"Why do we have
odds of 3 to 1 compared to other races with smaller
payouts?" asked Edgar Ramirez, referring to
Bodog.com's betting odds on the upcoming "Survivor:
Cook Island" "segregation" show.
It’s Blacks vs.
Whites and then some on the upcoming season of
“Survivor.” In response to criticism that the show
was not racially diverse enough, CBS announced the
new season will segregate teams according to race.
“Survivor: Cook Island” premieres Sept. 14 and will
include 20 castaways divided into four groups:
Black, White, Asian and Latino.
But the Latino
community - like many others are not exactly
thrilled with the racial segregation concept.
Worst still, even the odds placed on "Survivor" at
online gambling website Bodog.com have Hispanics
crying foul.
A $1 bet would
payout $3 for the Latino group should they win.
Compare that with $2.33 for the Whites, $1.85 for the
now favored African Americans and Asians.
"In other words we
(Hispanics) are only $67 more lazy than the Whites
if we were betting $100?"
asks Ramirez, whose group is favored dead last by Bodog.com.
You can find
"Survivor" betting odds here --->
Already, angry
groups - those in politics we mean - are demanding
the controversial format be pulled.
"The idea of having
a battle of the races is preposterous," claims New
York City Councilman John Liu. "How could anybody be
so desperate for ratings?"
Liu, who is Asian-American, said he was launching a
campaign urging CBS to pull the show because it
could encourage racial division and promote negative
typecasts. He and a coalition of officials,
including the council's black, Latino and Asian
caucus, planned to rally at City Hall on Friday.
In a statement, CBS Entertainment, which is part of
New York-based CBS Corp., defended the ethnic twist,
saying it follows the show's tradition of
introducing new creative elements and casting
structures that reflect cultural and social issues.
"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 manner," the statement said. "'Survivor'
is a program that is no stranger to controversy and
has always answered its critics on the screen."
Last season, the show divided contestants into
groups of older men, younger men, older women and
younger women.
The show's host, Jeff Probst, who is white, said the
network was aware this season's race ploy might
offend viewers. Probst, who is also an
ordained minister explained his position.
"It's very risky because you're bringing up a topic
that is a hot button," he told asap, The Associated
Press service for younger readers. "There's a
history of segregation you can't ignore. It is part
of our history."
Other jilted groups
might be the Arabs and those of mixed races who feel
left out. Or maybe they can consider
themselves lucky.
Ramirez pointed out, "We are strong swimmers. We
have been swimming and running across borders for
years".
Of course, he was
being facetious and showing his disgust with Bodog.
