Sorry to get in the middle of this so late. Fascinating discussion, despite the overheated dialogue at times.

Brooke, the problem is this: if the producers try to make a show that "looks like America", as Bill Clinton was so fond of saying, then about 2 out of 16 contestants will be black. Another 2 out of 16 will be Latino. One will be Asian.

The problem, it seems to me, isn't the producers' casting but rather the "taboos" in America (and much of the rest of the world) that result in a mixed couple getting funny looks (even if the couple is David Bowie and Iman). Of course, that topic has been explored at length in other media (including, as well, discrimination based on skin color among blacks: I still remember the episode of Tim Reid's great TV show "Frank's Place" that dealt with the "paper bag test", as well as Spike Lee's musical depiction of the insults between groups he characterizes as "the Jigaboos" and "the Wannabes" in School Daze).

The fact is, any of these people could win if they play the game well enough. Yes, it's a disadvantage being a black woman on a romance-oriented show where many of the guys have never had a romantic thought about a black woman (although some of these guys look like they have never had too many romantic thoughts period ). But what can the producers do about that? Their goal is to achieve the largest audience share possible, not to contribute to greater racial understanding (noble as that would be). If Love Cruise flops, there won't be a Love Cruise 2, regardless of the racial balance.