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'Kid Nation' introduces youngsters to joys of drinking bleach!

Aug 20, 2007, 12:17 PM | by Michael Slezak

Categories: Reality TV, Television, Things That Make Me Die Inside

Kidnation_l It's time for a PopWatch PopQuiz:

1) Mother attaches a rope to 11-year-old child's foot, dangles child over a pit of hungry mountain lions, and returns an hour later to discover that the child has severe scratches on its face. Who should be held responsible for the child's injuries?

2) Mother places 11-year-old child on the back of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, gives horse a slap on the rump, watches him take off at 30 MPH; child falls to the ground, bruising arm and face. Who should be held responsible for the child's injuries?

3) Mother sends 11-year-old child to New Mexico for six weeks as part of CBS reality series Kid Nation, in which 40 youngsters create their own society without any adult supervision (save for production and camera crews, naturally); child accidentally burns face in the kitchen with spattered grease. Who should be held responsible for the child's injuries?

Okay, so you see where I'm going with this? According to a story in the New York Times this weekend, the mother of a Kid Nation cast member sent a letter to her local sheriff's office asking for an "investigation into issues of child abuse, neglect and endangerment" surrounding the show's production. But maybe this woman should've considered reporting herself to the authorities, seeing that she abandoned her preteen child to the loving arms of network television. In the middle of the school year. I won't argue with folks who insist the entire concept of Kid Nation is creepy and ill-advised, but it takes a village of 40 parents to raise a child-exploiting reality series. And for what?
The possibility of winning one of a handful of the show's $20,000 "Gold Stars"? The pride of reminding neighbors and relatives to set their DVRs for the very special episode where little Giana mistakenly drinks bleach from a soda bottle? (Such a horror actually occurred on set, says the Times.) Or maybe it's the chance at your child achieving "breakout star" status, the prospect of becoming the next Dakota Fanning, or Macaulay Culkin, or maybe Lindsay Lohan, with all the fame and money and emotional catastrophes that come with it?

My husband insists we've got to take a stand and avoid Kid Nation at all costs, that it's just too horrible an idea to be tolerated. And when I think about how I'd feel if my adorable nephew (who'll be eight later this year, and thus eligible for the show's second season) was torn from his parents for six weeks to entertain the masses and boost CBS's bottom line, I know he's right. Then again, I've always hated the idea of hating a show or a movie or an art exhibit that I haven't seen with my own eyes. So if I watch just one episode of Kid Nation, does that make me a sellout?

Which brings me to the final Pop Quiz question:

4) Will you watch the series premiere of Kid Nation come September 19? And if I watch it, so you don't have to, am I going to hell?

olevia Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 12:50 PM EST

i really want to be on this show im loyle im help others and because i have 5 younger kids here i know how to take care of younger kids then me and because i have four older siblings than me i can also take care of people that are older than me i can really help kid nation and i hope you pick me.thank for this opurtunity.

jake Thu, Dec 13, 2007 at 07:35 PM EST

if im on the next show i will do the best i can and i will never ever give up and say i can't thats how much i will do to get on this awesome show! biggest fan!

jake Thu, Dec 13, 2007 at 07:34 PM EST

how do i qulify or is this it

jake Thu, Dec 13, 2007 at 07:29 PM EST

I'm the biggest fan of kid nation. i always watch the show and know what to do when there's a situation. i would really like a chance to be on the next show. you won't regret it if u do.

Carol Wed, Dec 12, 2007 at 11:56 PM EST

My granddaughter Michelle is a great who can get along with any one older and younger than her. she tries to do the impossible. she always reaches her goal and never gives up. even though she will miss us she knows that this is what she wants to do. seeing her on that show would put joy in my heart forever.if she won 20,000or evn 50,000 i know she would give half for college and the other half to a charity of her choice.life depends on kids like her and some of her friends. but saying good bye then after 39 days saying hello would give me joy saddnes and many other emotions. i love her and i know she would be a great addition to Kid Nation. Please pick my granddaughter Michelle.

Geneveieve Feagin Wed, Nov 28, 2007 at 09:18 PM EST

I realy want to be on kid nation beacaue I am a great pearson and i love the show and i have lots of intrests and talents i would work harder than regular and i userly work p.s i am bad @ spelling.But i'm ok at math and reading is not my stongest point. i would probely qualify for counsle and i would try my best.i do get mad or grumpy but not most of the time.

