‘Kid Nation’: Off with their heads!
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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
