Did Survivor "Jump the Shark!"?
That was my first question when I learned the popular CBS reality show was separating tribes by race. I wondered, have they run out of ideas -- after all it's been on for a gazillion seasons now.
As for the "Jump the Shark!" term - it refers to shows who have overstayed their welcome - so to speak. They've run out of creative and new scenarios. The origin is from the Happy Days episode where Fonzie -- well - jumped a shark. It's a sure sign of the demise of your favorite show.
Anyway, my "fur got ruffled" a bit when I heard about this new development in Survivor. I wondered -- do we really need to supply fodder for the racists and their stereotypes -- you know -- black folks can't swim, white folks can't run, Asians are good with math....etc, etc. Especially locally when the KKK was just in the headlines for holding a rally in Gettysburg. 
At first, I wasn't going to watch -- why support a program that will just strengthen the divide -- I thought. But, then I started talking to other folks who said it might not be as bad as you think. Our CBS 21 Sales Manager, Scott Beaver said remember the uproar over the Amish program -- before people actually viewed it. Then it turned out to be pretty sensitive to the Amish. So, I figured I'd give it a shot. Sat down with the family -- which is for those who don't know me an interacial family -- my husband is one of those "whities who can't run".
And low and behold -- it was interesting -- and not offensive -- except when the "black folks" lost the challenge that involved what -- water!! 
And the Asians won - - and it involved what -- a puzzle! Damn it -- I wanted the stereotypes to be broken. But it was a lesson in cultural humanities. At the end of the day, when the lights are out -- and on any survivor island -- ALL the lights are out at night -- we are all just --- human. What a concept.
Jump the Shark or no -- Survivor -- you might just have me as a viewer for another season.