Geneveieve Feagin Wed, Nov 28, 2007 at 09:17 PM EST

I realy want to be on kid nation beacaue I am a great pearson and i love the show and i have lots of intrests and talents i would work harder than regular and i userly work p.s i am bad @ spelling.But i'm ok at math and reading is not my stongest point. i would probely qualify for counsle and i would try my best.i do get mad or grumpy but not most of the time.

Tara Sun, Sep 23, 2007 at 01:07 AM EST

Will you all just give it a rest PLEASE? I am so SICK of people down talking about Kid Nation. These kids are NOT alone out there. What parent would leave their son or daughter out in the middle of nowhere with nothing? Think before you speak people. I mean, I saw the first episode and I am impressed with these kids. They are not delinquents or problem kids, they are smart and really into what they are doing. The show is meant to be educational and honestly the way some of you raise your kids and the lack of respect they have because of it...we need to see kids doing well, keeping honest and above all..learning how to be responsible. These children picked WANTED to be on the show. They didnt even know about the $20,000 gold star until the show was well underway. All I can say is..you dont like the show dont f watch it thats fine. But dont come to chat sites and btch about it either.

~kids understand and know more than we give them credit for. You not supporting these kids out there is telling them you don't believe in them. Do you make your own kids feel that way when they want to try something different and new?~

THINK ABOUT IT.

harold Sat, Sep 1, 2007 at 08:55 PM EST

hello everyone
now thats over think like this people in this world have become greedy self rightous b***** to put you children through this ordeal missing school for 6 weeks the parents had to sign
a waiver saying if my child dies or is injured on this show i will not sue
this is not right our society has gone back to the days of the roman colleseum instead of gladiators were
throwing our children in front of the lions ban ban ban ban kid nation
this s*** is rediculous what is next
pedaphiles exposed with real footage
of kids being raped faces of death
the television show well mtv has started the ball rolling with a show
that shows people being injured

w Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 02:12 PM EST

My understanding is that these kids were given tons of immunization type of shots before filming because they knew they were going to have them doing dangerous things. The kids were forced to do things they didn't want, as in kill animals and prepare their "food". And you just know they will edit it to make some little 8 year old kids look like the "villians" and this will follow them their whole life. What a terrrible, terrible idea.

Nat X Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 12:03 PM EST

You can't tell me Kid Nation, like most of those types of shows, isn't partly scripted and staged. And it's not like these kids are really alone. There are droves of adults there, particularly lots of crew. I'd rather watch Kid Nation than something that's even more exploitive of children, "Wife Swap" and "Trading Spouses" and to a lesser expense, that nanny show. The kids are already messed up for the most part, why expose them and their terrible families to the world? Yuck.

Anne Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 10:49 AM EST

To T3hdow: In Lord of the Flies, upon Jack's orders there is a massive fire, which draws the attention of Naval officers, who save Ralph and rescue the others (save Piggy, who did die).

Stephanie T. Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 09:55 AM EST

The Simpsons episode someone was referring to if I am not mistaken, was when Bart accidently traveled to a "Bizzaro" Springfielld town where the kids were the boss.

Looey Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 09:48 AM EST

It's impossible to judge this show without seeing it, but with cameras on the kids 24/7, I'm betting they were watched more carefully than most kids of that age.

junior Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 09:35 AM EST

I don't get what the prob is. Do you remember when you were a kid? Did you see yourself as completely defenseless and incapable of doing anything? 'Cause I was taking the subway, cooking meals, doing laundry all before I got my driver's license. If a parent is upset at the show, they shouldn't have sent their kid there. As for the other kids, I'm sure they're fine. You know that most children used to perform hard labor in this country, right?

Queen of Disrepair Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 06:27 AM EST

And, no Michael, you won't go to hell for watching. You've already earned a crown in heaven for sticking with "Hey Paula".

Queen of Disrepair Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 06:25 AM EST

This is one bad idea. The fact that some idiot parents allowed their children to do it doesn't make it a good idea. The fact that the network bought it doesn't make it a good idea. The fact that people will watch it doesn't make it a good idea. The fact that some lunatic companies actually bought time on this doesn't make it a good idea. Children, no matter how smart or capable they are, are still children. Supervision, guidance, freedom and responsibility go hand in hand in order to make them ready to be responsible adults. "Unscripted" "Reality" doesn't provide them with the organization they need to develop successful schema for life skills. CBS couldn't have done this with a core group of 18 - 21 year olds lifted from urban/suburban life - that would have been smarter and, knowing how they love it on Survivor and Big Brother, may have been sexier as well.

