Alright, here we go. The readers, and team TV Squad, have spoken. It's almost a little depressing that there were so many shows that received consideration for the award. Clearly, this wasn't a banner year for the networks. But that's good though. With all of those shows sent packing, there's that much more room on the schedule next season. Here's hoping all that valuable space gets put to good use, and that someone learns from the following examples. After the jump, the nominees, and your chance to vote for the TV Squad reader award.
Posts with tag KidNation
The Good Riddance Award nominees
Continue reading The Good Riddance Award nominees
CBS gives thumbs up for more reality shows
Once upon a time, in the 1960's, the TV landscape was rife with westerns. In the 1970s, it was detective shows. Nowadays, the same can be said for reality shows, and it seems there's no end in sight to the genre. Today, CBS reported two new reality programs in development. Splitsville, which was previously announced, is now going into production. The marital-based series, which comic Jamie Kennedy is executive producing, is not about happy unions. It sounds more like Divorce Court meets Let's Make A Deal, with divorcing husbands and wives battling over their belongings in a series of competitive challenges. Hmm...can't wait to root for those people!Continue reading CBS gives thumbs up for more reality shows
Kid Nation: We've All Decided to Go Mad (season finale)
(S01E13) It's been noted in press reports that the alleged charges brought against Kid Nation have been dropped and the state of New Mexico won't be pursuing them. After watching the entire season, I can see why. For whatever flaws the show might have had (and it had several), it didn't seem to measure up to any sort of child abuse or violation of child labor laws.The pre-season brouhaha cited the lack of adult supervision as a big problem. Alas, for me, it was all of the adult intervention which became the biggest issue I had with the show. It wasn't the kids -- they were overall a fantastic bunch!
Continue reading Kid Nation: We've All Decided to Go Mad (season finale)
Kid Nation: Where's Bonanza, Dude?
(S01E12) Oh, my. The time is really getting down there for the kiddie pioneers of Kid Nation. Next week is the season finale. So many deserving kids, so many kids who are mere faces in the crowd. Who will get the last few gold stars? Brains? Brawn? Need? Greed? What will be the criteria?Well, they're kids, so it's hard to say. But one thing is for sure, they'll be steered by the invisible adults in the background all the way to the decision. For me, that's been the nagging flaw of the show -- the amount of adult intervention. But the most enjoyable aspect of the show is getting to know the children themselves.
Continue reading Kid Nation: Where's Bonanza, Dude?
Kid Nation: Let Me Talk!
(S01E10) The days in Bonanza City are dwindling down for the 37 children still working out their 40 days on Kid Nation. By the time tonight's episode ended, the kids have about ten days left. That, to us, will translate to at least three weeks, I believe. Ah, but did it stay at 37 children this week? Or did we lose another due to homesickness? Was there a brouhaha? More killed chickens? Hmmm ... now that I mentioned the killed chickens, I wonder why it was so important to kill the two and then none since. Maybe because of the power of suggestion in the journal, eh? Uh-oh. I should have put the spoiler after the jump. Too late -- no chickens died tonight. Oops.
Continue reading Kid Nation: Let Me Talk!
Kid Nation: Starved for Entertainment
(S01E08) The kids on Kid Nation are starved for entertainment as we might all be soon. I'm already starved for it during the late night hours.But tonight was a fun night for the most part on the show. My main little man Jared was featured fairly prominently throughout the episode, the kids had some fun, and I even had a few snickers as I watched.
I'd still like to have been a fly on the wall and witnessed how they get the kids on the topic of the journal entry each week separate from the town council leaders visiting the Shack of the Journal. I guess we might never know.
Continue reading Kid Nation: Starved for Entertainment
Kid Nation: The Root of All Evil
(S01E07) I'm starting to wonder if we're going to see each and every kid on Kid Nation before the end of the season. Every week, it seems the focus is on the core group we've seen all along -- the council leaders, Greg, Jared, Sophia, and some others. But then a new kid or two is thrown into the spotlight.Whenever that spotlight shines on a new face in the crowd, it's been obvious that the new face will either be in the midst of controversy or will win the gold star. Predictable? Sure is, but with the size of the cast, I don't see any better way to do it, either. I enjoy "meeting" the kids as the season goes on.
Continue reading Kid Nation: The Root of All Evil
What's On Tonight: Phenomenon, Kid Nation, Halloween specials
At 8, ABC has a new Pushing Daisies, then new episodes of Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money. - CBS has a new Kid Nation at 8, followed by new episodes of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
- NBC has a new, two-hour Phenomenon at 8, then a new Life.
- There's a new America's Next Top Model on The CW at 8.
- PBS has a new Wired Science at 8.
- AMC has Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers at 8, followed by Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.
- Bravo has a 100 Scariest Movie Moments marathon all night.
- At 9, Discovery has a new Mythbusters, then a new Storm Chasers.
- The History Channel has a new Lost Worlds at 9, about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, followed by MonsterQuest, about the search for Champ, America's Loch Ness Monster.
