5 "2006-08-23T20:04:00Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Race? Sounds interesting, but will they keep them segrated for a long time? They’ve done this before, but ended up combining into two regular tribes them rather quickly. Yeah, it’ll probably be only the first 2 or 3 episodes. They may even kick off several players at once like they’ve done before. What might make it interesting is if there is race loyalty after the tribes merge, just like there was “age loyalty” when they split people up by age. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/6 "2006-08-23T20:06:28Z")
I just want to say nothing more than to boast that I was in the Cook Islands last year, so there. Wonder which island they will be on? ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/7 "2006-08-23T20:06:34Z")
An interview I’ve seen with Probst also suggests he thinks people will be cheering for players based on race too. This looks like a car-wreck not to be missed… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/8 "2006-08-23T20:11:30Z")
> [@Lips\_Obsession](#): > > An interview I’ve seen with Probst also suggests he thinks people will be cheering for players based on race too. This looks like a car-wreck not to be missed… I’d be a bit careful about believing anything those guys say. Burnett knows that controversy is good for the show, so they’ll be right there fanning the flames. Hey, I got duped enough to start this thread because of the “controversy”! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/9 "2006-08-23T20:28:46Z")
Just googled it: [Aitutaki](http://www.claycritters.com/map/s13/survivor_13_photos.htm), which is the second most developed island in the chain. And is lovely, by all accounts, though I didn’t make it - but when you’re watching it, don’t be fooled by any claims that it’s deserted: just remember that it’s actually pretty civilised - population 1,800 people, an airstrip, several hotels, restaurants, post office, police station, several roads, and a hospital. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/10 "2006-08-23T20:36:37Z")
[Holy Crap!](http://www.claycritters.com/map/s13/s13_set3.jpg) (pun intended). They’re going to crucify the losers! First seperate them by race, then bring in the religion angle! This is going to be good! ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/11 "2006-08-23T20:50:31Z")
Here is the CBS link for anyone who is interested. > **[CBS Shows - Popular Primetime, Daytime, Late Night & Classics](https://www.cbs.com/shows/)** > > Watch full episodes and clips of Popular Primetime, Daytime, Late Night and Classic shows on CBS.com. Talk with other fans, catch up with your favorite shows and more. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/12 "2006-08-23T21:17:32Z")
> [@light strand](#): > > Here is the CBS link for anyone who is interested. > > [CBS Shows - Popular Primetime, Daytime, Late Night & Classics](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor13/) Are those supposed to be the Hispanics in the back, left? Hard to tell… ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/13 "2006-08-23T21:19:02Z")
I’m guessing yes. But only because of the big guy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/14 "2006-08-23T21:21:28Z")
> [@light strand](#): > > I’m guessing yes. But only because of the big guy. The guy second from the left in the back looks like Aquaman (Entourage). ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/15 "2006-08-23T21:26:01Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > The guy second from the left in the back looks like Aquaman (Entourage). Hey, he does! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/16 "2006-08-23T22:07:43Z")
What I find more horrifying, even, than the fact they’re dividing by race is the fact that \*13 out of 20 \*contestants are from California, and only _one_ is not from either the East or West Coast! So I guess the rest of the country – that big filler in the middle there – really _doesn’t_ exist? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/17 "2006-08-23T23:01:51Z")
Ugh. I’ve dropped off the Survivor bandwagon as it is, but this makes me even less likely to watch. If nothing else, I can only imagine how many times we’re going to hear a varation on the following statement: “We really need to (accomplish goal) because those (other races) think that (our race) (stereotype), but we’re going to prove that really (our race) is (more positive stereotype).” GAH! I’m irritated already. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/18 "2006-08-23T23:11:39Z")
> [@Mama Tiger](#): > > So I guess the rest of the country – that big filler in the middle there – really _doesn’t_ exist? That is correct. 😃 I’ve never been disappointed in a Survivor yet. It’s the only Reality show I watch, and it’s just plain good. I’m sure this one will be, too. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/19 "2006-08-23T23:14:50Z")
Don’t like it. Inevitably, one team is going to look bad. Lazy, incompetent, dysfunctional, and/or boring…it will be fit one or all of these. And inevitably, one team is going to look really good. Strong, smart, cooperative, and exciting. The contrast will make for lots of squirming. It will be far too easy for someone in the audience to draw dumb-ass conclusions from the results. ---
**Author:** ![Foldup\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Foldup\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foldup_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/20 "2006-08-23T23:48:18Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > What might make it interesting is if there is race loyalty after the tribes merge, just like there was “age loyalty” when they split people up by age. That’s the part that eeks me out a little bit. I hope they don’t start selecting people based on racial stereotypes; for example, all the black dudes are really large and muscular and all the Asian guys are skinny with glasses. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927.md?page=2)