Liz Tue, Aug 21, 2007 at 01:33 AM EST

Accidents may happen all the time at home and no child is safe, but this is ridiculous. It's like telling you're child, "I don't think your education is especially important, so I'm going to stick you with a bunch of kids you don't know because we might get money out of it. So what if I emotionally scar you for life, or have to spend thousands of dollars on psychiatric care?" Certain people shouldn't be allowed to have children, and that would be every parent of those kids on Kid Nation. What a stupid show. I'm not saying that no preteen could make on they're own. My sister was very responsible, and probably could have at that age, but a group of normal kids I don't think could. I personally won't watch the show, but I'm sure someone will tell me how they make out.

bootsycolumbia Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 10:28 PM EST

Honestly, what kind of parent yanks his or her child out of school in the middle of the school year for six weeks to be on a reality show? And agrees to have virtually no interaction with the child for the duration of the project? I'm with Slezak on this one: The parents have dollar signs in their eyes and aren't acting responsibly towards their children. I won't watch this show and I hope it gets canceled fast.

kats Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 09:24 PM EST

No thanks. My husband managed to both eat rat poison that "looked like chocolate" and drink bug poison from a beer bottle in his childhood. This was with adults who were responsible for his well-being in the immediate area. I have a 6 year old daughter and I'm still amazed at the trouble she and her sister can get into while I'm in the bathroom. If you're going to send your child to something like this for whatever reason you may possibly have, than you have no right to be anything other than guilty for signing them on.

Stephen to Scott M. Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 08:29 PM EST

My apologies. I know N.M. is in the States. I read the post quickly, and thought 'Mexico' when typing. Didn't mean to offend.

Todd Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 07:56 PM EST

I'm sure it will get a cover of EW....

Suz Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 07:50 PM EST

There's no way I'd watch this show. Slezak, please watch it for us so we don't have to! You won't go to hell for morbid curiosity.

Kelsey Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 07:34 PM EST

Scott M-
It's not so much that they conducted the experiment (I agree it is an interesting concept) but that they got around laws when doing it. A child on a scripted TV show has legal protection but since the show was "reality" they didn't have to spring for tutors and the like. I also take offence at your implication that since I am enrolled in high school the only way I will learn to talk with my peers or deal in the real world is establishing my own government on a network reality show. These kids can learn the same lessons on self reliance and independance by going on a school sponsored trip without their parents to another city (state or country) where they will have to manage money on their own. When they are older they can work for a not for profit assisting people in meeting their basic needs. As for communicating with your peers, when was the last time you dealt with the murky boundaries of high school gossip? Important learning happens in and outside the classrom, not on TV

Luis Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 05:33 PM EST

Didn't the simpsons did an episode like this...If it were cartoon or a camp like enviorment on the disney channel...people won't be outrage or care. I for one will be watching the program just to see if A) it good but B) made kids can run world better then the grown-ups.

Snarf Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 05:31 PM EST

It amazes me to no end that in North America you need a license to do anything but have and (not)raise children.

Richard Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 05:11 PM EST

It must be Monday since there are a slew of Popwatch item from Slezak. w00t! Back to Kid Nation. The only thing more disturbing than this show would be a "special guest appearance" by Michael Jackson on this show. Will CBS lock toddlers in the Big Brother house next summber?

t3hdow Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 04:58 PM EST

Hey nunya, I know it's been a little while since I read Lord of the Flies, but didn't every character get killed in a massive blaze of fire on the island (save Ralphie, who got rescued)? Not that this adds to the debate or anything, but I just wanted to be sure.

As for Kid Nation itself, it looks exploitative as hell in the previews, but for all I know, it could surprise all of us on how it's handled (if done effectively). So I'll hold judgment until I see for myself before declaring CBS should go to hell. And like a few of the other posters said, kids get hurt all the time. Yeah, it's accidental, but it's sometimes the best way to make them learn from their mistakes.

Ames Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 04:48 PM EST

I don't know where you all are from, but kids are left at home to take care of themselves all the time. And home is often NOT a safe environment. And seriously, what are the chances these kids would actually miss any real learning in the 6 weeks they are away? I'd rather have CBS be guardians over these kids than most of the parents I run into. Yes, I'm being very cynical, but this idea that parents will do anything to protect their kids is BS and we see it in action everyday.

