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From Spotsylvania to 'Survivor' Courtland graduate joins crew for controversial new season

Former Courtland High School basketball star to be part of controversial new "Survivor: Cook Islands"

Date published: 8/27/2006

By MICHAEL ZITZ

Growing up in Spotsylvania County's Fox Point subdivision, he was a shy kid who didn't like to be the center of attention.

Boy, have things changed.

Next month Adam Gentry, 28, could become one of the focal points of American pop culture as part of the cast of the controversial new "Survivor: Cook Islands" season on CBS.

"Over the years he's become more confident in himself--and I wouldn't call him shy now," his mother, Beth Gentry, said with a laugh.

And dealing with the attention generated by this particular season of "Survivor" could require plenty of confidence and poise.

There's been a bit of a media firestorm over a decision by the show's brass to divide tribes in this fall's show by races: Caucasian, black, Hispanic and Asian.

Even CBS' own Harry Smith slammed the idea when it was unveiled during what was supposed to be a promotional interview with "Survivor" producer Jeff Probst Wednesday on the network's "Early Show."

"I was stunned, and quite frankly, dismayed," "Early Show" host Smith told Probst.

Probst responded that that the race vs. race approach was inspired by complaints that the show had lacked sufficient diversity.

Whatever the reason, the ploy has created a buzz.

One Internet gambling site has already posted odds favoring the white tribe to win.

"Survivor: Cook Islands" opens Sept. 14 on CBS. It will be the 13th installment of the biannual show, which debuted in the summer of 2000 and was such a hit that it's credited with starting the competitive reality-show genre.

It finished seventh among all television shows last season--but lost about a quarter of its ratings as compared to the previous year.

Beth Gentry, who works for MediCorp and lives in Spotsylvania's Lee's Hill South subdivision, said she had heard rumors about the race vs. race approach, but was "a little disappointed" when the format was confirmed.

But she said that in reading about it over the last few days, she's come around to thinking of it as a chance for blacks, Hispanics and Asians to show ethnic pride.

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Date published: 8/27/2006