Kid Nation: CBS’s Reality Show Creating Firestorm

CBS will unveil its new “reality TV” show Kid Nation on September 19. A collection of kids supposedly try to create their own society in a desert ghost town – without parental supervision. Reminds me of Kidsville USA, a mini-musical we put on in elementary school. Apparently, however… there is a new, darker side to portraying a parentless child society.

Kid Nation is taking heat, both in terms of public opinion and legal threat, exemplified in this New York Times article (registration required, or try this link), wherein Edward Wyatt reports details of the contract the parents had to sign to get their kids on the show. Myriad issues are raised by the provisions, including the violation of child labor laws – which has attracted the attention of the New Mexico Attorney General.

Some of the reported contract terms include (quoted from the article):

Though the children are paid ($5,000 for 40 days), this does not constitute employment under the producers’ interpretation and therefore was not subject to any state or federal labor laws.

The parents and the children agreed not to hold the producers and CBS responsible if their children died or were injured, if they received inadequate medical care, or if their housing was unsafe and caused injury.

The minor and the parent are being held solely responsible for any “emotional distress, illness, sexually transmitted diseases, H.I.V. and pregnancy” that might occur if the child “chooses to enter into an intimate relationship of any nature with another participant or any other person.” (any other person !?!?!? – as if the other isn’t depraved enough?)

Confidentiality conditions extend for three years beyond the end of the show, not the individual 13-episode cycle in which a child participates but the entire series.

Violating the confidentiality agreement carries a $5 million penalty. CBS and the production companies, Good TV Inc. and Magic Molehill Productions, retained the rights to the children’s life stories “in perpetuity and throughout the universe.” (throughout the universe !?!?!? what alien lawyer has CBS retained?)

There have been reports of some kids being burned while cooking, and of others accidentally drinking bleach.

CBS has replied that it complied with all laws, etc.

The NYT has a space for reader comments. I’ve read them so you don’t have to. Readers seemingly reach for the heavens (or the hells) in attempting to outdo each other in vituperative judgment of Kid Nation. Here’s a sample gleaned from letting my eyes wander over the voluminous postings:

parents should be hauled into court
cancel CBS broadcast license
Cronkite and Rooney will have heart attacks
Lord of the Flies
BOYCOTT
despicable exploitation
parastic manipulation of minors
How vile.
cretinous and repulsive
bankruptcy would be the best outcome
sick, sick sick.
absentee parenting and general lawlessness
Oh my god.
pimps for their children
Can we spell M-O-N-E-Y H-U-N-G-R-Y?
slap a lawsuit on them
YOU CAN”T SELL YOUR CHILDREN!
bring criminal charges
O God, save thy people
NO. NEVER.
can anyone spell tetanus?
CBS is the equivalent of child molesters
reflects U. S. torture policy
accomplices in child abuse
they aren’t faking those tears
unethical and immoral behavior
the underlying disease
perverse, voyeuristic and banal
far-fetched steamin pile
Sounds like slavery to me
Burn your television
equivalent of human trafficking
county is in serious, sick decline
totally appalling charade
an attractive nuisance
cruelty, abuse and slavery
define child abuse, if not this?
abandonment and neglect
Oh-My-God!!!!!!
most basic form of abuse
degredation via exploitation
complete unraveling of the human spirit
this entire debauched enterprise
BAN this show off the air
up there with priest pedophilia
CBS (Children be Scared)
Schlock and your souls on a platter
this garbage of a show
worse than Pokemon
Commercial TV is evil
bottom of the parenting barrel
appalling decline of our nation
parents should be sterilized
second bowl of cruel

My favorite among this deluge of admonition: “second bowl of cruel” (barely edging “worse than Pokemon”).

The biggest question? Will people tune in.

I’ll blog the legal ramifications, the fall of our country, and the complete unravelling of the human spirit right here… don’t touch that dial.

B

Update: There’s a CNN video here.