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Guess what? 'Kid Nation' isn't evil
Wait. What happened to the whippings? The starvation? The horrible forced labor? I was promised abuse, Satanic rituals and general moral debasement from CBS' new reality show Kid Nation. Somehow I feel ripped off.
While alarmist critics have been gnashing their teeth and wailing for nearly two months, the source of their ire premiered on Wednesday (Sept. 19) night and was every bit as heartwarming and family friendly as anybody with any common sense would have predicted it to be. Are there still ethical concerns regarding whether or not producers selected a New Mexico location to skirt child labor laws? Absolutely. Do I still have some questions about the sorts of parents who would pull an 8-or-9-year-old out of school in the middle of the spring to be somewhat exploited as characters on a reality TV show? Absolutely. But I suspect that far more young viewers are going to come away from Kid Nation jealous at having missed out on a wacky, Wild West experience than will approach their parents and announce "If y'all ever make me do something like that, I'm gonna call a lawyer faster than you can say 'emancipated minor.'" If people tune in and producers can find a state willing to look the other way while they shoot, I'd bet a second season of Kid Nation will have no lack of applicants. I'm sure that Young Dan would have wanted to be a part of it.
Sure, the first day for the kids looked a little bit miserable. Apparently they couldn't be entrusted with oxen or horses, because they had to cart supplies to Bonanza City themselves. That probably stunk. Probably the sleeping quarters, with their thin mattresses and sleeping bags, aren't ideal for 40 nights of sleeping. And speaking of things that stunk, the initial outhouse situation (only one for 40 people) must have been bad even if you didn't take a vow of feces-poverty like like spastic -- but sorta awesome -- Jared (above). And yes, there were some tears on that first night, but anybody who has ever gone to a summer camp or worked at one knows that that's just the way it works -- if you're away from your parents in a new place, sometimes you cry. It doesn't mean you're being abused or that you aren't eventually going to have a fantastic time.
They appeared to have ample food, plus elaborate cooking instructions and once Sophia (right) took over, they seemed to eat well. After their challenge win, they have eight outhouses for 40 people, which was enough to spare Jared's colon. Plus, now that the kids have been organized into upper class, merchants, cooks and laborers, they have salaries (child labor laws be damned), access to candy and soda pop and even games and toys. As Sophia taught us in the first episode, the American Dream is alive and well in Bonanza where any 14-year-old girl dancing in the streets can earn enough money in one afternoon to buy a bicycle.
All signs, at least initially, point toward Kid Nation coming across as a fairly conservative, values affirming show. You had Sophia teaching people to cook, Michael making several impassioned speeches about representing the best in children, Laurel serving as a mentor to the homesick younger kids, Mike leading his underdog team by example in the challenges, beauty queen Taylor coaching a successful kitchen revolution and Jared quoting Martin Luther King Jr. in the streets.
The kids weren't all good -- 15-year-old Greg should probably know better than to bully Mike, even if Mike's a tad high strung and he should certainly know better than to run around at night scrawling graffiti on local businesses, though both actions ended up being harmless.
We're supposed to be impressed by the things the kids did collectively as well. Helping little Jimmy through the first days was sweet and then it was good of everybody to clap for him at the end when the show's youngest resident decided he just wanted to go home. We're supposed to be impressed that most of the kids had the common sense to see the advantages of seven additional outposts when faced with the choice between lavatories and a TV (vintage 1885 style, presumably). And I personally was shocked that the four council members still gave the $20,000 gold star to Sophia even after she railed against their performance at the town meeting. You and I know plenty of supposed grown-ups who would have huddled up and swayed the vote to Michael (left) in retaliation. Sophia had a good episode, what with the $20,000 dollar gold star, the $3 bike and the phone call home.
Sophia may have made more money than CBS did off of Kid Nation this week. Commercials were limited, either because of the narrative demands of the show or advertiser discomfort. It ended up being a mix of trailers for kiddie movies -- Fred Claus and Dark Is Rising -- and, oddly, Vagisil. There's a lewd joke to be made here about who, exactly, advertisers figured would be watching, but this is a family friendly site.
