CBS’s new reality show is neither “new” nor is it based on “reality” - discuss.

Now I can say with all certainty that CBS has a new hit with this concept, and I say that not because it is a great concept or because it has exceptional style or production value but because it is getting a boat-load of press. “Kid Nation” is a reality-based program coming out in which a bunch of kids are plopped in a fake old west town (called Bonanza) and are expected to form there own real-life SimCity - a functioning working society complete run by them.

40 children, 40 days, no adults eager to prove they can build a better world for tomorrow in the new reality series KID NATION. Settling in Bonanza City, New Mexico, once a thriving mining town but now deserted, these kids, ages 8 to 15 and from all walks of life, will build their own new world, pioneer-style. They will confront grown-up issues while coping with the classic childhood emotions of homesickness, peer pressure and the urge to break every rule. Episodes end with a town meeting in which the kids award one child a gold star worth $20,000, all leading to the grand finale, with an unimaginable test, the biggest awards and a special surprise for every child.” ~ CBS.com, Kid Nation Promo

Now as a media-savvy parent I can tell you a couple of somewhat obvious things after watching this promo; 1.) CBS is totally loving all the press, good, bad or otherwise, 2.) these kids are not *alone*, they are surrounded by producers and crew that are shepherding their every move, 3.) they are being fed very particular lines at key moments (I mean really, when have you ever heard an eight year old boy pontificating about working together?). The media-circus is focused on the implication of breaking well known labor laws and putting children in harmful, exhausting, strenuous or otherwise stressful situations. I am not opposed to these efforts by the news media in any way but if you want to see how children *really* act when there isn’t even the hint of adult supervision present see the 2002 BBC program, “Boys Alone” or the follow up program, “Girls Alone” directed by Kim Flitcroft for the British television series “Cutting Edge.”

These verite-style documentaries are absolutely frightening. They bring the images from “Lord of the Flies” to life. My wife and I saw this film years ago and were riveted to the natural dramas that unfolded. The first things the boys did once they realized there was absolutely no consequence to their actions (no reprimands, no punishments) were they absolutely destroyed the house. They ripped the banisters off the stairs, ripped pillows, over-turned mattresses.

What happens when you put ten eleven-year old boys in a house on their own for a week? Francine Stock talks to the novelist Nigel Williams about a television documentary, Boys Alone, which is aiming to create a modern day Lord Of The Flies.” ~ BBCRadio.Com, Promo By-line of “Boys Alone”

Now it needs to be said that these were introduced at the beginning of the program as “regular” kids from the surrounding suburbs. When it came to dinner-time it was like the dinner scene from “Elf” where Will Farrell’s character made spaghetti covered with chocolate sauce topped with marshmallows. And the swearing…. ‘nuf said. This program makes it painfully clear what children would be like in a completely unconstrained environment and it seems to be very different from what CBS is trying to sell us.

Related Links:
Kid Nation on CBS
TV Week Press Coverage of Kid’s Nation Production Labor Issues
Cutting Edge | “Boys Alone” on IMDB
BBC Radio | Front Row