CBS “Survivor” to be set in China?

Variety magazine is reporting that the popular US “reality” TV show Survivor will be shot in China.

Production of U.S. entertainment projects in mainland China had been rare, due to logistical and government restrictions. But with a growing economy, China has begun a more open policy, including its active wooing to host the 2008 Beijing Olympics. While bigscreen features, such as the 2006 “The Painted Veil,” forged new ground by filming completely in China, CBS’s lensing of an entire series is a precedent for an American network.

The China setting should also boost “Survivor’s” appeal to overseas auds. Skein airs in numerous countries around the world.

The move to China for the 15th edition takes the skein away from an island setting for the first time since the 11th installment, set in Guatemala.

[NB: skein seems to be the industry lingo for “series”]

Let the jokes start to fly.

I also wonder whether China’s authorities understand the tradition stereotyping and making an ethnic freak show out of the inevitable Survivor “food challenge.” It never portrays the host culture in a good light.

Though I do have the perfect candidate — eat a bowl of stinky tofu and drink a whole bottle of Dragon Seal red wine. Wait for the Mentos and Coke reaction.

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This entry was posted on Monday, April 23rd, 2007 at 6:40 pm and is filed under China, United States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.