“Kid Nation” — I’m Trying To Be A Leader Here
Here’s the big question: was Kid Nation, CBS’s new reality show where 40 kids ages 8-15 are asked to live in an abandoned ghost town and form their own society, what you were expecting when all was said and done? For me, it basically delivered on all fronts. Look, anyone who was expecting Piggy’s head on a pike clearly wasn’t paying attention to the network, the timeslot and the promos. Even those arguments a few months back about child labor laws being bent now seem silly having finally watched the show. And yes, there is a level of exploitation here, but that’s what reality TV is. If anyone is to be blamed it should probably be the parents who signed the forms. That being said, if I were 10 years old, I’ve LOVE to do this. More after the jump…
Before we get too far along. Let’s clarify a bit how the show works. Forty kids were brought in to a “ghost town” called Bonanza City (whether or not this is actually where Bonanza was shot is yet to be determined). While there are no parents there is at least one adult who interacts with the kids and serves as host for the show. He comes and goes as he explains what the various challenges are, how the class system works, and then is in the room during the end-of-episode town hall meetings. He’s the only visible adult, though we have to assume the town is teaming with grown-up crew members insuring no one is murdered or whathaveyou.
Around the town there are lots of “directions” written out in faux-old-timey books for the kids to have some guidance. There is a recipe book in the kitchen. There is a book in the church that explains how teams should be divided up (because, y’know, the original founders realized the error of their ways was not having a blue, yellow, red and green team back in 1896). Because of this the adult presence is always felt, just not seen, and as illustrated by this week’s sole departure, kids are going to leave the camp because they miss their family, not the absence of authority figures.
Each week there is a challenge between the four groups to determine who gets to occupy what “class.” The actual challenges are right out of Survivor or Guts or Legends of the Hidden Temple or Fun House or whatever other Nickelodeon game show you care to reference. While these challenges are by far the least interesting part of the episodes they contribute directly to the aspect of the show the completely sells it. The losing group is forced to be the “lower class” which means it is their job to clean and do all of the physical labor. They are paid ten cents each for their actions. Above them are the cooks who do just that: cook. They make a quarter. Then comes the merchant class. They run the town stores and make a cool fifty cents. The winners of the challenge get to be the upper class and get to do whatever they want (just like in real life!). They also get a whole dollar. Their money can then be spent in the stores on candy, sodas, games or practical items.
In perhaps the episodes best moment, Sophia who ended up in the lower class decided to dance outside the dry goods store for nickels so that she could purchase the bicycle that was on sale for $3. How fitting is it that the poor girl has to dance to afford transportation? She did get enough money and suddenly Bonanza City wasn’t that far removed from Deadwood.
In addition to the class system, the town has four council members who were preselected before the show even started. They each represent one of the four teams, though their positions are not permanent. At the town hall meetings it is asked whether they are doing a good job. Most said yes. Sophia said no. Sophia is already awesome.
Another interested twist that we’re likely to see in weeks to come is decisions being made of the “practical versus fun” variety. Since all four teams completed this week’s challenge in the requisite time (they had to maneuver an oil derrick and pump colored water out of the ground — likely a result of some 1950s nuclear testing — and then catch the water to fill three large jugs) they got to choose between two prizes for the whole town. One was the addition of seven outhouses to their existing one. The other was a television. Wisely the kids chose the outhouses. Clearly after a day of sharing the same crapper with 40 other people they realized TV could wait (plus, it looked like the summer and nothing’s ever on in the summer).
The best remark about this came while discussing the problems with waiting in line to use the bathroom: “Yeah, that would hurt your colon a lot.” Very true, kid. Very true.
The episode was not without the requisite amount of drama. This week the drama seemed to come in two forms: homesickness and dealing with the older kids who are kind of bullies. Is it wrong for me to say the show is at its best once the kids start crying? I mean, in a way this is what we turned in for, right? We want to see these kids suffer, and yet the crying is far less about suffering than it is about loneliness. This of course is crazy since there are probably throngs of adults on the other side of the camera. Still, you can’t help but feel the isolation. I mean, you’re a kid. You’re trapped (even if you aren’t). Your parents dropped you off and now you’re stuck.
On the other side of things, Greg, who is 15 certainly wasn’t making things easy on Mike (one of the council members). In once scene the two get in each other’s grills over something that I’m sure seemed important at the time but which has completely escaped me. Michael eventually broke it up and said something motivational that everyone cheered for, but I couldn’t focus as the flashbacks from middle school were coming in hot and heavy. It was kind of horrifying (what can I say, I relate to the trials and tribulations of being a runty, four-eyed kid with a Napoleon complex).
At the end of each episode kids get to decide if they want to go home or stay. This week Jimmy decides to go home. He says he’s too young for this. Also at the town hall meeting the council gets to decide which camper takes home a literal gold star (MSRP: $20,000.00). They give it to the outspoken Sophia who stepped up on the first night and cooked dinner. They almost gave it to Michael for delivering that motivational speech. Sophia and Michael are geniuses at this. Sophia speaks the truth. Michael says what people want to hear. Sophia is Hillary. Michael is Barack.
Kid Nation is hardly scandalous. It’s greatest charm is that it makes you feel like a kid again, which is saying a lot.
It ends, as it should, with two kids fighting with their bandannas under the credits.
September 20th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
You ALMOST make me want to break my “no reality show” vow… almost..
September 24th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I watched this last week, and I totally fell in love with this show. Just hearing about it, I was one of the people worried about the child labor law-type issue, but after watching the show, it’s obvious this isn’t an issue. The kids are given the necessary amount of structure and instruction. I absolutely love the things the kids say, like the one little boy who said in response to having to wait in a long line at the outhouse, “That would hurt your colon… a lot.” Kids are so great. Adults on reality tv shows could really learn how to behave from these kids. I also loved that the kids were taking shots of rootbeer in the saloon after a hard day’s work. I wish I could be there.
September 26th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Im really digging the show . .. but you have to question what kind of a parent would let their 8 year old on a show like this (and sign this contract). I understand a little more with the 14 and 15 year olds (go Sophia!). Obviously, little Jimmy was smarter than his parents.