Archive through March 14, 2003
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Christy Smith (ARCHIVE):
Archive through March 14, 2003
Car54 | Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 01:19 pm     From Philly.com: Posted on Tue, Feb. 11, 2003 Is there an advantage for Christy? So you're trapped in the Amazon with 15 other competitive, maybe even back-stabbing contestants: Is there any up side to not being able to hear them? "Survivor: Amazon" host Jeff Probst can't think of one. "I don't think it ever came in handy" for Basalt, Colo., contestant Christy Smith to be deaf, he told reporters last month in Hollywood. "At night, she can't read lips. And you can either sit around your campfire and work really hard to make sure that the one person who needs to read lips can, or you can just carry on as you want, and she's out of luck. And think of the things that go on in this game and...what a disadvantage that is." Producers didn't tell other contestants that Smith was deaf, or modify any challenges for her, Probst said. "In her last interview that we did with her, the very last question was, 'Do you think it's fair to put you on "Survivor"?' And she thought about it. She said, 'No, but life's not fair.' " That doesn't mean deafness doesn't have its compensations, said Deanna Bray, the hard-of-hearing actress who stars as a deaf FBI agent in Pax's "Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye." "She has other senses. There are some things she's probably better at, skills that some of the hearing people may not have," Bray said recently. "I noticed in her profile that she has good lip-reading skills, so she may be able to work with her team, but I'm not sure. I'm very curious about that." What skills, other than lip-reading, might a deaf person have that could be useful on "Survivor"? "We use our eyes a lot more. We see the world through our eyes, and many hearing people overlook that," Bray said, noting that on a recent visit to the FBI, she was invited to try her hand at a shooting range that requires shooters to track several different "suspects" at once. She did particularly well. "I pay attention," she said. |
Gina8642 | Friday, February 14, 2003 - 03:53 pm     I know I was wondering how well Christy could communicate with her tribemates. After seeing the first show, I think she'll be just fine. Christy's speech is wonderful(!!!!!) for a person with a severe hearing loss. She has enough of an accent that you can tell she has hearing problems but she's absolutely very easy to understand. I think if she isn't gabby during the challanges, that the opposing tribe will remain clueless. It could definately be to the women's tribe's advantage to have a proficient lip-reader on board! She seems pretty neat, I hope she does well. |
Bastable | Friday, February 14, 2003 - 07:29 pm     She is my favorite already. It's already looking pretty tough for her--women can be so catty, can't they, and they're already cutting her out of the loop. If she can pull it together, she would bond very quickly with one or two women (Deanna is a great candidate because I sense that she sees herself as an "outsider" too) and from then on, they can share secrets without anyone hearing them! How useful! All her "buddy" has to do is mouth words at her, and no one would be the wiser. That kind of thing can be very useful. I like her, but being rejected must bring up all sorts of painful high-school feelings. PLEASE get past those, Christy, and kick some booty! You're adorable! |
Kstme | Friday, February 14, 2003 - 08:42 pm     On a local radio show the other morning, Jeff P. said he had nothing but admiration for Christy. IMO. Doesn't matter how far she makes it...in the game...she's made a positive impression and certainly left her mark. |
Squaredsc | Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 10:33 am     im liking her alot. and being an adventure guide is a great advantage. |
Kady | Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 03:09 pm     She is one of my favorites. If I was stranded with her she would be teaching me ASL and we could make fun of the others and they would never know.  |
Whoami | Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 10:33 pm     I'm so glad that this year's Colorado entrant outshines the last Colorado entrant (Ghandia). Ghandia made me horrified that she was from Colorado. Christy makes up for it, and then some! |
Ericka1012 | Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 09:53 pm     Whoami, I'm with you although I don't live in Colorado anymore that's where I call home and I'll tell you Ghandia mad me so embarrassed I almost quit telling people that's where I was from and I'm from Denver and that was WORSE!!! We LOVE CHRISTY!!!! |
