If Wednesday (Oct. 24) night's Kid Nation didn't leave you with a bit of a lump in your throat, you're either impervious to manipulative reality TV drama or else you were watching the Red Sox jump out to a 3-0 lead in Game One of the World Series. If you're in the first group, I say to you "Why you wanna be so heartless?" If you're in the second group, I say to you, "Go Sox!"

[I can't begin to imagine who needs a spoiler warning for this show, but consider yourself warned.]

In Wednesday's episode, the Junior Pioneers of Bonanza City learned an important lesson ostensibly about the value of cleanliness or the environment or pollution or some such nonsense. Viewers at home learned that whether you're a sinner (Taylor) or a saint (Morgan), everybody loves DK.

To be fair, unlike half the residents of Bonanza City, we'd seen plenty of DK previously. He's been good for a whiff of humor and a hint at maturity, but amidst Greg's ongoing will-he-or-won't-he campaign for a $20,000 Gold Star (which ended when he hit paydirt last week), it was hard to tell what DK's tangible contribution to the town has been. It turns out that like Reggie Jackson, he's the straw the stirs the drink.

In the episode titled "Bonanza is Disgusting," DK joined the diary-instructed mission to bury the town's garbage in the desert (violating, we can only imagine, several New Mexico waste disposal regulations), taught Leila the importance of teamwork, taught Guylan the importance of leadership, taught Emilie and some kid we'd never seen before the importance of not having soda fights in the street, gave his team a pre-challenge pep talk that led them to victory and single-handedly saved Taylor from a lynching. It was no surprise that DK was the only candidate for the Gold Star this week, at least until he put up his hand and told the town that he was ready to pack it up and leave the drama behind, to save the drama for his mamma, as it were. In no time flat, Taylor bawled. Morgan bawled. Guylan bawled. Laurel bawled. Markelle bawled. Asian girl we haven't met bawled. Chubby boy who hasn't done anything all season bawled. It was like they had just had a special Bonanza City screening of The Notebook, there was so much lachrymosity.

I mean, I would expect a similar response if I ever decided to leave Zap2it, but I've been here for longer than 19 days. I also need to emphasize that under those circumstances, a $20,000 Gold Star might be enough to keep me around, not that I do this for the money. No. I'm here to build a better world. Or something like that.

Me and DK. We're like two peas in a pod.

Anyway, Guylan made DK stick around and collect his Gold Star and the roar of applause from the emotionally battered residents of Bonanza City.

"You didn't need that," DK's mom told him. "You were already a star."

Awwwwwwwww...

What else do we need to talk about this week?

For a while, I wondered if Taylor's parents might think she was coming off as sort of cute and spunky and adorably obstinate. I think Mr. and Mrs. Taylor will probably have a hard time justifying this week's, um, "willful" behavior. That being said, as horrible as Taylor has been, I felt bad for her as every kid but DK ganged up on her. Fine. I felt a little bad for her. A very little.

Don't you wish the council would choose just one selfish reward? But the dune buggies were a stupid potential prize for a group of allegedly unsupervised children. Can you imagine Jared or Alex in a dune buggy? That's just insanity. And they also need to get over the stupid editing trick where five minutes before a challenge Sophia complains about something they're missing (last week it was toothbrushes and this week vegetables) only to have that thing magically turn up as a reward prize.

Speaking of the showdown challenge, I wonder if New Mexico has any soup kitchens that are low on food, any shelters short on provisions. It's pretty cavalier to waste 1600 gallons of beans. And I really hope that they were just straight beans and not pork-and-beans, because having pigs wallowing around in bits of chopped up pig is just sick.

Has Leila really turned the corner? Has Taylor?

Did this week's episode give you warm fuzzies? Did DK teach you any valuable lessons?

Comments

awful show not interesting CBS should have stayed with Jerico in this timeslot. Kids should be kids and be nurtured and and let the adults take care of the rest.

michael | Oct 25, 2007 3:01:29 AM | #

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The kids should be allowed to evict others...most notably Taylor. This girl is the visualization of bad paranting.

