# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**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 24, 2006, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/21 "2006-08-24T00:13:18Z")
It’ll be nice to see a show where Whites are in the minority for a change-- or at least Whites aren’t a majority. Once the tribes merge, it’ll probably be a challenge for the Whites to adjust to that situation. It won’t be like Dave Chapelle’s Real World (take 6 Blacks and 1 White and put them in a house together), but it’ll certainly mix things up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/22 "2006-08-24T00:22:48Z")
In an article Burnett claims they carefully screened out all the racists. Personally, I suspect he missed one obvious one. I think this is going to be a huge train wreck; Burnett’s the last guy I’d put in charge of controlling a volatile racial situation. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/23 "2006-08-27T17:45:36Z")
IMHO, this is just a ratings ploy. The ratings have flattened out for the last couple of seasons, so a little controversy may be just what the show needs. The trick is going to be to sustain any spike in the numbers over a full season, since I agree that this tribal alignment will probably only last 1 or 2 episodes. BTW, I was listening to Mike Malloy on AirAmerica Radio the other day, and he seems to be exhorting the lefties to protest against CBS for this “offensive” idea, which is probably exactly what the network wanted. A good dose of protest may get people to watch just to see what the hoopla’s all about. ---
**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 27, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/24 "2006-08-27T17:55:40Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > In an article Burnett claims they carefully screened out all the racists. Personally, I suspect he missed one obvious one. I think this is going to be a huge train wreck; Burnett’s the last guy I’d put in charge of controlling a volatile racial situation. It is interesting about Burnett - If you were to judge him based upon the contestants he selects for “Survivor”, you could rightfully think that he has a bias against African-Americans - with few exceptions, the AA’s on the show have been weak, with several of them being among the worst players ever. On the other hand, Burnett does The Apprentice", too, and the African Americans on that show have generally been stellar contestants, one clearly the best ever, and several others among the finalists. Much, much better performance than chance would suggest based upon their representation. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/25 "2006-08-27T21:03:27Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > BTW, I was listening to Mike Malloy on AirAmerica Radio the other day, and he seems to be exhorting the lefties to protest against CBS for this “offensive” idea, which is probably exactly what the network wanted. A good dose of protest may get people to watch just to see what the hoopla’s all about. Indeed. That’s what I wrote in the [Pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7714207&postcount=82) about this. Protests breed curiousity and curious people buy tickets, or in this case, tune in. I just hope there’s enough there to keep people tuned in for the long haul. The last several Survivor seasons have all been the same, decent first few episodes, crap in the middle, excellent ending. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/26 "2006-08-27T21:48:07Z")
With only a couple exceptions, that is the whitest group of non-whites I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/27 "2006-08-27T22:07:41Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > How about straight vs gay for a future survivor? I think I know which team Brad would be on. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/28 "2006-08-27T22:40:18Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > With only a couple exceptions, that is the whitest group of non-whites I’ve ever seen. Come again? ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/29 "2006-08-28T13:49:57Z")
I have to say, when I first heard about this whole divided-by-race business, it made me feel very yucky. How could they _do_ that? _Why?_ But I’ve read up on this cast at the CBS website, and now I don’t know. I feel more “meh” about it than anything else. I mean, _of course_ I’ll watch. _I always do._ I’ll give Burnett the benefit out the doubt just this once, because after the fiasco that was Vanuatu, we had the joy and wonder that was Palau, so maybe – _maybe!_ – he knows what he’s doing. But I am still a little uncomfortable about it, just for the record. Oh – and [Ozzy](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor13/survivors/bio_ozzy.shtml)? Strikes me as kind of a cross between [Gabriel](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor4/survivors/bios/gabriel.shtml) from Marquesas and [Ian](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor10/survivors/bio/ian.shtml) from Palau. So, although I am _trying_ to remain objective here, I fear I already have a favorite (which means that if you’re the gamblin’ type, DO NOT pick Ozzy to finish any better than 3rd). ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/30 "2006-08-28T15:16:46Z")
One thing I notice about this group is there aren’t any old people. There are only three people over 40, and they’re all men; max age 45. No obvious weaklings in the bunch, though Billy a bit heavy. And how on earth did they find another [fire juggler/performance artist](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor13/survivors/bio_jessica.shtml)? Oh, wait, this is California we’re talking about. 🙂 ---
**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 28, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/31 "2006-08-28T15:32:39Z")
Well, at least [Jessica’s](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor13/survivors/bio_jessica.shtml)hair can’t possibly look any worse after being out there a month than it does going into it… ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/32 "2006-08-28T15:45:54Z")
I was surprised that I recognized [Jonathon Penner](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor13/survivors/bio_jonathan.shtml). I liked him in “Grapevine”. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/33 "2006-08-28T16:18:47Z")
> [@WVmom](#): > > And how on earth did they find another fire juggler/performance artist? Oh, wait, this is California we’re talking about. > [@Mama Tiger](#): > > Well, at least Jessica’s hair can’t possibly look any worse after being out there a month than it does going into it… Is it some kind of rule or something that, for every season, they must cast someone with unfortunate hair? Hopefully they’ve brought back the Luxury Items, and someone had the good sense to bring some V05 Hot Oil Treatments. Because … _wow_. (Not that I can really talk, because I have some serious split-end issues of my own going on, but if I were on TV? You _bet_ I’d get a trim first.) And I _love_ that the aforementioned Jonathon Penner has a pet lizard named Mozilla. _Awesome_. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/34 "2006-08-28T16:21:48Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > Is it some kind of rule or something that, for every season, they must cast someone with unfortunate hair? Hopefully they’ve brought back the Luxury Items, and someone had the good sense to bring some V05 Hot Oil Treatments. My luxury item would be a 50-gallon drum of Frizz-Ease. Really. Or I’d be wearing my buff on my head the whole time. I have some serious humidity/hair issues. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/35 "2006-08-28T23:37:37Z")
It turns out my parents visited Aitutaki some years ago. Here is my mother’s comment: Yes, we were there in 1985. We were the only visiting sailboat in the entire lagoon at the time. There was just one small resort , a banana packing plant , airstrip, school, store or two - we rode our bikes around the dirt roads and took our dingy out to the small motu on the south west corner of th atoll. There was a very narrow entrance “ditch” blasted by the Yanks during WW2 by which we could bring _Bunyip_\* in at high tide. \*_Bunyip_ was their sailboat. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927/36 "2006-08-29T01:11:27Z")
> [@WVmom](#): > > \*_Bunyip_ was their sailboat. Good name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-cook-islands-a-new-twist-possible-spoilers/369927.md?page=1)