Zzzzzzzzz, hmm? What? Sorry, y’all, between the near-snoozefest that was last night’s episode, and the half-bottle of red wine I’ve downed, I’m halfway to my beauty sleep. Lemme explain, because I don’t usually drink on the job. (Well, not this job.) But I’m in New York this week, hanging with my EW colleagues at HQ, and alcohol is something of a necessity—not so that I can deal with them, mind you, but so that they can handle me. (After 11 weeks of Nation building with me, I’m sure you can empathize.)
Anyway, with but one episode left, the Nation delivers a truly sad entry. There were only three things we took away:
1. The town council is irrelevant. With the elder boys off in the wilderness getting a lesson on the difference between igloos and teepees (hint: one’s frozen), Sheriff Sophia took control. And damned if she didn’t run that place—singlehandedly—better than any four on the council. Not that everyone was rooting for her. “We didn’t elect her!” they shouted. “Nobody would’ve voted her in,” offered Olivia, in a snotty tone we thought she reserved for Anjay (and clearly missing the realization that the feeling was probably mutual). But Sophia tamed the beasts, got them to do dishes, and opened the arcade on time. She even had that fabulous sense of drama and staging to make the arcade-opening announcement Evita-like, from the balcony. Always make sure the little people know they’re little, honey.
2. Nominating oneself for gold stardom is a seriously heinous idea.Bad enough when Jared did it, excruciating when Zach—our sweet, belovedboy—pulled the same move moments later. It’s not that neither of themhas a point—Zach, especially, is overdue for some recognition. It’sjust that it put them in the position of genuflecting before lessermortals for what should’ve already been theirs. Essentially, it wasbeneath them. And for Zach, the humiliation of Greg’s dismissal wasalmost too much to bear, even for a cold-hearted snake (she don’t playby rules) like me. BUT! How brilliant was it when DK called Greg outfor his phony condescension to Zach? Some days I wonder whether DK’s onthe side of right. Last night I wondered no more.
3. Nerds rule.Whether it was Tooth id’ing a femur by its ball and socket joint,Jared’s scary comprehension of the Homestead Act, or their mutualregret that they didn’t have the means to carbon date a dead cow, thenerds stepped up as the most delightful denizens of Bonanza. Then, asif we even needed it, Jared dropped the now-classic “Pelvis hasleft the building!” Even better: He had the comedic sense to know itwas corny. You’re all so right, they should totally get their own show!Only without the dimmer bulbs among the rest of the kids acting ascounterpoints, such a show might just be an endless string of Pi dissesand cellular debate. Sigh…it’s what Tooth would call a paradox. He isso very wise, that little gold star winner. And he’s probably rightabout hanging onto it—from what I hear gold’s rising.
Butbetween this penultimate episode and the pretty, pretty monument Sophiasooooo wanted to pick (alas, a good leader knows when to appease theunwashed masses and give ’em the damned balloons), we have to startthinking about the L word. Not Jennifer Beals nekkid (though I admitshe’s totally smokin’), no I mean legacy. What are we to take away from our glorious 40 days in Kid Nation?I know, you’re getting weepy just thinking about it. Me too. But in theend it can’t just be about the kids we liked, the ones we barely met,and the whipping post we totally used for cathartic rage release(thanks, Pageant Princess Taylor!). We have to answer the question: Didthe kids create a better society? By this time next week, we’ll know.
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Thanks for the continued mini TV watch, even though you found this a lesser episode, i was DYING when Alex was explaining a paradox to the citizens of Bonanza. I dont even think the host guy knew what it was…
I am going to miss KN when this season is over….the Nerds make this worth watching. Greg is probably getting sooo much grief reading all the blogs out there….and who was Laurel leaning on there at the end? I bet some of those girls have huge crushes on Greg and Blaine…even the that know he is a tool….
Thank you very much, Alynda, for your PopWatch this morning. Even though brief, it brought a smile to my face. I didn’t actually get to watch the show last night as I live in Omaha and, of course, had local news on non-stop regarding the mall shooting. The victims and survivors are in my prayers today…but I wanted to thank you for the small relief from the inundation.
I almost cried when Alex won the Gold Star…I was so happy for him.
TVSlave…yes, I was wondering too if there were any crushes (or kissy face) going on behind the scenes with some of the older kids. (Blaine & Migle?)