Bastable | Friday, February 21, 2003 - 06:45 pm     Christy's really self-destructing! It's almost like she senses she might get voted out, so she'll make sure it's for her attitude and not her hearing level. A defense mechanism learned over time? I think she handled that spat with Joanna beautifully, though. Christy came out of that smelling like a rose. |
Hermione69 | Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 06:01 am     Bastable, everywhere I lurked last night you were posting, LOL. I think Christy is acting out of frustration. And I do think she is being excluded more than the other women have even stopped to consider or want to admit. When Christy said that Jenna had not spoken to her once in 5 days, I was appalled! I'm torn because on one hand I know exactly how she feels, and on the other, I can't help wanting to sit her down and say, "This is Survivor. You are playing for a million dollars. Do not let them get to you! Play the game and let it all out at the reunion show!" Right now she looks like she has a huge target on her back and it looks like she will be, if not the next boot, the one after that. A lot of people, however, think her story arc is just starting. |
Niceguy | Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 08:12 am     Christy is going to have to let Joanna have it. Both barrels. Joanna is going to take it or attempt to physically intimidate her. After Joanna's harangue on the immunity idol I have no use for her. "Hello, you're on the SURVIVOR television game show, what's the matter with you? Haven't you seen the previous shows? SHUT THE %UCK UP!! Another occasion where I wouldn't be so nice. |
Hermione69 | Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 08:34 am     No more Mr. Niceguy, huh? Actually while Christy's outburst has been viewed by many as bad for her long term chances, she may have ended up clearing the air. She is known to have said that it gets easier after the first TC and also that everyone was understanding, especially the women. |
Gina8642 | Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 08:40 am     I still think Christy likely makes it very far. All this 'showing Christy in a negative light' stuff is just to make it so amazing she 'outwits, outlasts, etc.' the lot of them. I think she may be getting editing a bit similar to Kathy's in Marquesas. -Kathy was vocal about what she didn't like. -Kathy got into arguments with fellow tribemates. -Kathy made final three. I've seen someone ask who's the narrator of this survivor - I think it will be Christy. Everyone relates to feeling at a disadvantage. And everyone likes to see people overcome their disadvantage. I think Christy will be around for quite awhile. |
Lilliegirl | Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 08:37 pm     I agree with Niceguy. Did you look at Joannas face at TC like she was some bad a++. I thought she was a born again whatever,yea right I live 30 miles from her. If I was Christy I would have knocked the Hell out of Joanna when she put her her hand in her face. Sorry to say im from the same state as Joanna. |
Catfat | Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 09:58 pm     Did all the other women see Joanna's screaming fit? I thought I saw Janet in the background, but where were the others? Maybe they don't know anything about this. I thought Joanna was going to grind her palm in Christy's face. No one I know behaves like that, screaming and gesturing and making threats. Not a nice thing to see. |
Lycanthrope | Friday, March 07, 2003 - 10:04 am     Okay, it appears she has taken Shawna's spot in the Jaburu alliance. It's set for her to do well, as this will probably create more situations for her to talk to, and get to know, women like Deena and Jenna. Heidi doesn't seem much interested in anyone now but herself, so I wouldn't expect much there. |
Weenerlobo | Friday, March 07, 2003 - 11:05 am     I've liked Christy from the start and admire her so much. I don't see how one couldn't admire her, she kicks butt. She seems very centered and grounded and I always look forward to seeing her confessionals. I wonder if she and Deena have an alliance? |
Lycanthrope | Friday, March 07, 2003 - 04:29 pm     I agree, Weener, she seems very genuine and likable. I wish only the best for her. And I predict one of the reasons she goes a long way, especially after the merge, is because the guys, who still don't know she's deaf, will be fascinated and go out of their way to get to know her. Especially Dave and Matt. I say this from a guy's perspective because all the guys so far seem like "good guys", and I beleive all of them will treat Christy much better than any of the women have(Deena seems to be the only one really making a genuine effort with her). |
Hermione69 | Friday, March 07, 2003 - 05:20 pm     She's my girl! Go Christy! |