- HGTV has new "haunted house" edition of Deserving Design, then a new Design on a Dime.
- FX has Halloween H20 at 9.
- At 10, HBO has a new Inside The NFL.
- At 11, Lifetime has two Halloween eps of Will and Grace.
Check your local TV listings for more, and check out special guide to all the Halloween shows on tonight.
Kid Nation: Bonanza is Disgusting
(S01E06) No, no, no ... not Bonanza with the Ponderosa! Hop Sing could always cook up a fine feast and the Cartwrights never fussed about hard labor. The episode title refers to Bonanza City, New Mexico. You know -- 40 days, 40 kids (well, 38 kids now and almost three weeks less), and no adults. Well, they say no adults, but believe me, it's the adults putting everything in motion.But it is indeed the kids of Kid Nation who make this show worth watching. It's the kids who, by being themselves, bring me entertainment each week.
Oh, but Bonanza City is indeed disgusting. Or, it was before the adult push of the week.
Continue reading Kid Nation: Bonanza is Disgusting
Kid Nation: Viva la Revolucion!
(S01E05) Is it me or was there really not much to get up in arms about this week on Kid Nation? No killed animals, no steer taunting, no religious rivalry, no bullying. What's this show coming to, eh?Well, there was a smattering of bad behavior, but we're talking kids here. Some of these kids could be teensy adults, y'know. A lot of them certainly are more worldly than I was at their ages. And, the show reminded me that I should really study up on the chronological order of US Presidents. I definitely know the ones in my own lifetime, but I surely would put Taft in the wrong place.
Continue reading Kid Nation: Viva la Revolucion!
Kid Nation: Bless Us and Keep Us Safe
(S01E04) Following the recipe for controversy which has been a mainstay for this show since its inception, tonight's episode of Kid Nation threw religion into the fray. So, let's take a moment to count the controversies and brouhahas thus far -- we have the child labor issue, the scripted/acting kids issue, the contract issue in which the parents promised not to sue if their kid died, the kill two chickens on television issue, and so many more.Adults created this world created by the children, so let's get them going on religion next! Will there be fisticuffs? Love-ins? Heathens run amok? Thankfully, in this case, the kids were smarter than the adults.
Continue reading Kid Nation: Bless Us and Keep Us Safe
Kid Nation: Deal With It
(S01E03) Let's see ... no animals were killed in the filming of tonight's episode of Kid Nation. A few outhouses might have received considerable damage, a lot of pizzas were wasted, and they made ten-year-old Taylor cry. Oh, I think she deserved some sort of comeuppance, but I still felt sorry for her when it came. I suppose she's going to have to deal with it, eh?
Continue reading Kid Nation: Deal With It
Controversy continues for Kid Nation
There's nothing like a good brouhaha, is there? Kid Nation was controversial before it even hit the air and the controversy continues. TMZ is reporting that the show is seeking a new location for next season outside of the United States due to the child labor issue. The show's official website has had an application link up since the site itself was launched, but it appears the deadline for second season applications has passed.Then there's a new controversy -- the slaughtering of two chickens shown during last week's episode. According to our friends at Buddy TV, the animal rights group Last Chance for Animals criticized the show for killing the chickens, then airing the slaughter. LCA also condemned YouTube for not removing clips of the show which were posted by several people.
Continue reading Controversy continues for Kid Nation
Kid Nation: To Kill or Not to Kill?
(S01E02) It's a bit of an odd twist to the Shakespeare quote, but certainly fitting for this episode of Kid Nation, don't you think? For some reason, I'm not too surprised that 11-year-old Jared has a slight familiarity with the classics. In the first episode, Jared was the king of the one-liners.It's a shame he didn't continue ...
To kill or not to kill, that is the question
Whether 'tis nobler to slaughter chickens
Or cover thine eyes whilst Greg does it
To die, to sleep, perchance to dream
As the chickens shuffled off this mortal coil
For the sake of reality television
Continue reading Kid Nation: To Kill or Not to Kill?
Kid Nation: I'm Trying to Be a Leader Here (series premiere)
(S01E01) After all of the controversy, CBS aired its premiere episode of Kid Nation tonight. Much ado about nothing, I say! Not that the show is nothing. I found it interesting and refreshing from so many of the other shows on the air these days. Well, at least the shows in the reality genre.After all the brouhahas about child labor, child abuse, crying children ... well, to me, this didn't quite live up to all the controversy surrounding it. Instead I found it to be the kind of show both children and adults can watch together. Although it's touted as "40 children, 40 days, no adults" -- the kids themselves say there were more adults than children on site. Perhaps that doesn't speak much for the "reality" aspect, but the safety issues seem well-covered.
Continue reading Kid Nation: I'm Trying to Be a Leader Here (series premiere)
Five other TV shows where Sarah Palin should appear
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Giveaway Monday: How I Met Your Mother season three DVD
