'Kid Nation': Bless us and keep us safe

First they (producers) added social structure to shake things up.  Now, the tried-and-true divider (and occasional uniter) religion is forced upon the kids.

The most interesting thing in this episode, besides the religious debate, was Cody swooning over his girlfriend.  He's 9!  Not to be callous about his emotions but ... 9?  With a girlfriend.  Hmmm ... maybe it says more about me than him that I'm surprised at his depth of emotion.  Moving on ...

Jewish kids stuck together in a "Jew crew," and a few of the Christians voiced their opinions ("Christians rule!").  Zach tried to explain Judaism but was shot down.  Not interested.

Then through the chaos stepped 12-year-old Morgan, the mobilizer (left).  Morgan, the mediator. Morgan, the mom.  She nicely asked the kids to join her in prayer after no one responded to the town council's decree.   In the episode's first tear-inducing moment, a kid named Pharoah spoke through tears about his appreciation for them all to be able to come together, Jews and Gentiles alike!

Cody was quoted early as saying, "It's just gonna all end in conflict, and I don't want to be part of it."  As if to bring that point home, in teary moment number two, he decides that's enough.  He misses his family too much, but is really sorry to leave.  This hits young Campbell, his best friend, really hard.  He later drowns his sorrows with a couple of shot glasses of root beer.  OK, on to the money!

Will it be Morgan ... will it be Zach ... Morgan ... Zach.  It's ... Morgan!

Challenge order:
Blue: Upperclass.  Greg, as usual, does the strong-man work.
Red: Merchants.
Yellow: Cooks.
Green: Laborers, again.

This week's challenge choice: A mini-golf course or a mini-library of holy books (Bible, Koran, etc.).  They took the books.  Curious, but it can open some eyes since we've seen lots of religious misunderstanding.  See, this show can be educational.

As critics continue to wonder why kids reality shows are being made, advertisers are watching and pitching in.  Among them, McDonald’s, PetSmart, Lysol and T-Mobile are the latest advertisers to take advantage of the show's 10,000-viewer jump in the 2-11 age group from week to week.  And advertisers aren't the only ones chiming in.

Naysayer: " 'Kid Nation' is, if not a bigger fraud [than the reality shows], certainly a more obvious one." -- Deseret Morning News

Praise-giver: "DVR 'Pushing Daisies' tomorrow, and watch 'Kid Nation' with your friends." -- Michigan Daily

And Taylor haters: "I'm with so many of the kids -- I want Yellow to lose so that Taylor will be a laborer." -- TV Squad

"A certain runty Mussolini needs to do more than drop some pity-me tears to hold onto office." -- Entertainment Weekly

Show quote: "People are being a little narrow minded here." -- Laurel

The show and the world, Laurel.  And speaking of the world, lots of people are not on the Taylor fan bus.

Photo: CBS.com

-- Jevon Phillips