Should You Watch? Kid Nation

I didn't have a burning desire to see this one. Sure, I was into "Lord of the Flies" like everyone else when we read it in high school--I remember "get his nob" being a particular source of fascination and amusement for obvious reasons--but seeing it recreated today? Eh, not much fun. I generally don't enjoy kids being mean to kids as much as adults being mean to bratty kids, and even then, the thrill is gone since Sally Jessy Raphael left the airwaves and took Sgt. Darryl Julu with her.

But "Kid Nation" had the hype and the pub and the promise of seeing dozens of child welfare laws being broken before my very eyes, so I watched the first episode.

It took minutes to realize this was not a groundbreaking new series. Nor was it a valid social experiment. Nor was it even that shocking, really.

No, it was just another B.S. reality show. You know what that means: contrived situations, phony scripted dialogue, leading editing--all in the guise of "reality." It's not for me, and so i was bored with this show even before the first scene of a child crying--and then I was just repulsed.


You Should Watch "Kid Nation" if:


*You're STILL not tired of the "Real World" and "Survivor" reality show formulas.
*You think "those damn kids have it too easy these days."
*You just flat-out hate children.
*Your favorite movie is "Bugsy Malone."
*It is your firm belief that the networks need to recapture the tween audience from Disney and Nick, and you think supporting this show is a good start.
*You think those Upton Sinclair novels are real knee-slappers.
*You'd love to re-live your childhood for an hour each week...if your childhood consisted of stage-managed events being filmed for broadcast all day long.