'Kid Nation': Off with their heads!

We'll get this out of the way. Everyone's had their pre-show opinions. Lots of people (including the Times) reviewed it, some even calling it "creepily unpleasant." And the ratings showed a solid, but not spectacular, beginning for a reality TV show (a 3.1 rating/9 share in adults ages 18-49 and 9.38 million viewers). "Kid Nation" is what sensible folk thought it would be: Lots of kids having what they think is a tough time making "a life" for themselves in the desert without adults. Except for the host, who never seems very far away.  And the cameramen who chronicle (and I believe) guide some of the action. And whatever crew is there to set up the challenges, the outhouses and the giant blow-up slide that was displayed in the latest episode. Yep, no adults except them (and the set child psychologists and ...).

So on to the show. First episode: The short of it is that the take-charge 14-year-old fast-talking Florida native Sophia got the first gold star and $20,000, while homesick 8-year-old Jimmy -- who, while on the bus, exclaimed, "I think I'm gonna die out here" -- decided not to chance it and went home. The long of it was a lot of setup done by creating a social structure and .. I'll just be lazy and let CBS tell you.

So, the most 'inflammatory' thing about the second episode of "Kid Nation" this week was a pop-up disclaimer before Greg, the oldest Kid Nationer, beheaded a couple of chickens.

"The following scene may be too intense for younger viewers."

Like the ones watching it live in Bonanza City?!? This could've done without the warning. The image may have been a bit jarring, but anyone watching the show knew it was going to happen. And that includes little Emilie, who protested but was eventually pushed aside by the chicken-soup craving horde.

Most of these kids are cute beyond reason (8-year-old Mallory helped start a stuffed-animal daycare center), and they're one-liner machines. Every time the camera is on Jared, just be ready.

A few lines from Episode 2:

• Savannah (talking about the yellow team): "They're just as lazy as a sack of potatoes."
• Jared (while holding a dead chicken): "It's the natural order of life!"
• Not sure if it was Emilie, but one of the kids who tried to protect the chickens: "[They're going to] gang up on us like they did Saddam Hussein!"
• Greg (foreshadowing trouble after he didn't win the gold star): "I thought it was pretty disrespectful, and I'm going to do something about it."

It's worth it to check out some of the bios that the kids created on CBS' site.  There are so many that some get lost, and this gives you more insight into what types of kids are trying to build this town.  More to come ...

-- Jevon Phillips

Comments

[coolrepublica]

I wish they had kids nation when I was growing up so I could sign up. It looks fun. Kids learn things that it would have taking them years in school to learn. They learn about human nature and what they are capable of. What they can endure and can't. What type of people they aspire to be. There are many 50 year-olds who still don't know whether they can endure adversity. After this how is over, half these kids could run Fortune 500 corporations (note to self: great idea for show. Kids running companies and see who does a better job; the adults or them.) Donald Trump don't you dare steal my idea.

I don't know what the big deal about this show is. "OH how horrible! Children have to do their own laundry, and cook their own meal." Please!
From the reviews I read before the show came out, they made it seem as if they took the kids and threw them in an arena with lions, and wished them luck.

Kids Nation does show that kids do have a sense of community and they are as susitible to groupthink as adults. They are not as scheming as the people on Suvirvor Next Generation. Thank God!

That 8 year old crying because he felt that he was too young for the show was priceless. Kids have a lot of common sense. I just wish adults would follow in there footstep and stop bashing the show.

If CBS has any balls, they will bring back the show for a second season. If no U.S. state wants them to film in their backyard, I say they should go to Mexico ( Maybe not Mexico; I hear the water there can kill you.) How about they go to Guam? Kids Nation: Guam Edition. It has a nice ring to it.

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