Since "Survivor"
announced that its 13th season, which premieres this
Thursday on CBS, would involve racially segregated
"tribes" battling each other for supremacy, it has
sparked outrage, shed a major
advertiser, and seen its host
spout such wisdom as: "When you start talking to a
person from Asia, you realize —Wow! They have all
different backgrounds!"
But the race-based angle has also delivered an
island's-worth of buzz for the long-running series. Though
searches haven't maintained
the fanaticism that accompanied the casting twist's
first announcement, they have remained buoyant. Yesterday
saw a 20% jump in buzz, while searches on "survivor
13," "survivor
cook islands," and "survivor
sucks" are up. Of course, so are News searches for "survivor
protests," "survivor
race" and "survivor
racism." Nice branding, guys.
But even now, just days from the South Pacific
getaway's debut, "Survivor" searches lag far behind
reality superstars like "American
Idol," "Rock
Star: Supernova," and "So
You Think You Can Dance." Will the uproar over the
ethnic-focused casting translate into a much-needed
ratings boost for the reality warhorse? The outcome
remains to be seen.