Oh…and Zach TOTALLY deserves a gold star!
Alynda, thanks for getting the mini watch out early this week. You should drink more on the job, it increases your productivity (I will write a note to your boss if needed).
Second, Pelvis has left the building is now my catch phrase. BUt I wanted to let Jared kow that building a teleportation device is only good on paper. $20,000 willnot a teleportation device invent.
Alynda, my thanks too for getting the Watch out early–always look forward to your take on the ep! Still love Sophia, but those nerds–I tune in every week for them! It’s not often I laugh out loud at TV (rest in peace AD), but that corny Pelvis has left the building comment? Actually laughed out loud. And Tooth sitting on his gold star for his kids or grandkids? Awesome.
Alex and Jared had a crime scene moment…it was pretty funny and it was cool how they bonded. those two are beyond our years…or at least know what going on in the world, a little better then the majorty
this to me was the very best, it had classic one liners that could be use in every conversation
My kids and I are SO going to miss this show after next week! Maybe if the writers strike goes on long enough, we’ll get another season. My kids would like to volunteer to be in the cast! My big fear is that they would come off as Olivia and Taylor instead of Laurel and Sophia.
I enjoyed the blog, too. Alex, aka Tooth, could use the money to get that tooth pulled. It’s freaking me out! Both Alex and Jared could be re-occuring characters on the “Big Bang Theory” on CBS, where nerds rule. I do hope that Zach gets a well-deserved and overdue Gold Star. He is truly an unsung hero. If people don’t think that women can rule, just look at Sophia. She did the job of ruling Bonanza City much better than four young men did. And if Olivia roles her eyes one more time, I’m gonna smack her through my TV. Her younger sister, Mallory, has more maturity than her older sister.
I LOL’ed for about 3 minutes straight at “Pelvis has left the building!” when Jared said it. That was probably the funniest moment on TV this season outside of Big Bang Theory, which, as has been already mentioned, Jared and Alex would totally fit perfectly into.
I LOL’ed for about 3 minutes straight at “Pelvis has left the building!” when Jared said it. That was probably the funniest moment on TV this season outside of Big Bang Theory, which, as has been already mentioned, Jared and Alex would totally fit perfectly into.
I loved DK’s reaction coming back from the reservation to see EVERYONE IN TOWN UP IN HOT AIR BALOONS! lol. Man, it sux to be on the council…
Too bad the kids didn’t have the sense to want the monument (no fault of Sophia’s). I almost choked up when Whatshisname revealed it.
Funny moments:
1. Taylor hoping Greg would get eaten by a pack of wolves.
2. “Pelvis has left the building!” (Jared, we both know it was funnier than you give it credit for)
3. People’s reactions to anything Alex says.
4. Whoever called it an “igloo”
5. The name Migle.
Not as exciting as last week, but as we wind down and reflect, we’re going to miss it all…
I’ll especially miss the TV watches….
I loved DK’s reaction coming back from the reservation to see EVERYONE IN TOWN UP IN HOT AIR BALOONS! lol. Man, it sux to be on the council…
Too bad the kids didn’t have the sense to want the monument (no fault of Sophia’s). I almost choked up when Whatshisname revealed it.
Funny moments:
1. Taylor hoping Greg would get eaten by a pack of wolves.
2. “Pelvis has left the building!” (Jared, we both know it was funnier than you give it credit for)
3. People’s reactions to anything Alex says.
4. Whoever called it an “igloo”
5. The name Migle.
Not as exciting as last week, but as we wind down and reflect, we’re going to miss it all…
I’ll especially miss the TV watches….
I loved DK’s reaction coming back from the reservation to see EVERYONE IN TOWN UP IN HOT AIR BALOONS! lol. Man, it sux to be on the council…
Too bad the kids didn’t have the sense to want the monument (no fault of Sophia’s). I almost choked up when Whatshisname revealed it.
Funny moments:
1. Taylor hoping Greg would get eaten by a pack of wolves.
2. “Pelvis has left the building!” (Jared, we both know it was funnier than you give it credit for)
3. People’s reactions to anything Alex says.
4. Whoever called it an “igloo”
5. The name Migle.
Not as exciting as last week, but as we wind down and reflect, we’re going to miss it all…
I’ll especially miss the TV watches….