If I'm being honest, I watched the first episode almost entirely to see two things: Would I be offended, outraged and ready to drag Les Moonves out into the O.C. Corral to challenge him to a duel? And would I be too bored to ever tune in again? The answers were "No" and "No." While I wasn't immediately blown away with the quality or production values, I wasn't paying enough attention to the contrivances, the hammy music or to host Jonathan Karsh, who could vanish without my caring at all. Structually, it was Survivor With Kids, but I don't know if the lack of originality bothered me.
Next week maybe I'll decide if Kid Nation is actually any good, but I'll certainly be watching. My concern is that the rubberneckers who tuned in to watch Lord of the Flies on the Prairie will decide that the show wasn't exploitative enough. We'll see.
Did you watch? What did you think? Evil or Not Evil? Do you like the kids?
After seeing some of the rather spiteful barbs headed in Kid Nation's direction, I wrote a blog post asking people to wait before judging the series.
I'm somewhat happy to be proven right: before the child labor law claims lies a show about values and morals and society's ills being wiped away by pre-teens in power.
I guess CBS learned that, from a PR perspective, reality TV zealots hear "social experiment" and "children" and imagine some sort of 'Real World: Child Abuse Edition' scenario.
When, in reality, those same people are probably the ones that might react most strongly to the show's "message." And it is those "Lord of the Flies on the Prairie" folk who would be most disappointed.
Now the real question is how many people gave the show a chance as you and I did. Should be an interesting morning for CBS, either way.
Myles | Sep 19, 2007 9:11:53 PM | #I thought the show was great. I wasn't overly concerned with how the kids would be treated - with our lawsuit-happy society, I knew it would be fine, and I was right. I thought the kids were fantastic. There seems to be a good variety of kids - spoiled vs hard-working, team-oriented vs bullies, quiet vs outspoken. I'm excited to watch the show next week and see what else they do. Go Kid Nation!!!!
Jenn | Sep 20, 2007 6:17:05 AM | #Eh, it's basically like summer camp. As for the kids being unsupervised, even though the camera people are supposed to be invisible, I doubt they would let any really harmful happen to the kids (one would hope).
Kevo | Sep 20, 2007 6:46:27 AM | #I just have no interest in watching this show at all. I'm not offended or outraged by it, it just doesn't interest me. I read this blog just because I was curious and I still have no interest. I guess it's maybe because I have a couple young children myself (elementary school age) and have to hang out in the playground with them after school while they much around with all of the other kids. There's fun, crying, fighting, lauging, cooperating, bullying. After working for 1/2 the day, and doing kid duty for the other 1/2, I think I've had enough of kid politics and certainly don't want to watch it for entertainment.
Sue | Sep 20, 2007 8:24:13 AM | #I watched it and although it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be - I still cannont condone a parent leaving their child for 40 days in real life/adult situations like that. I never went to a summer camp for 40 days and neither have any of my children. I won't watch it again, based on principal. If this was a two week stint, maybe, but not for a prolonged period of time. One would think that the host and camera people would step in when needed - but who cares? It's still a ridiculous concept. CBS is horrible to capatalize on such a thing and I'm glad advertisers apparently pulled out.
Leah | Sep 20, 2007 8:27:40 AM | #Lots of children go to summer camp for the entire summer, much less forty days. Even more attend boarding school, away from their parents...for the entire school term. These parents were allowed to check in, and were given updates on their children regularly. Why imply the were negligent of their own children for letting them participate, Leah? And CBS is no different from any other network... I think your soap box should go back in the closet!
Kids usually don't go away for the whole summer until they are a little older. From what I understand there were older kids, but also children on this show in the age range of 8 to 10. I guess some kids that age may go to boarding school, but I don't agree with that either. Why would you send your child away to boarding school at that age unless there was a very compelling reason? Because you just don't feel like dealing with them? (Becky - do you have kids? how old? Not judging, just curious where people's opinions are coming from)
Suzanne | Sep 20, 2007 10:16:16 AM | #I thought it was a very enjoyable show and wish my kids were still small and at home to watch it.
Yes, I would give permission for my kids to attend and even wish I was young enough for the program
Bruce | Sep 20, 2007 10:20:47 AM | #I watched the show to see if the complainers were correct about this show. I actually enjoyed it. I for one would never have allowed my children to participate, but I have been accused of being over protective. Loved the adorable 8 year old who opted to go home. I might have to tape this program if it is up against Dancing with The Stars.
Trupen | Sep 20, 2007 10:35:44 AM | #I went to a summer camp each and every summer and then once I became older, I started working there as a Cabin Leader.
