This new reality show airs later next month in the US, and presumably Canada.

Kid Nation is a reality television show that is to air on the CBS network September 19, 2007....
The show will feature 40 children, age 8–15, and was shot at the Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch, a privately owned town built on the ruins of Bonanza City, New Mexico, eight miles south of Santa Fe. In the show, the children try to create a functioning society in the town, including setting up a government system, with minimal adult help and supervision.

Wikipedia

Here's a recent article from CNN on the show.

I find the concept of using children, as young as 8, for our entertainment in this way, disturbing. Just wondered what others think of this?

I'll do my best to avoid it. I'm sure it will rank right up there with all of the other "reality" programming. The sad fact that there is an audience out there for these things makes me glad I'll be dead soon, and worried for you youngsters.

As a reality TV addict I am singularly uninterested. Most kids could disappear and I would not care. The thing that strikes me most is the previews, in which the children sound so very scripted (speaking like adults rather than kids). It reminds me of another reality TV series "Brat Camp" which was every bit as phony ( I think one of the "troubled" kids was actually doing cable TV commercials at the same time he was doing the show) and scripted. I love my reality TV, but I will be skipping this one.

As for "using the children for our entertainment"... They might as well be useful for something, as most of their generation surely are not.

I don't see why it would be worse for them than any acting or advertising chores kids are given. It would depend on how they're handled, and how much the parents are involved (to protect the child's interest).

I'll probably check it out.

LOL Dog...I have to agree...if it were totally a surprise for the kids most would freak and not be so "entertaining" these kids are in the acting biz.

quote:

As for "using the children for our entertainment"... They might as well be useful for something, as most of their generation surely are not.

Dogspit,
You are just way too cynical for your own good

Anyone watch? It was okay...It seemed a tad scripted....There was another kiddy or mini survivor on a few years ago called Endurance that was similar.