GingerCat Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 04:44 PM EST

Oh sure, Scott M.--most of the important learning happens outside the classroom. There must be a lot of people who agree with you, which is why U.S. kids lag behind the rest of the Western world in math and science, and a lot of them can barely read or write. But hey, what does that matter if they can be on the teevee? Right?

Scott M. Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 04:22 PM EST

Excuse me Stephen

Scott M. Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 04:21 PM EST

And Steven, its in NEW Mexico not Mexico (though as a resident of the state it is hard to tell the difference). It gets a little tiring having to assure people that yes, we are part of the United States.

Stephen Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 04:18 PM EST

This 'letter' sounds as frivolous as the 'lawsuits' against McDonald's for making two girls heavy, or burning that woman's lap with hot coffee.

Scott M. Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 04:18 PM EST

It seems that many of the responders haven't left the 1950s. Can someone please tell me how this is any more exploitative than The Bachelor or Survivor? Why, because it involves kids? If any of you pulled your heads out of your but*ts long enough to think for a second, maybe you'd see this as a worthwhile sociological experiment. Kids today are far more self-sufficient than any other generation, for better or worse, and this concept should not be so troubling. By the way, I have a child and if she were the appropriate age I would have no problem taking her out of school for 6 weeks to engage in such a real-life learning experiment. This is the kind of thing that schools could never teach, and why I strongly believe that most of the important learning happens outside the classroom. Sure, you learn how to read and write in school, but you don't learn how to talk to your peers or deal with real-life problems. But no, let's shield the kids as long as we can! Uh Welcome to the 21st Century.

Bubbles Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 03:55 PM EST

You will be performing a service, so no, you're not going to hell. But I'm not going to watch it, because I don't want to be that sick to my stomach.

Daniel Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 03:35 PM EST

Let's see.
It's a reality show...
and it's on CBS.
So yeah, 2 reasons why I shouldn't and won't watch Kid Nation.

Jen Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 03:30 PM EST

I will NOT be watching this show, unless pop watch tells me too.

mark in nyc Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:51 PM EST

This show is just another step closer to the precipice (sp?) for us.
seriously, how far away are we from having a Running Man show with Richard Dawson?

Marty Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:49 PM EST

I cannot wait for this show. The preview at CBS.com has has me laughing all summer. "That's not soap -- it's butter!" Ha ha ha ha ... It's not my fault if parents sent their kids to film this show and now regret it. What did they expect? There are few things funnier than kids doing silly things like cleaning dishes with butter, or being all self-righteous about it.

Kelsey (cont.) Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:36 PM EST

Kids are hurt every day at their own homes, sure. However they are in an enviroment where their safety comes first. What parent would put bleach in an unmarked soda bottle? These children are of an age when they would know to stay away from bleach. But if it looks like a soda, they are probably going to have a sip. I wouldn't trust adults who already taught isolating forty kids without school for six weeks was a good idea to have a child's best interests at heart. If "Kids Nation" was done by PBS or the Discovery channel I may not be as skeptical since these channels are more intersted in education not ratings. ABC has been losing some of its former thunder and wants it back. Unfortunately they decided to take advantage of grade school kids. As for the mother who wrote into the CPS, I wonder if she can be prosecuted for putting her child in a situation where they could be subjected to harm. (Is it even legal to withdraw your child from school that long for something that frivolous?)

Kelsey (cont.) Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:36 PM EST

Kids are hurt every day at their own homes, sure. However they are in an enviroment where their safety comes first. What parent would put bleach in an unmarked soda bottle? These children are of an age when they would know to stay away from bleach. But if it looks like a soda, they are probably going to have a sip. I wouldn't trust adults who already taught isolating forty kids without school for six weeks was a good idea to have a child's best interests at heart. If "Kids Nation" was done by PBS or the Discovery channel I may not be as skeptical since these channels are more intersted in education not ratings. ABC has been losing some of its former thunder and wants it back. Unfortunately they decided to take advantage of grade school kids. As for the mother who wrote into the CPS, I wonder if she can be prosecuted for putting her child in a situation where they could be subjected to harm. (Is it even legal to withdraw your child from school that long for something that frivolous?)

KO Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:28 PM EST

There is no way in the world I will watch KidNation. I think the idea is despicable - can reality TV sink any lower?