I loved DK’s reaction coming back from the reservation to see EVERYONE IN TOWN UP IN HOT AIR BALOONS! lol. Man, it sux to be on the council…
Too bad the kids didn’t have the sense to want the monument (no fault of Sophia’s). I almost choked up when Whatshisname revealed it.
Funny moments:
1. Taylor hoping Greg would get eaten by a pack of wolves.
2. “Pelvis has left the building!” (Jared, we both know it was funnier than you give it credit for)
3. People’s reactions to anything Alex says.
4. Whoever called it an “igloo”
5. The name Migle.
Not as exciting as last week, but as we wind down and reflect, we’re going to miss it all…
I’ll especially miss the TV watches….
I loved DK’s reaction coming back from the reservation to see EVERYONE IN TOWN UP IN HOT AIR BALOONS! lol. Man, it sux to be on the council…
Too bad the kids didn’t have the sense to want the monument (no fault of Sophia’s). I almost choked up when Whatshisname revealed it.
Funny moments:
1. Taylor hoping Greg would get eaten by a pack of wolves.
2. “Pelvis has left the building!” (Jared, we both know it was funnier than you give it credit for)
3. People’s reactions to anything Alex says.
4. Whoever called it an “igloo”
5. The name Migle.
Not as exciting as last week, but as we wind down and reflect, we’re going to miss it all…
I’ll especially miss the TV watches….
woah! sorry about that! my comp’s acting funky…
Did it not post? maybe I should try one more time….
Is anyone else really going to be mad if PPT gets some sort of honorary gold star for “improving” the most or something? I’m afraid of what this will teach my daughter about how to treat people and responsiblity!
Ohhhh, they better not “redeem” PPT. She might be able to charm Greg, but hopefully those other council members will see through her.
I really like this show, and have since the beginning. It’s a breath of fresh air among the reality show genre. I feel kinda bad for all of the “boring” background kids who have hardly been shown at all, but some of the “stars” of this show are pretty amazing. I’ll miss it when it’s gone!
Oh Alynda, you had me at “(she don’t play by rules).” And the shout out to Jennifer Beals was icing on the cake. Thanks for your excellent coverage of the show, though soon to come to an end.
The monument was the most ridiculous prize ever – and I’m glad they went for the balloons instead. The monument was completely generic – if they want a testament to what they’ve been through, I hope someone in their household has been pressing record this whole time – aren’t the hundreds of cameras following them every day enough to mark the memories of what they’ve done, or would a random anonymous monument that didn’t even have their names on it be better?
Anyone else think we need to rescue Tooth from his mother?? She couldn’t have been less excited about him winning the gold star…
So cbs went to all the trouble to put the monument together, engraving the stone, etc. and they’re just going to dump it? Puh-leeze, that thing will be right there in Bonanza City guaranteed so they can milk it in some way. Choosing the balloons was definitely the right move by Sheriff S.
I think they made the right call on the balloon rides vs. the monument. Like the world needs a monument to a 10-week TV show to clutter up the natural beauty of that place. I’m betting the kids make their own thing.
Anybody here watch “Life”? They had a pretty sweet ep last night. While Crews is seeking a suspect involved in setting him up, his two partners looked for a snake in a room of marijuana or grass. I thought it was clever anyway.
I, too, lost it when the ever funny Jared uttered his now infamous “pelvis” comment (wonder if I could get away with a t-shirt containing his likeness and that phrase?) Anything Tooth says gives me a headache (that’s a compliment by the way), and I’m with those of you who think Olivia needs a smack into next week. Props to Migle for two weeks in a row stepping up to help her team in the showdown. And props to PPT (wait for it) for keeping her horse teeth behind closed lips last night…for the most part (told you it was worth the wait.) Give Zack much love for his passion and his gracious “loss”, and to Sophia. She single handedly did what (how many now…8?) other kids in her age range could not do: bring some focus to our young pioneers. Finally, I agree Alex may need a rescue from The Mombot 5000, but you have to agree: the apple’s not got a long trip to the ground there. I will miss our little nationers after next week and look excitedly forward to round 2.
hey PDub: is there going to be a round 2? My kids will be SO psyched to hear it, and me too.
I had meant to comment on how UNexcited Alex’s mom was over his win, I can’t imagine my 9 year old being gone for 40 days, I would have been crying how much I missed him, etc.
Best reality show on TV! It is coming back for Season Two, right?