Bonanza City Collective | Oct 25, 2007 3:59:13 AM | #

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"I wonder if New Mexico has any soup kitchens that are low on food..."
Most shows, like "Double Dare" back in the day, use large quantities of food that would be better fed to people. But that costs money the city doesn't have to transport it; networks have money to ask for the food to be sent for some gross-out challenge. And that's why farmers can be subsidized. And that's why infrastructure is paramount. And that's why gas prices can be as high as they are and we'll still buy it.

pakopako | Oct 25, 2007 7:00:49 AM | #

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What are taylor's parents thinking when they watch the show? Anjay had a really good point, the dune buggies could actually be useful. You can attach a wagon to it and make easy garbage and water hauls.

Tony | Oct 25, 2007 7:05:20 AM | #

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Anjay's "plan" to use the dune buggy as a wagon is yet another way for him to keep his lazy butt from having to work. He's the worst leader on the show (now that Taylor is gone). I'll bet Taylor really COULD have beaten him up if she wanted.

Gregg | Oct 25, 2007 9:48:49 AM | #

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where are the romances?

thursday | Oct 25, 2007 11:29:31 AM | #

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This show is ridiculous. Why did TPTB put in that so called journal, from the past? Why am I watching something that is so unbelievable? Why, because my husband likes it, so I watch with him so I can point out all the errors that are made. What a waste of food in this episode. This challenge was more disgusting than the challenges on survivor. TPTB were supposedly trying to teach a lesson about the environment,but instead taught these children that it is perfectly allright to waste food. How could the adults involved in this production allow the children to handle fresh food when they were so filthy because of the challenge they had just participated in. Do any of these adults know about the danger of contammination? I would not allow my child to go on a show such as this even for a million dollars! Taylor GO HOME!!!!

Trupen | Oct 25, 2007 11:46:05 AM | #

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I think that this show is good for a lot of children Especially Taylor. I hope that this opens her eyes and the eyes of her lackies that i cant stand either as well as the eyes of other kids watching the show. Taylor pisses me off like crazy i feel bad for saying this but i cant stand that B*T*H I know its harsh to say that about a 9 year old but if the baby is ugly the babys ugly. What do you guys think about her lackies (the other girls in her group) most notibly the blonde girl that never said anything on the show except for when the guy trashed the "vote for Taylor"
poster. Shes just as bad. I would be ashamed if i were her parents too, for raising such a follower. It was good to see her leave Taylor in the last episode.

Derek | Oct 26, 2007 1:39:43 PM | #

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You guys don't know how hard it is being on Kid Nation. I couldn't help it if I were mean, but my mom died when I was down there and I just got mad!

Taylor | Nov 24, 2007 7:55:25 AM | #

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This is the real me guys ok. I don't know who the princess TAylor is. But she is right my mom didn't die though I am like Greg not a bad girl. So watch Kid Nation every Wednesday night a 7. I am at home with my puppy Max he is cute!

Taylor | Nov 24, 2007 7:59:05 AM | #

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This is the real me guys ok. I don't know who the princess TAylor is. But she is right my mom didn't die though I am like Greg not a bad girl. So watch Kid Nation every Wednesday night a 7. I am at home with my puppy Max he is cute!

Taylor | Nov 24, 2007 7:59:15 AM | #

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i luv taylor this show has just aired in australia and she is my favourite. she is sooo cute and if she doesnt wanna do work and stuff she shouldnt have to
i was devo when she was voted off council.

tyler | Jan 23, 2008 4:14:03 AM | #

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I love you taylor i wish you were my sister i just love you so much

love from natalie

natalie | Mar 8, 2008 3:03:07 PM | #

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I love you taylor you are the best person on this show if i was in it i would do the same things like you

from

natalie | Mar 8, 2008 3:05:26 PM | #

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