TVSquad

Damned if they do, damned if they don't. If it's fake, who wants to watch? If it's real, it's quite possibly illegal. Maybe CBS should just cut their losses and drop the show.

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I wonder if advertisers are getting a bit nervous?

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According to the IMDB, CBS is claiming that some advertisers have responded positively to the pilot, while others are taking a "wait and see approach".

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bah, it's CBS own fault, the type of parent that would pimp their kids out to a "reality show" aren't going to just sit back and not expect a payoff. These parents were in it for cash, and because jr. couldn't win, these bottom feeders are going to take it by kick and screaming and hoping CBS will pay them to keep their mouths shut.

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Actually its not that it's "fake" that's the problem. It's that in asking the kids to fake or recreate anything, the producers have undeniably turned them into performers. And as performers they should have been protected and subject to all union rules.

If there's any time any adult on that set -- and it was a set, not a summer camp -- asked the kids to do anything to facilitate the production that kids didn't do spontaneously, then they're acting under direction of the production. They are, in short, acting.

There's nothing wrong with acting per se. But it puts the lie to the idea that the entire enterprise was anything except the television production it was.

It wasn't a summer camp.

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One of the reasons for using New Mexico as the location for the show was that until recently there were no regulations governing the amount of time that a child performer could spend on the set.

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Since when has a "reality" show actually been a reality show? Did the parent REALLy think this was going to be completely unscripted? Get real!
I can't think much of parents who would allow their children to be a part of a series that is supposedly without any adult supervision. The concept is existentially intriguing, but I would only have consented if I could be continually present in some supervisory capacity, even if it were covert.

No matter how you look at this ambitious concept, I can't help feel it was ill-conceived and CBS will exist to regret it. Personally, I don't plan on ever tuning in.

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Do you really think any reality show are real? The gross food that you see on another reality shows may just be candy. The Bugs you see may just be toys. Otherwise, I am sure the health department would get on Networks cases.

If they had the re-do scenes that is acting and should be paid for it. That does not mean CBS violated the law. Kids can work on tv.

To really have a true like Camp experience is to film a real summer camp without redoing anything.

I am beginning to think CBS may have even staged this controversy to get more exposure of Kid nation.

Why do you think LOU got fired of Family Feud? He told a secret. Everybody know that reality shows are fake.

However, Kid nation may be the closet to reality.

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"If they had the re-do scenes that is acting and should be paid for it. That does not mean CBS violated the law. Kids can work on tv."
grozauction you are wrong! Kids can only work for so many hours a day acting. These kids worked 14 hr days. That is a clear violation of Child Labor Laws.

I agree with most comments that CBS should just can this show. I can't see it becoming a success after so much negativety.

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Although the producers are having the kids fake it and giving them cues, it's the parents who has to be careful about what the show can have their kids do on the air. As far as child Labor laws,go childrencan't work only a certain amount of hours, like 4 hrs. a day. And then there are occupational laws to deal with also.

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All season leading up to Kids I saw the ads and decided I would not be watching . I saw some of the Kids and parents on Ellen and because nothing else that I wanted to watch was on, I tuned in to Kid Nation. I was not impressed to begin with, but, I soon was enthralled with the decisions these kids were making. In the "Town Meeting", even if edited, was an explosive ending. Great! 40 kids sticking together. An 8 YO child left and in doing so went against peer preasure. What a feat for an 8 YO. Kid nation..........So far very good !!!!!

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this is like some social experiment on camera gone wrong...

I am wondering how many episodes it will take before the show morphs into Lord of the Flies II.

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I could tell that some of the dialogue was scripted. A little cause for disappoint. It's amazing how everyone is concerned about the law. Child labor issues should have been considered prior to filming. It seems to me that someone reviewed the rules, do's and don'ts and so the filming continued. It has a cute cast of characters. I'm a teenager and I thought the concept was cool. Conditions were a little harsh. Separation anxieties for the younger kids was a little cause for concern and yet I found myself hooked to watch the show through to the ending. Not certain as to the future of this show, but for now - I like it because I see it from my point of view - I AM A KID.

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With all the pre-show advertisements I kind of got a hype to take a peek at the premiere. I liked it and for now I plan to watch next week.

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why is they show fake that is really dumb that cbs did that i feel bad for the kids that they really had to re an act everything aaaaaaaaa if i was the director i would make it real!

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I think the show is fun to watch but I sure realize its not "real". From a production standpoint its kind of amazing that CBS has managed to pull off what looks like an isolated frontier town with kids. The kids are probably out-numbered 10 to 1 by camera crews, sound and lighting people who live in a small city of trailers out of the camera shot. Survivor hasn't even made a secret of it. But It'll be interesting to hear all the "behind the scenes" stuff come out as time goes on. Kids don't understand what a nondisclosure contract is.

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