Kid Nation gets PANNED!

Anthem for ‘Nation’: All hype, no entertainment
By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY

Leave it to CBS to create a better fuss than a show.

Last year, the network stoked a free-publicity controversy with Survivor’s racial divide; this year, it’s child labor and kiddie exploitation for Kid Nation. And once again, the show turned out to be far more tepid than its pre-show heat would have led you to believe. Whatever dangers the kids on Nation may have faced, the only risk posed to viewers by last night’s premiere was death by boredom.

It was like watching some other family’s incredibly dull home movies — assuming in your home movies, the kids make speeches and 15-year-old boys get to hit 11-year-olds without an adult intervening. But then, what would you expect? They’re kids, exhibiting the kind of behaviors, good and bad, that kids do in real life.

That’s not awful or particularly surprising — but it’s also not even remotely entertaining.

The nation-building involves 40 kids, ages 8 to 15, sent to turn a ghost town into “a town that works.” Last night, that meant learning how to cook, milk goats, use an outhouse and deal with the class divide.

For anyone who was expecting originality — well, you have to admit that was awfully childlike of you. There are a few new twists: No one gets booted off, the council can hand out $20,000 gold stars. But otherwise, it’s bits and pieces of every reality show you’ve ever seen, from the trumped-up conflicts to the talk-to-the-camera complaints.

As for concerns over the children’s welfare, odds are the dangers are, in the mysterious way of TV, both fake and real. Fake because there were always adults off-camera; real because they weren’t close enough to prevent some unexpected injury.

For TV, the issue isn’t so much what happened to the children in New Mexico; it’s what’s about to happen to them now. Nation took a group of children who have no clear idea what image they project in person, let alone on TV, and labeled them forever as “the brat,” “the cry-baby,” “the nerd” “the full-of-herself know-it-all” and “the bully,” all for purposes of profit. And what’s worse, anyone who has ever watched a reality show knows these children were cynically, crassly cast to play these roles.

It doesn’t help Nation to claim that you can find equally horrific examples of kid behavior on shows like the Saturday morning Survivor rip-off Endurance— and not just because “Johnny does it, too” has never been much of a defense. The crime is exposure, and however bad it may be to act
foolishly on Saturday morning TV, it is much worse to be humiliated on the top-rated network in prime time. Which is why we fuss more over CBS.

The network should take that as a compliment. And then begin acting like it deserves one.

Anthem for ‘Nation’: All hype, no entertainment - USATODAY.com

WOW!

Okay, so I promise, this is the last time I’ll cover “Kid Nation” — I just thought it might be intersting to pass along a scathing critique. Wow.  Hate radiates off it, right?

The funny thing is– where I see positives, this article clearly saw boredom and reality-show-reruns. Perhaps it’s just because I’m a pro-kid experience person (from a kid perspective), who really wants all youth to beat the system and show others how great you can be when you just TRY.  I’ve been on the sideline, lucky enough to have seen tater tots do AMAZING things in life… and I only wish others have too.  From camp to the classroom to the soccer field to online community interactions, kids can be inspirational and strong.

Success is different to different people.

I do agree, however, that the stereotyping is inappropriate. I didn’t remember seeing that happen… I guess in actions, it was pretty obvious. But you know what? Spend some time on a playground. Kids sort each other out in groups, they sort themselves into groups. And although it’s WAY wrong… it’s the social pattern. Sometimes you have to be in some sort of box before you can break out of it.  Kids are learning. They’re exploring. They’re going the simplest/obvious route and trying to find themselves from there.

I agree “Primetime” is a bit of an “interesting” spot.  And I do fear the reprecussions on the kids themselves.  Will they have their tv personas follow them from this experience?  Or can they shake various “stereotype” behavior before the seasons end?  Hmm. Dunno.  On the other hand– what’s wrong with showing adults how amazing kids can be? They’re reflections of us, no matter HOW many times we try to say they aren’t.

You have NO idea how many adults I hear pigeonhole kids into things so far beneath what they can do. Staged or no– it’s nice to see strong kids making it work… even if they WERE hand picked to do such a thing.

So… again, you may disagree with me to the fullest extent. And I may be the only person out there– but on behalf of the kid-like audience, I enjoyed the show simply for the fact that kids –at heart– want to do amazing things. And even though we can’t let thousands of kids run off into the desert “Holes” style… they can have role models on television who are TRYING to make a difference OTHER than those silly young actors who are constantly turning into train-wrecks.