Kelsey Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:21 PM EST

At first glance the show seems akin to similar social experince shows done on PBS like "Fronteir House". "Kids Nation" conducts a similar experiment to see how children function without adults. I have no problem with the premise of the show but who it was explored. If these kids had been in a scripted show, they would have had a tutor on site, mandatory breaks, a specified number of hours they were allowed to work and a professional on set to watch out for their best interests. However producers got around this because it is a reality TV show. The show could have been done to some extent with these precautions. Crews could have filmed around breaks (where the kids just played or relaxed) and schools. The kid-run government could have scheluded important events for certain times so that the cameras could have caught all the action. It would not have been a pure "social experiment" but what reality show is. At least the kids would have been safe and not overworked.

Amber Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:10 PM EST

I'm with Vickie. I'm not watching the show because it looks awful, despite the fact that it features young children.

Bernard Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 02:04 PM EST

I'm definitely going to watch Kid Nation.

What bothers me most about the criticism surrounding the show is that the critics are just two syllables away from declaring the show kiddie porn and slave labor.

But when I think of all the insane reality shows where grown women act like shrewish schizos in search of some barely attractive man, where so called business savvy professionals show us that the only thing worth knowing is the art of kissing the arse of a billionaire with a bad toupee, and literally thousands of "adults" making fools of themselves trying to pass off their "talent" as singing, dancing or inventing something useless, something tells me Kid Nation might just be a refreshing change of pace.

Kids have accidents. Kids CREATE accidents. And as mean, petty, and immature as many can be, they can also cut to the chase, be insightful, and a lot more on the ball than their adult counterparts.

The show may be good OR bad, but that remains to be seen. And I will be watching.

FLGrl Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 01:51 PM EST

I'm so NOT watching this. You shouldn't either.

Granny Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 01:50 PM EST

These kid learned more in 6 weeks at Kid Nation then they would have learned in in school. My granddaugher come home from there a much smarter child, plus she made all her school work up and passed first in the top of her class. So you can not say these kids lost school time, they made all their classes.Some people just like to set back and stir a stink just for the heck of it.Most of these kids are smarter then a lot of adults.

Stephanie T. Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 01:44 PM EST

Look. As a children's librarian I deal with Kid Nation Monday through Friday. Why? Beacause where I work the community center (located in a housing project) has oddball hours and most of the mothers had thier kids at 16, could not go to college and are forced to work two jobs. I call it Kid Nation because the parents have no time to teach their youngesters how to behave so they run wild here. The idea is nothing new and there must be a child psychologist on board otherwise the show would not air.

Vicki Worsham Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 01:33 PM EST

I don't think I'll watch this show but not for the arguments stated. I just really am not interested. There are arguments that are valid for a social experiment but it would hold more water if it were on Discovery instead on what, ABC?. For them it is ratings and money they want. As for the mom who wants an investigation, pleeeeaase! .She decided to let her child go into this environment.If she was so concerned she shouldn't have put her child in that situation or investigated it BEFORE her child went.As for grease burns and bleach drinking that goes with being a kid. Sometimes you do things unintentionally that could have been serious.It all depends on the degree to which both happened. I firmly and deeply believe in child safety but this country has gone OVERBOARD! Millions of children get injured every day as well as adults I might add. They survive. They're fine. We all have.For hundreds and hundreds of years. Let's get our perspective back people!!

Eddie Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 01:21 PM EST

Wait why did the kids have to miss six weeks of school? Haven't the producers ever heard of a three month period known as summer vacation? Where kids don't have to go to school? Oh yeah, they definitely have the kids best interests at heart (rolls eyes).

Kevo Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 01:19 PM EST

It's one thing for a child to burn themselves cooking at home accidentally; it's another for them to burn themselves cooking on a reality show. This show irritates me and it hasn't even aired. And if any of the parents involved say the kids wanted to appear on the show, kids that age aren't mature enough to make truely informed choices (then again, neither do their parents it seems).

Shirley Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 01:13 PM EST

I am a parent and still think the concept of this show is interesting, however I don't understand why 6 weeks that is too long maybe 2 weeks during the normal school break. However I do hope that Slezak will watch it for us.

donner Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 12:53 PM EST

No, I won't watch this...I have to vote w/ my remote control, and I will not be a party to this mess...and you know you shouldn't be a party to it either, Slezak...why don't you just allow kids to fight in your backyard and enjoy that too? its just wrong on so many levels...television needs to stop stooping to these levels...

