'Survivor' change draws some ire

The reality show 'is no stranger to controversy,' a network statement said.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Reality programs have always courted controversy, but the CBS show "Survivor" is going where even the Fox network has not dared to tread.
When "Survivor: Cook Islands" debuts on Sept. 14, the 20 contestants on the show will be divided into four different teams -- based on race.
For the 13th edition of the show, there will be an Asian-American team, a black team, a Hispanic team and a white team. Eventually the team members will unite to form diverse teams.
"The idea for this actually came from the criticism that 'Survivor' was not ethnically diverse enough," host Jeff Probst told Harry Smith of CBS' "Early Show" on Wednesday. "I think it fits in perfectly with what 'Survivor' does -- it is a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment, which is taking the show to a completely different level."
"Are the producers utterly clueless about this issue, or are they utterly soulless in that they're willing to engage this issue for the sake of ratings and buzz?" asked Lisa Navarrete, spokeswoman for the Latino advocacy group the National Council of La Raza. "It is really unconscionable and irresponsible."
Is it strategy?
The decision to divide contestants by race may be part of a strategy by CBS to gain renewed notice for the reality show, which debuted in 2000 and has seen its ratings decline in recent years. Most editions of the show have had more than 20 million viewers and "Survivor" has been a fixture in the Nielsen ratings top 10.
However, average ratings have dipped below 20 million for some recent editions of the show, and the finale for its most recent outing, "Survivor Panama: Exile Island," garnered 17 million viewers, the smallest finale audience in the show's history. Regardless of the ratings, however, the pre-show hype isn't what it was in the show's heyday.
"I think this definitely creates more interest in the show, more than anything else has in the past two seasons. It's getting us to talk about the show well before it debuts," said Andy Dehnart, a professor at Florida's Stetson University and editor of the popular reality-TV show Web site RealityBlurred.com.
CBS said none of the show's producers were available to comment, but the network did put out a statement in anticipation of any controversy about the race-based nature of the new "Survivor."
"CBS fully recognizes the controversial nature of this format, but has full confidence in the producers and their ability to produce the program in a responsible manner," the network's statement said. "'Survivor' is a program that is no stranger to controversy and has always answered its critics on the screen."
Always changing
The statement also noted that "Survivor" has changed its format many times in the course of its history, and indeed, the show has constantly evolved to keep viewers -- and contestants -- guessing. In the most recent edition of the show, the contestants were split into teams based on age and gender for a time.
As Probst noted in his "Early Show" interview, however, the show's lack of diversity has also been a constant theme among "Survivor" commentators.
"What's kind of exciting about this season is the amazing ethnic diversity of the cast," says Dehnart. "That's unfortunately overshadowed by the division of the races."
Still, "this has the potential to bring the show back into the pop-culture conversation," Dehnart added. "It's remained popular, but no one talks about it like they used to."
Fan reactions were mixed. During a discussion at the Chicago Tribune's Watcher Web site, one reader called the move "Jerry Springer-ish," while others were intrigued by the idea.
Mark Burnett, the show's creator, indicated that he thought the racial element of the show could bring out the best in the competitors.
Other observers weren't so sure this was the way to go about having a discussion about race.
"This seems like a step backward," said Lawrence Lichty, a professor of radio, television and film at Northwestern University. "The format for 'Survivor' is getting old, and there are so many other reality programs like it. I can understand the reasons for the twist, but it sure sounds dangerous to me."
"You know 'Survivor,' it's all about getting ugly," said Navarrete.