‘Survivor’ to Divide Teams Along Political Lines

'Survivor' goes political.

‘Survivor’ to Divide Teams Along Political Lines For the first time since it went on the air in 2000, the hit CBS reality television program “Survivor” will divide its teams — or tribes, as they are known on the show — along political lines. This fall, teams of five members will be made up of liberal Democrats, and conservative Republicans.. They will compete in weekly challenges against each other, and the losing group will have to vote out a member of its own team. Mark Burnett, the series producer, said in a telephone interview yesterday that the decision to organize the teams along ideological lines was made in group discussions with CBS executives and was in no way intended to promote political divisiveness. “In America today,” Mr. Burnett said, “the perception is that we, er liberals, are a collection of effete cowards who cut and run at the first sign of trouble.  We hope to dispel that perception, in a safe environment. ”