Valerie Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 12:46 PM EST

A little creepy, perhaps. But to me, it's even more disturbing that they missed 6 weeks of school.

nunya Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 12:30 PM EST

perhaps the producers of kid nation forgot that one of the kids (piggy) in William Goldman's classic novel, Lord of the Flies, dies.....

Auriana Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 12:28 PM EST

My biggest issue I think is that they took these kids out of school for 6 weeks to do this. They couldn't wait till summer? Education is far more important than starring on a reality tv show.

daisyj Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 12:24 PM EST

Annie- Agreed, but I think it came up in this case because it was the mother who filed the complaint requesting the investigation.

Annie Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 12:17 PM EST

I know this is nitpicky, but can we bring fathers into this, too? It grates on my nerves to see continuous references to mothers letting their kids do such and such, without regard for the other half of the parenting team.

GingerCat Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 12:16 PM EST

Of course this is a bad idea. We don't allow kids to vote, drink alcohol, drive, smoke cigarettes, join the military, drop out of school, or get married, because we understand that kids don't have the good judgment adults are supposed to have. So yes, the show is exploitative. It's also a dumb idea for a TV show in my opinion. I won't be watching it.
However, I do feel compelled to point out that it takes a village of 80 parents, not 40, to spawn the 40 kids on the show. The fathers bear responsibility too.

Al Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:51 AM EST

I burned myself with hot grease when I was 13. I was cooking french fries for myself and my brother. Should my parents have been investigated? No, accidents happen while cooking. I think the show has an interesting concept. The kids aren't voted off and they could leave if they wanted to. If nothing else, it's a life experience these kids can talk about for the rest of their lives. Who among us has a story that cool to tell. Do you really think they would let something drastic happen to those kids? (By the way, my husband's cousins drank bleach too. They turned out fine.)

matchkitjohn Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:50 AM EST

I am thinking that the people who think that this is a good idea don't have kids. A parent wouldn't leave their kids at home by themselves so you can go see a movie for 3 or 4 hours so for six weeks is okay. I just hope the bleach incident is not true. You could do this but you need adults to keep the kids safe from harm and not make them do backbreaking work all day.

Scotty Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:45 AM EST

I personally am not going to let anyone make me feel bad that I am actually intrigued by the idea of this show, at least from a sociological perspective. Maybe it will be exploitive and in poor taste, if it is, I'll stop watching it. But maybe it will actually showcase the resilience and intelligence that children can have and help us to get over this obsessive need to keep our children in some sort of protective bubble. People shouldn't make judgements until they can actually see the show, not what some article says that may or may not be exploiting the hype to sell a few papers.

idigress Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:40 AM EST

I am going to take a pass on this show. There is no way that I would send my daughter - who is also eligible to participate in this show and I cannot help the bottom line by watching it.

whol Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:38 AM EST

I mean....the show looks pretty stupid, but isn't it a bit ridiculous to get this worked up about a television show.

Court Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:37 AM EST

who the hell thought this was a good idea in the first place?

mike Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:36 AM EST

It's a bad and exploitive concept. Any parent that sends their eight year old to this mess should be sentenced to watch a 1000 hours of child actor horror stories on the E channel.

Tasia Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:35 AM EST

I will watch it, and despite all the off camera speculation, I think its a great concept. I was in my pre-teens less than 20 years ago, so maybe its easier to remember what it felt like to be treated like an adult. The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with autonomy. I think as Americans sometimes we are overprotective of children, even if they arent our own. My parents left me home alone with my younger siblings before I reached puberty and I think it made me a stronger more independent person. I think all the critics need to get off their high horse and lets see the show before scrutinizing parents. Besides... who hasnt mistakenly swallowed bleach at least once in their life :)

Stephen Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:34 AM EST

Hey, if your kid were Lindsay Lohan, wouldn't you want to send them to MExico???

Stephanie Travitsky Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:33 AM EST

I would have done a social anthropology study with this as a reality show. This looks like a bad interpretation of Lord of the Flies and for the record it had to be a non-toxic liquid or a bunch of non-toxic chemicals that are drinkable. If you swallow hydrogen peroxide (in a small dose of course) it won't harm you. However real bleach kills!

ericalina Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:23 AM EST

i'm with you slezak. this show is CREEPY. and on top of it, it looks bad! who wants to hear kids shrieking and laughing and yelling all the time? cripes.

but for reals? a girl drinks bleach?

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