CANOE -- JAM! Television: Social experts blast new 'Survivor'

ROFLMAO. I know a number of you will disagree with me, and that is all fair in a democracy, but I think it is about time that this Survivor came out; I actually think it was inevitable. To the non-reality watching clan, of which I drop kick most of the critics of this upcoming season, the facts of reality shows simply cannot be dismissed: where minorites are out numbered, the disadvantage is huge from the start and detrimental in the end.

If you look at all the reality shows, the only ones were minorities or the handicapped have thrived are in shows where the person or persons had to rely on themselves, their own determination and their own wits to continue in the game. I will give you several examples of the argument on either side. Let's start with the negatives so we can end with the positives.

Big Brother -Season One, the first person voted off was the black guy. Why? Because he was loud and stirring it up and everyone thought they were on holiday. It seemed that he was the only one to read the rules where it said it was a "game". In another Big Brother, where the evil Dr. Will was rewarded with a win during his season for successfully lying and backstabbing his fway to the finals, Danielle was scolded and punished for doing the same thing and the money awarded to her white counterpart who surfed unscathed on the backs of Danielle's victims. Survivor, every season but one, the minority players (black, latino, deaf, one-legged, Asian) are kept around for strength or wits but never (except once) taken to the final two. Hell's Kitchen, same thing. And on and on we can go. I will give the caveat that some of these people really are stupid and deserve to be tossed BUT so are their white counterparts. We all know who gets to stick around and who gets turfed, right?

On the positive side, The Biggest Loser and The Amazing Race has shown us some of the best moments in reality TV history to see people of divergent upbringing work together to a common goal. On TBL, you had the two heaviest men (one black and one white) form a friendship that I am sure continues today. On TAR, you had the feel good story of all time play out on TV. Uchena and Joyce, on the verge of marital breakup caused by the stress of trying to have a child through IVF (see DW's blog if you need further info), running into money issues and losing the bond between them. They came on the show for an outside chance of winning the money but more importantly to go through this once-in-a-lifetime experience to try to center themselves and rekindle that love and trust and reliance on each other. Nothing illustrated this more than when they went to a Fast Forward (go read the race rules at CBS.com for an explanation) and discovered to Joyce's dismay that it involved a local custom to cut off all of one's hair. Uchena was already a bowling ball so it did not affect him; Joyce had a full head of platted locks. While Uchena was willing to head back to the previous task, Joyce, knowing they would be last and have to leave the game, chose to stay and cut her hair all off in order to get further in the game. The sacrifice had him in tears even as he tried to talk her out of it and she told him to shut up. Yes, they moved on and eventually won the race and a million dollars. When asked what they were going to do first, "IVF" was the response. And sure, there are more examples out there but the point is that they are very few and very far between. Face it people, if they had reversed the players, had cast 10 minorities and two whites in any Big Brother season, and the two whites were turfed first, there most definitely would be a race card pulled (and rightfully so) and the ratings would tank as white America would not continue to watch.

I hate the race card, but our reality is that is gets pulled because sometimes, dammit, it has to be pulled to wake people up. I will be the first to say that it gets pulled for the wrong reason and the wrong time far too often, but let us not put our heads inot the sand. Race is VERY much a part of the Western Civilization fabric. If this was not true, we would not have the Black awards and the Latino awards and the Gay/Homosexual/Bi awards and all the other things that outwardly separate us.

So, I welcome this Survivor and I applaud the producers for having the balls to even go "there". Let's see if a group of like individuals can truly come together to "outwit, outplay and outlast". There will be no excuses ebcause it will be one's own kind kicking one's ass off the island. It will also showcase if the weaknesses of a group can be overcome. What I mean by that is that traditionally, blacks have had a strength and speed advantage but fared poorly in water and heights. Whites have done well in water and puzzles (for the women) while holding their own in the strength department. Asians have done okay in the skills, stamina and speed but very badly in strength and puzzles. Latinos have almost not competed at all in reality TV.

Now, I can hear some of you again. "Where the hell did you get that stuff?" Hmmm, do you watch TV at all. Basketball is predominantly what? Black. Hockey is predominantly what? White. Musical, Spelling and Math prodigy-like folks are predominantly what? Asian (all groups). Swimming, Skiing and Figure Skating has been predominantly what? White. Marathons have been recently won predominantly by what? Blacks This is not a condemnation of any discipline but a matter of fact that is slowiy changing in some areas (i.e. Anson Carter and others in hockey) and not so much in others (i.e another Jamaican bobsled team anyone?).

The critics and a whole lot of people whose opinion don't mean shit to me can poo poo this season's Survivor all they want. I will defy them all by asking the more affluent ones "When was the last time you insisted on a cab driven by a white guy or refused maid service by a Latino or did not hire a Mexican gardener?" Yeah, that's what I thought. So respectfully, shut the hell up and let's see how this all plays out. This may yet be the most socially-realistic survivor since the very first one. May the most resilient, hard-working, and co-operative group win.

Peace.


CANOE -- JAM! Television: Social experts blast new 'Survivor'