Camp started the 1st of July and ended Labour Day Weekend, much longer than forty days. The minimum age was eight and the maximum age was fifteen for campers, just like the show. (not 8-10 as previously posted) I didn't go to camp because my parents wanted a break, in fact, my parents were horrified when I requested to go with my friends for the first summer. It took quite a few fits from me before they finally agreed.
They soon learned after I returned that first summer and saw how independent and mature I had become the benefit of allowing children to slip out of the nest occassionally. I learned enough that at the age of fifteen I went on an exchange to Mexico for an entire year and it was an experience I would not trade for anything in the world.
I also have cousins who attended boarding school. It was not because my aunt and uncle didn't want to be parents but they wanted their children to have the best education and, unfortunately, the best school was not anywhere near them. Sometimes parents actually do want what is best for their kids. It did no harm to my cousins who maintain a close relationship with their parents as well as being extremely successful with a top-notch education under their belts.
Some children need to be coddled and hand fed by their parents even well past the age of 18 and some children are completely fine with being independent and don't need their parents holding their hands. Each child is unique and that's what people need to remember.
Courtney | Sep 20, 2007 10:38:21 AM | #The show seems very scripted, as I believe all reality shows are. I believe there are lots of people behind the scenes directing the children on what to say and what to do. Really, what a coincidence that cameras happened to be in the home of Sophia’s parents just in time to catch her call home to announce winning the gold star. Not to mention the fact that she called home on a phone that so evidently is just a prop. Do people really believe this is reality TV? That young children can maintain a sustainable fire in a cast iron stove long enough to cook for 40 people. It is laughable to think that this is anything other than a controlled set with lots of supervision and intervention. It’s just a bunch of kids rounded up that can memorize a few lines and take direction from the many adults on the set.
JT | Sep 20, 2007 1:25:32 PM | #The "gnashing of teeth" by those who feel that all children are perfect little angels and should never be allowed to stumble, fall, make mistakes or otherwise behave as children have been doing for centuries, as expected, turned out to be the chattering of foolish parrots who only can come up with an original thought if Oprah spouted it first. Any parent who themselves had an interesting, fun (albeit sometimes dangerous) childhood, like me and countless others, would have given our left big toes to have gotten to experience what the Kid Nation kids went through. Yeah, sure, some crap happened, but it's what childhood is all about, and anyone who thinks that children can't get to age 18 without stumbling once is an idiot. Sermon over. As for the show, I was one who already figured that the entire series was going to be edited to maximize the drama and tension, since that's what sells, and I wasn't disappointed. We already have our villains, we have our lovable losers, we have our wee angels and all the rest that fall between those extremes. Whether the producers of the show wanted to make the 15-year-old boy look like a pizza-faced bully is beyond me, but there he is. And for the little beauty queen on the council, she is now being called the Paris Hilton of Kid Nation (even if she doesn't deserve the moniker) around these parts because she is being semi-portrayed as a spoiled little girl who bursts into tears every time she doesn't get her way. This will be like any other scripted, non-scripted show, in that the producers will tweak what was likely 40 days of mostly boring routine into a series. For the ones who decried the series before it even aired because it just might have put kids into danger (of getting a splinter, not being burned alive in a brick oven), they really need to take some Xanax, fly off to some remote island with no access to technology, take their kids with them, and raise them however they see fit. The show probably won't see a second season, if only because watching kids on television is really not all that interesting. I've worked in education for 15 years now, and while I love the kids immensely, and I enjoy the work, after awhile, it all becomes a been-there-done-that routine, with a few instances of uniqueness that makes the year fun. But as for Kid Nation? Bleah. Sorry to say, but I'm sure there were people watching last night who are like the folks who watch NASCAR just to see the cars crash. This is the world we live in now--where certain viewers watch shows like this just because they like to see little girls cry. I don't, so I won't be watching week two. Jericho can't come back soon enough.
