Racially Segregated Teams on ‘Survivor’ Spark Controversy, But Have You Seen So Many APAs on TV Before?
The number of APAs quadrupled this season, but critics say this ‘social experiment’ may go bad.
They’ve stabbed each other in the backs, formed unlikely alliances and banished teammates to exile. What’s next, fans wondered, and the answer seems to be racial segregation. The show often credited with popularizing reality television is pushing its limits again in its 13th season and despite its fixture in prime time, the show and its makers have not won immunity from the backlash.
For the first part of this upcoming season’s “Survivor,” which premieres Sept. 14, the contestants competing for the $1 million prize while stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific will be divided into four teams — Asian Pacific American, African American, Hispanic American and Caucasian.
Since its new race based gimmick was revealed late last month, “Survivor” has been slapped with vehement criticism, the loudest of which has been echoing from the office of New York Councilman John Liu, who called the show, “stupidity at play.” And even though the world’s largest automaker said its decision to pull its sponsorship was not influenced by the show’s controversial new twist, critics think their loud protest did elicit some action. In a statement, Liu urged CBS to cancel the show.
But whatever the challenge, “Survivor” is coming your way with a five-member APA cast — an unprecedented number on the television landscape that usually only affords one or two ethnic tokens. And perhaps even louder than the protest over the racial segregation is the longstanding complaint that there just aren’t enough APAs on television.
A new report by the University of California, Los Angeles and the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) released before the “Survivor” race twist was announced, indicated that regular APA characters only account for 2.6 percent of all prime time television and even singled-out CBS as having no APA representation at all.
So now the show’s creators are arguing that they are giving us what we want — a “Survivor” that is the most racially diverse in the show’s history. An entire team named “Puka Puka” is comprised of a diverse group of APA lawyers, entrepreneurs, a fashion director and a real estate agent. There’s no martial artist in sight unless you count 31-year-old Queens, New York native Yul Kwon, who according to the show’s Web site, wants to try ultimate fighting.
Host Jeff Probst calls the new season a “social experiment” in a series of video previews, which also show leery contestants expressing concern over the race issue, exalting their culture and one female contestant saying there’s a way to connect to everyone, as if the 20 castaways were aliens.
The key, just like in any other season’s “Survivor” is to integrate and work across ethnic lines. Yes, initially viewers may root for the contestant based on race, but in the end they will gravitate towards their favorite regardless of skin color, said the show’s creator Mark Burnett.
But in a game that requires human beings to be brought to their basest elements, will the race play backfire?
“I feel a little uncomfortable [about the plot twist], but I think it’ll make for very interesting television,” said Bruce Kanegai, the contestant from last season’s “Survivor” in Panama best known for being the second contestant to leave the show for medical reasons — mainly a blocked urinary tract.
Kanegai, a Sansei who recently retired from teaching art at Simi Valley High School after 34 years, was last season’s only APA presence. On the show, the fifth degree black belt in karate famously built a rock garden to give their surroundings a touch of Japanese artistry.
Being the only APA, he said racism was never a problem on the show.
“It’s how you carry yourself. My idea was to walk in there as a wise Mr. Miyagi-type guy; be a team player but do more work than anyone else,” said the former boy scout.
For this season’s cast, he sees both sides to the controversy and agrees that the show somewhat mimics what happens in real life. In his classroom he never assigns seats, but over the years he noticed students usually group together according to race or culture.
“[They] become little tribes … it’s like a natural selection,” he said.
“I think because of how the game is played, [where] you get week to week results, on the one hand you’ll think this is racist and on the other hand you’ll say okay this is the Asian American community’s chance to shine,” added Kanegai.
Current cast members are prohibited from talking to the media until they are voted off or win the competition, but some have already expressed concern about the race issue.
Kwon, who is Korean American, has already voiced concern over the danger of race segregation in “Survivor” previews and various published reports. He told the Pacific Citizen he has “strong opinions on the matter.”
“It’s bad because people may cheer people on their racial side instead of who they really like,” said Kanegai.
APA groups have also been vigilant about this season’s show, which many say dangerously straddles the line between shining the spotlight on and stereotyping APAs.
“My initial reaction is that the new ‘Survivor’ format sounds interesting. It clearly will result in a lot more people of color on one TV show than usual or even ever. But there is also a potential for all sorts of bad outcomes, including the possibility that it will further polarize the races and encourage racist views to emerge not only on the show but also in the popular culture,” said Daniel Mayeda of the National Asian American Media Coalition and AAJC.
Since CBS unveiled the plot twist, General Motors Corp., Campbell’s Soup and Home Depot are just some of the major sponsors who decided to drop their advertisements from the reality series. But don’t think “Survivor” officials aren’t basking in the heat of their own self-made hype.
In a statement CBS said they “fully recognize the controversial nature of this format, but has full confidence in the producers and their ability to produce the program in a responsible manner. ‘Survivor’ is a program that is no stranger to controversy and has always answered its critics on the screen.”
CBS can bet the APA community will be watching this week.
“I think everything will depend on execution. If it results in people (contestants or viewers) exposing racist views, if contestants use racial slurs that don’t go challenged, if it tends to highlight stereotypes … it could be damaging.
“On the other hand, especially when the different tribes are brought together and forced to work with each other, it could ultimately show that we are not all that different when it comes to matters of basic humanity,” said Mayeda.
Once the new season begins, Kanegai will also be monitoring the show with a critical eye and blogging about his opinions for CBS’ Web site. And even before he sees the show’s premiere, he reveals a slight bias.
“I’m excited. Of course my being Asian, I have favoritism for the Asian team!” said Kanegai.
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