Anyway… wrong or right– thats my take, and that’s what I’m walking away with.

technorati tags:Kid, Nation, CBS, TV

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Watched: Kid Nation Highlights

I watched it, did you?

I know there’s been a lot of poo-pooing about this show from like moment one.  I’ve been skeptical & excited & worried & confused, etc.  But I was hit with this devil’s advocate-like epiphany last week.  There are so many lovely people concerned with the overall ethics surrounding the concept & production - I thought I’d step off that bandwagon and hang out, check out the other side of “Kid Nation”– the side that somehow got the show on television in the first place.

So– my first thought: If I were a kid, I’d be DYING to be part of it.

That’s the type of kid I was (and still am for that matter).  You name the show: Double Dare, Reading Rainbow, Discovery’s Endurance (this show reminded me a LOT of that), those PBS documentaries where kids would get hauled off to the Amazon for a study about rainforest, etc… Any opportunity to stand up and try to be bigger than I am– to be a hero, to be an adventurer, to be INCLUDED… rock on.

I know I am not going to sway anyone from watching it, or liking it, etc.  I respect everyone fighting the GOOD fight in protecting the integrity of youth, etc.  But here is why I’ve decided to like the show as a VIEWER :

•  Mike, 11, one of the 4 chosen leaders of the town, standing up to Greg, 14– who was trying to “help” situations by displaying a few bully-like tendancies.  Mike shot him down! –Greg is the biggest/oldest kid there… and he was shut down by Mike.  It was amazing.  Chalk one up for the younger/less “street cool” kids.  After their little “show down” in front of the whole town– Mike courageously & awesomely walked up to Greg and shook his hand, hoping everything was “cool”.  Mike reminds me of a kid hero in tween lit books– smart, a bit nerdy, strong moral core developing faster than his body can catch up, the kid who stands up for the weaker kids, trying to be the best by all.  Like Bastian from The Neverending Story (great book, btw)
• Michael, 14, noticing the chaos at a town meeting– takes matters into his own hands and gives a rousing speech about how this is THEIR chance to show the world that kids CAN do anything!  Take that anti-kid nay-sayers!!!!!!
• Jared, 11.  Anything out of this kid’s mouth is priceless.  Oh, my… he’s unique… but that’s why he’s my favorite.  I always chose these “imaginative” kids to be in my group in camp.  They beat to their own drummer– and thats just a joy to see.  The whole “dark chocolate” purchase was fantasic– as well as his book choice.  I’d love to know if he actually hacked his way through Shakespeare on his own.
• Jimmy, 8, making the grown up decision “I’m just not old enough to be here.”  GOOD ON HIM!  And then to have the guts to shoot down Greg, who offered (sweetly, I thought) for Jimmy to be his “wing man”.
• Sophia, 14, being such a great young lady– responsible and kind… and when she won the star and went to call her mother?  I was sobbing.  SOBBING.  Her voice when she first spoke to her mom was priceless.  I bet her mother is just bursting at the seem with pride.
• The kids choosing the MUCH needed pottys over the tv, despite the look of longing as they stared at it.

Anyway– love the show, hate the show, ignore the show… regardless.  From a public viewing standpoint, it’s AMAZING to find YOURSELF being empowered and PROUD of these kids representing the public/youth.

I know, I know, I know… it’s probably staged at times, and you’ve got editors selecting the right bits to share to evoke emotional response from viewers.  But think about that– that in ITSELF does deserve a bit of credit.  Why?  Because: The Ripple Effect.

Hundreds of families/kids will watch this show.  Kids, tweens, teens often mirror/mimick/ learn from others to find their way.  I’m interested in the good this show MAY do for the viewers… to watch and learn and explore.  Kids expressing themselves, trying to make a difference, building confidence, stepping up to bullies, acknowledging help, taking care of one another– THAT is the side of Kid Nation that I’m interested in.

Will this show build role models?   I don’t know.  With all of the demanding-question marks looming from the ethical theory of this show, the criticism, the frustrated media, the safety, etc… only time will tell.

Or maybe I’m just hoping for the best.  It wouldn’t be the first time.