They’ve tried everything in the past — divide contestants by age and by sex. Survivor: Cook Islands, the 13th season for this popular reality show series, is finally going further in the way of political incorrectness. And I am enjoying every minute of it.

They are now dividing the contestants into four groups of five contestants each, with each group representing a particular race. We thus have the Caucasian (Raro), African-American (Hiki), Hispanic (Aitu) and Asian-American (Puka) tribes. Apparently there are many who are up in arms about this — just check out what MSNBC is saying. Some rags and other news outlets are calling it a “controversial” move by Mark Burnett, the show’s producer.

All I can say is… WHO GIVES A #$(*%? I certainly don’t care a whit about race and how it’ll play into the strategy of winning this particular competition. Be that as it may, I don’t read much into ethnic stereotyping, but maybe it’s because I don’t have a chip on my shoulder, as those who may be overly sensitive to Polish or such jokes happen to be.

Of course, there are always limits to how racial differences are represented — if done in a truly negative light, or in bad taste, I would certainly cry foul. But so far, I am only quite mildly amused by the goings on in the Cook Islands these days and am still waiting for somebody’s boot to drop with flying sparks and all that. I’m still waiting for the real drama to start. Though I did have one of the season’s funny moments hit me when Virgilio “Billy” Garcia from the Aitu (Hispanic) tribe claimed he had fallen in love at first sight with a sorority girl from the Raro (Caucasian) tribe. He said it with a straight face during tribal council while on the verge of being kicked off, and with absolutely no warning and definitely no confirmed reciprocity from the female in question, other than a sympathetic verbal pat in the back she gave him at one point during an immunity challenge. All I could think was…DUDE….in your dreams! Hello! Is there anyone home?

So to all the TNPTBs (Television Network Powers That Be) out there, keep on plugging along with the ethnic theme… I’m all for it! After all, that’s not what’s offensive — it’s stuff like this that is. Okay, your mileage may vary.
 
 

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