Lycanthrope | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 10:03 am     Looks like I was right...and wrong. The guys did treat her 100% better and with more respect and consideration. But it's Butch who seems most taken with her, not Dave. Dave seems to be focusing in on Heidi. I think it's set for her to be a big-time, powerful player from here on out. |
Grooch | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 11:37 am     'Survivor' contestant splits deaf community By Tanya Barrientos Inquirer Staff Writer Christy Smith (left) is not using sign language on “Survivor,” which troubles some in the deaf community. If Christy Smith, the first disabled competitor on Survivor, thinks she's facing adversity in the Brazilian jungle, wait till she gets back home and faces some of her deaf fans. As the newest and most visible deaf celebrity on TV, Smith, 24, has become a magnet not only for praise, but also scathing criticism. On one hand, the deaf community is proud of the Colorado native who is a graduate of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the world's only liberal-arts college for the deaf. But on the other, many deaf people are angry that she is not openly displaying more pride in deaf culture. They want her to use sign language when she speaks, and to teach other members of her all-female tribe how to sign. They are particularly critical of her choosing to read lips and speak instead of insisting on a sign-language interpreter during the Darwinian game show. Those choices are particularly insulting to strong proponents of deaf culture. "I was so excited when I learned she was going to be on the show," said Kristy Griffin, a youth specialist at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Germantown. Speaking through a sign-language interpreter, the classroom aide said she had looked forward to the first episode. "Then, whoa! She's not signing, she's speaking. I told my husband that I was sure she'd have a sign interpreter at Tribal Council, so I waited and waited and she didn't. It's so not deaf-friendly." The show does not allow journalists to interview contestants until they've been voted off. Smith is still in the competition. The tug-of-war between signing and speaking has long been a sensitive issue in the deaf community. Many deaf-culture advocates believe that hearing-impaired people who read lips and speak are acquiescing to the expectations of the hearing world. The deaf community is often split between those who embrace a deaf lifestyle - using sign language and considering themselves similar to an ethnic minority - and those who emphasize assimilation into the mainstream. "Deaf people should be proud of signing," said Fred Turner, 16, a ninth grader at the Pennsylvania school, where both students and teachers have been watching the show closely. "Be proud of being deaf." "It's almost like she doesn't want people to know she's deaf," said Billy Hartman, also in ninth grade. "I guess I'm kind of hurt." Some in the deaf community have questioned whether Smith, who signed on her audition tape and during preproduction interviews, was pressured into reading lips by CBS. "It was completely her decision," said Colleen Sullivan, director of prime-time series at CBS. "We left it up to her on how she wanted to handle it." But, Sullivan said, the network did not offer to provide a sign-language interpreter for Smith during the competition, which now has six women against six men. "We had the discussion with her in advance," Sullivan said. "We said, 'Do you think it's fair that you participate without an interpreter?' And she said, 'No, but life isn't fair and I want to do it.' " On the first episode, Feb. 13, Smith did not tell the others on her team of her deafness until they were encamped. The men are still not aware of her disability. "She knew she was going to spark controversy," Smith's mother said in a phone interview. "When she's in the deaf world, she doesn't voice at all. I guess on the show she didn't want to stand out because it's about survival, right?" Raised by hearing parents, Glenda and Bob Smith, in Basalt, Colo., Smith was diagnosed as severely hearing-impaired when she was about 6 months old. "She was a preemie and so we knew she was in danger of having physical problems," Glenda Smith said. "She's had hearing aids since she was 2 years old. She can hear some sounds, but not much." As a child, Smith was not exposed to deaf culture and did not use sign language. "We live in a rural community," her mother said. "We chose at the time to integrate her with lip-reading and speech therapy." But, she said, her daughter grew to feel isolated and unhappy. "She came home from school one day her sophomore year and said, 'I'm never