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Aug 25, 2006 4:54 pm US/Eastern
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NYC Council Members Furious With Racy 'Survivor'
Community Demands Show Be Put 'Off Air'
By Dave Carlin
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
"Survivor's" 13th installment in the Cook Islands begins September 14th on CBS.
But some New York City Council Members and community activists say they want the show voted off the airwaves because they don't like the new format.
This time contestants are in tribes according to race. It's a move that infuriates members of the city council's Black, Latino and Asian Caucus.
"Blacks versus whites. Asians versus Hispanics. It is not the type of show we feel need to take place in 2006, " said City Council Member Robert Jackson (D) Manhattan.
"The idea is stupid and should be yanked it immediately," said Council Member John Liu (D) Queens. CBS Entertainment division executives released a statement standing by the show. It reads "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 way."
"Survivor" host Jeff Probst said as the season progresses it will become clear that race is not the issue. He says it is about rising above race. "I'm sure you are going to have some audience members who will root based on ethnicity. I think that's a natural extension. But ultimately you're going to root based on the same thing you always did and that's who you like," Probst said.
Outside the CBS Store near Times Square we found "Survivor" fans, some in favor and some against the racy new approach. "It does bother me because what's leading to all the racism in the country is people saying he's white or he's black. People are people. That should be it," said Gene Duffy.
Douglas Thomas said he'll watch to see how the race issue is handled. He said, "I think it's a truer reflection of how society really is structured.
Another question that comes up. Are producers of "Survivor" discriminating against people who don't fit neatly into one specific racial category? "It is discriminating against people who are of mixed race," said Cain Todd.
The City Council members who are with the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus said if they cannot get producers of Survivor and CBS to voluntarily cancel this season they'll step up their campaign by trying to pressure sponsors and push boycotts.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)