Kid Nation

[Deleted]

When I first saw the promo for this I rolled my eyes and assumed it was a bunch of kid actors with stage parents adding something to their resume, but according to this article the kids were actually mostly unsupervised and this was filmed during the schoolyear.

I kept trying to find the part where the parents had been duped into thinking their kids would be safe and cared for, but instead the only mention of the what the parents expected out of it was money. Where do people get the nerve to sue someone else when they were the ones who dropped the ball regarding their own child?

[Deleted]

What cracks me up about this show is that it reminds me of a joke on the Jamie Kennedy show (or maybe Punk'd? Or Candid camera?) where they convinced these parents to allow their kids on a show called Baby Island which was going to be survivor for babies and even though they said that the babies would be unsupervised and it might be dangerous due to the snakes and wild boards--a few of the parents were like "What's the cash prize money?" and one woman kept asking if her child would be famous from it.

And now . . . the show is somewhat real. I mean, they're not babies and they're not on an island but the idea is there. Insanity.

I think the parents are still stage parents--I saw a clip on Entertainment Tonight and there's a tiny Texas beauty queen on it. I am relieved to see that no kids get booted off. Each week one kid gets voted the VIP or some such crap like that. I still think it's horrible that people would allow their kids to be on a reality show. I mean, hell, I feel bad for the kids on Wife Swap and shows like that--I really feel bad for them on this one.

[mariposalabrown]

I think Time magazine had an article about it, saying how the kids ended up being very diplomatic and came up with really neat ideas and worked together. I think the network was hoping for a little Lord of the Flies action, but the kids all surprised them by being mature and smart about the situation. Let me go see if I can find it.

ETA: After a quick Google search I couldn't find the article I was looking for, but they all talk about how it was set up like a summer camp, and that there was plenty of adult supervision.

[venusdiva429]

See, I don't know...from the sound of it, I thought that there weren't that many adults at all. Plus, they chose NM to shoot because there's a lack of those pesky child entertainer laws that they have in CA and NY, for instance. They closed the barn door and fixed the loophole AFTER the show was taped. Really useful.

It's creepy. I agree that they were looking for Lord of the Flies action. I think, though, that children are children because they need guidance, and that putting them out in the wild isn't great entertainment. It's a testament to how depraved people have become in pursuit of dollars and fame.

ETA: Want a side helping of child exploitation? Read this, and watch Kid Nation!

ETA,A: There is one quote in the article from a parent that says that there were lots of adults around. Sure, lol. I'm sure the parents will vouch for that, because if they don't, they're in for a world of pain from the public. They're going to lie, lie, lie so that they save their asses.

[chiquita]

It's a major television production - of course there were adults around. Cameras, sound, medical crew, host, etc.

[venusdiva429]

I think that the issue is whether they were in any sort of supervisory or guardian role. With many of these shows, the crew and such are completely "hands-off", and unable to interact with the actors whatsoever. Plus, a lot of shows are shots with maybe one digicam and a sound guy...maybe. Med crews, too, don't have to be anywhere near the kids, or in view of them. That's why so many stations love these shows- because they're dirt cheap to produce. You literally need just a skeleton crew.

I just don't trust a show that doesn't even allow state inspectors on set. Real cute.

[Deleted]

If you had any misgivings about the child before, you'll hate it now:

[url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0823071kidnation1.html?link=rssfeed
]The Smoking Gun[/url]

From the link: "Parents of minors starring in "Kid Nation," the controversial new CBS reality show, signed away their rights to sue the network and the show's producers if their child died, was severely injured, or contracted a sexually transmitted disease during the program's taping. "

[hobocamp]

A sexually transmitted disease? That's like an layer of yuck frosting on top of the WTF cake.

And the title was originally The Manhattan Project? Really?

[venusdiva429]

This show is seeming more fucked up by the day.

[thecupcakekid]

Yeah anyone watching it?

Right now I'm watching them choose between a tv and outhouses.

These kids are a little too articulate to be believable.

And not to be evil, but I just saw one girl who looked like she had mouth herpes. Made me love my chapstick. Poor kids.

One girl is dancing for nickels! And she just won 20 grand. Lame.