Survivor Update

Now 2 episodes of Survivor: Cook Islands (aka Race Wars) has aired and I am not ashamed to admit that I am wholeheartedly cheering for the Asian American team. Is this wrong? I don't see why.

Before the show even aired, companies were pulling out of advertising on the show because of its racially based competition this time around. For those who don't know, CBS has decided with this latest edition they will pit teams against each other based on race: Asian American, Hispanic, African Amerian, and white. This caused a bit of an uproar in these hyper sensitive politically correct times and advertisers shied away from any potential source of controversy.

Personally, I never had a problem with it. If anything, it's got my interest in the show going again cuz I haven't watched the last 2 or 3 editions due to its repetitiveness. It's not like these contestants are being exploited against their will. They knew going into casting that they would be participating in a racially themed show. If they decide to go on the show to try to show America that minorities are people too and are just as strong as anyone else, where's the harm in that? Like it or not, minorities in the US are still labeled and stereotyped everywhere you go. Maybe this show gives them a window to show the majority that "Hey, I'm a regular person too." I'm not just another math nerd, or spicy tamale, or gangsta rapper like you see on TV and in the movies.

I know I'm getting a little too deep over a simple TV reality show but I think it's absurd that people get all riled up over this. Jeff Yang of SFGate wrote a very interesting column about his gathering of Asian American friends to watch the Survivor premiere episode. I found it to be very entertaining as well as thought provoking. Of course the Asians will be rooting for the Asian team. But is this ethically acceptable? For us to want to be better than the other races? Anyways, check out the article here: Jeff Yang Survivor Party Article

Well, back to the actual show. Touching on what I said earlier, I am so stoked that the Asian team is kicking ass! They've won both challenges so far and haven't had any form of inner team bickering as of yet besides Cao Boi's annoying habits. But then again, does this further promote the stereotype of Asians being a passive, non-confrontational people? See, everything on this show triggers questions and discussion and thought!

I gotta give my props to Yul. My Korean brother made me proud yesterday by finding the immunity idol on Exile Island. He's got juice now! It was also interesting to see the two Korean people, Becky and Yul sharing a nice moment together. While everyone on their team is Asian there's also of course the subdivision of Asian culture by countries. It was natural that these 2 Koreans bonded like they did.

I also thought that Brad and Yul made some very resounding comments on Cao Boi's Asian themed jokes. Cao Boi, the Asian hippie dude, was making some bad jokes about Vietnamese, Asians, etc. and the other team members were not appreciating them. Cao Boi said that they've gotta have a sense of humor and be able to laught at themselves, but Brad very intelligently stated "We get it, but other people won't." How true.

As for the other teams, the Hispanic team just played it absolutely stupid yesterday. You NEVER throw a challenge, no matter what the circumstances. I don't care how lazy and unhelpful one of your teammates is. He's still a teammate and as they say, there's strength in numbers. They foolishly threw a challenge to get rid of heavy metal lovin' Billy just because he wasn't helping out at camp. DUMB!!! I don't think other Hispanics watching the show would be too proud of the slimy way they played yesterday.

But the other jaw dropper was Billy claiming at Tribal Council that he found his true love in Candace, a member of the white team. What had happened was, after the Hispanic team lost their challenge, Billy uttered kind of to himself but facing Candace who was standing next to him, "I'm next", meaning the next to be voted off. Candace tried to console him by saying "Well, we love you". One of those BS expressions that you don't really mean but say just to be nice. Well, at Tribal Council, Billy took that as an invitation to true love and announced that he didn't care about the $1 million prize because he fell in love at first sight. And not a one sided love either! He really felt that Candace was sincere and loved him back!

Aw come on Billy! I'm as vain as anyone else (probably more even) but even I wouldn't think that those words were sincere! Host Jeff Probst tried to be diplomatic and not ridicule Billy too much when he asked him "In this short time we've been on this island, what makes you think she has these feelings for you?". What he actually meant was "Get your head out of your ass, you overweight, lazy headbanger! There's no way that hottie's got a thing for you!"

Anyway....I'm finding this show to be very entertaining and will continue to root for the Asian Amerian team and I'm not afraid to admit that.