going back to that school again. You have to decide where to send me.' " She finished her high school years at the private academy in Washington that is associated with Gallaudet, and went on to college there. That is where Christy Smith embraced deaf culture. "I know all this controversy about signing or not signing going on in the deaf community seems stupid to hearing people," Glenda Smith said. "But it's very real." Judging from the charged messages being exchanged in Internet chat rooms and on Survivor: The Amazon fan Web sites, Smith's participation in the show has fanned flames in both the hearing and deaf worlds. "Yes, deaf people do have their role in society and can be extraordinary people, but the bottom line, as cruel as it may sound, is that Survivor is about dealing primarily with communication," wrote someone called JaiPeur on a chat site called Survivor Sucks (which is actually for fans of the program). "... It seems to me deaf people might struggle on Survivor." "You need to show them that you can do it, Deaf!" a chatter called Survivor Tikis replied. "Deaf, you can establish pride for the disabled!" Some deaf chatters have argued that it would make no sense for Smith to sign on the program because none of the other contestants knows sign language. Jennifer Peterson, Smith's best friend from college, agrees. "I tell people, 'What if you were placed in the middle of nowhere, in the woods, with a bunch of hearing people? Would you sign with them? No,' " she said. "But that aside, we're all so proud. Christy being on the show is an amazing milestone for the deaf community... . She's educating the world about an invisible disability." Link |
Tabbyking | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 12:29 pm     hmmmm...interesting article. i can see their point, but i also can see christy not signing because the other contestants don't sign. sort of an extra effort on her part. i guess she wasn't thinking of those at home who would be watching and would maybe want to understand her through having her sign. i feel bad some of them see it as a 'snub' or whatever, though. what surprises me, however, is that no one (from what has been shown, anyway) has asked her, "how do you sign for 'boy' or 'girl' or 'fire' or 'good morning' or 'catch a fish'", etc. nothing...as if they could care less, which is what is troubling me down deep. i am hoping butch or the others in her new tribe will start asking her things. i have two deaf cousins (sisters)and one signs more and the other speaks and lip reads, but also signs while doing so, so everyone can understand her. i am always asking how to sign this or that. of course, when i was little, i wanted them to show me the 'bad' words, LOL...and they did! when my kids were little they could say 'i love you' and 'i would like some water' and 'my dad' and 'my mom' and some other things in sign. i think high schools should offer it just like they do french or spanish or german. it is much more useful and it's not like any of the kids are 'fluent' in any language after taking 2 years in high school for college requirements. wouldn't that be something? i think i should introduce that as an alternative to the foreign language requirement! |
Moondance | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 12:36 pm     Great Idea Tabby! |
Calamity | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 12:38 pm     If Christy has requested it, I think it would have been perfectly fair to provide an interpretor who would sign to her during TC and when the rules were being explained for reward & immunity challenges. But using an interpretor for day-to-day activities within the tribe could be complicated. I worked as a translator/interpretor (in French) during college and was trained that the ideal is to "blend into the background". That could be difficult to do in Survivor, which is based so much on gamesmenship, deceit, and emotion. As to why Christy chose not to sign in addition to speaking, I couldn't guess. It might not be practical when doing some of the physical tasks. And you never know with the editing, but I've also been surprised that her teammates weren't eager to learn at least some signing or finger-spelling simply as a way to pass the time. Anyway, I hope Heidi's betrayal won't cost Christy a decent chance. I missed the first fifteen minutes of the show but it would be incredibly frustrating for me to have my place in the game put in Jenna's hands. |
Ann | Friday, March 14, 2003 - 12:42 pm     I'm so angry I could spit. Christy has chosen to live her life and communicate in the way she wants. Who the heck are these people quoted in the article to criticize Christy's decisions? She has done nothing illegal. |
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