Dark Disciple | Sep 20, 2007 1:47:05 PM | #Exactly JT!! This is unscripted tv not reality tv. There is probrably hundreds of adults feet away during this whole filming. Do you honestly think these kids ramble on to a camera man looking at them. There is a producer feet away asking them leading questions. No adult supervision means the kids make the ultimate decision, doesnt mean that a proudcer doesnt spend 20 min letting them know their choices and how each one affects them. Comparing this to summer camp is pretty accurate. Summer camps are ran by 15-18 yr olds all the time with few trained staff. This has a staff of hundreds of trained people including a medical staff and phychiatrists to check on the kids. Its ok to be impressed by these kids but to think that they come up with all these ideas on their own is absurd. They are being "guided". Think of it as a big movie with a western theme starring 40 kids and no set script, just ideas and certain naturally progressions already mapped out. My guess is these kids were first taken to a training facility where basic skills were shown to them and they were taught how to cook certain things(kinda like smarter then a 5th grader giving out study handbooks to their kids,who are all actors). I am sure the parents were assured adults would be watching(not supervising the kids) at all times, even tho I would be hard press to send my kids even if assured that. IF you believe reality tv next time big brother is on get the live feed and watch how much actually gets changed. I like reality tv alot but I take it for what it is...a show w/o a set script giving a general idea of people in that situation. This show is fun not abuse and if anything happened it would have never made it to air. CBS has way to many overpriced lawyers for that to happen.
James | Sep 20, 2007 2:48:20 PM | #I actually agree with everyone. There is definietely leading by the stage crew during the shooting of Kid Nation and hopefully the kids weren't doing any dangerous things unsupervised like using powertools, chopping wood, lighting fire without matches etc. (none of which I saw). I did see a super long match.
I think Kid Nation will do well during the first season because everyone is curious, but will lose at least half its numbers by season 2. There is little entertainment other than curiousity and the viewers are constantly bombarded with ideas of the show being staged or dangerous.
Gary Hong | Sep 20, 2007 3:38:23 PM | #Man, those kids showed more common-sense and maturity than people I know in their 30's.
reality | Sep 20, 2007 4:06:19 PM | #would the last few posters please try to think and understand how tv is actually made. do you think if someone plopped a camera down and just let it run interminably, any reality show would ever be get on the air?
of course the producers are asking the questions. of course there's a script of sorts. how else would you be able to control any element well enough to edit 60 (or 42) minutes? of course the produces edit for drama and tension. they're not called producers so they can put emotionless, boring shows on the air.
i can't believe people can be so clueless as to think that reality tv is actually reality with no controls. producing tv and film takes far more consideration and organization than you would ever believe. it is all fantasy coming out of that box for you, isn't it? with no thought whatsoever as to how it's done.
KR | Sep 20, 2007 6:52:23 PM | #if your talking to me KR, thats my point exactly...all reality tv is like this unscripted. My point was its no big deal and all these people complaining should just realize reality tv is not reality. And if you have read alot of what people are saying they dont get this and believe these kids were actually just thrown out there which is ridiculous.I thought that was kinda obvious.
james | Sep 20, 2007 9:12:56 PM | #Maybe it's because I have kids, but I don't think it's fun to watch kids cry. Sure there are "triumphs", and the crying doesn't happen frequently, but it's much different when a child crys that when an adult does. They really feel things differently and don't have the emotional maturity to understand. It's just to hard for me to watch children being sad or picked upon or singled out, for entertainment.
Also, to the poster that went to Summer Camp and Mexico and whose cousins went to boarding school. You said people need to remember that everyone is unique. Yet you seem to have a negative attitude toward those that may not be as independant or world travelers, calling them hand fed and coddled. Some people just have very close families, or very large families who can't afford things like summer camp, boarding school or year long trips to Mexico. Those children end up no less independant than those that do enjoy those things. In fact, often those children end up being quite nurturing, helpful and accommodating to others. Also, it's hard to understand, but once you have your own children, everything changes. You emphasize with the children much more and relate everything to your own children and how they would feel.
Marie | Sep 21, 2007 8:10:30 AM | #go back and read the comment marie before you make an ass of yourself again.he wasn't looking down on anyone.ffs do you even have the basic skills to comperhand what people are saying?
| Sep 27, 2007 1:50:00 PM | #I can't wait for the season final of kid nation!I think Taylor is a brat.How can someone raise their kid like that."Deal with it, Deal with it!" I really hope there's going to be a next season of Kid Nation!They said there's no adults so i guess that man who runs the showdowns is a kid hu lol.I also wonder if the cam crew are kids too(though they could be just by there selves like the ones one meerkat manor.
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hey all the kids had problems once a while.... dont be so tight with them....
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