From TVGuide.com:

I can call kids on this show assholes, right? Because Mike is an asshole. I mean, Greg and Blake are assholes too but they're hilarious obnoxious kid assholes who only do things to irritate the others. Mike is an arrogant asshole.

Jimmy is a pretty mature kid, in my opinion. He didn't cave to all the kids trying to convince him to stay. I want to see an interview with his parents. I have a feeling they're pushy.

Laurel, on the other hand, is awesome. If I thought my kid would turn out like her, I might have one.

And Jared is why I won't. How irritating is he?

And I think I like Sophia too. Also, Greg wants to hit that.

Sophia rules.

I can not believe they are going to let the other kids try to talk anyone who wants to quit out of quitting.

No adults? Who is Aaron Barnhart? A big 15 year old?

I hate myself for watching this.... but I'm weak.

Maybe BB8 fried my brain or something because I actually enjoyed this episode. The kids are interesting without being insufferably cute.

When they were at the saloon in the final scene and Greg was able to drink a shot of rootbeer properly, I realized that they may have cast him specifically to be a villain. However, I think editing is making him look worse than how he actually behaves.

I enjoyed this episode a lot. I like Mike. Sure, he's spastic, but I think when it comes down to hit he can get things done. Also, I must agree that Sophia is all kinds of awesome.

Greg is a douche. Plain and simple. I hate him already.

Poor Jimmy, but I can understand where he's coming from. If he's not into it, he's not into it. No use in staying.

Maybe that host will leave sometime in the future episodes, once they know how everything works. Or maybe not. I don't know.

Man, some of these younger kids are smart. Smarter than somebody 6 years older than them (Greg, I'm talking to you.) But Sophia and Laurel, they rock.

Overall, that wasn't bad at all. (Did I just say that? Oh, I'm going to hell.)

Being called juvenile by a ten year old? Ouch.

Mike sure looked like he would be the big hateable person early on, but from fixing the problem with that guy's pulled muscle he really turned around.

"I'm a beauty queen, I don't do dishes?" Man, an adult would never be able to get away with that, but I'm more inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt here. I'm guessing her parents really pushed that kind of mindset onto her.

I absolutely LOVED this show. So many aspects to it. My one question is how do they unseat a member of the council. They led me to believe it is possible. Who do you think will be the first to be unseated?

Eh, Mike seemed pretty normal to me, just stressed out. I think I enjoyed this show, despite my previous assumptions about it. Could someone tell me what the other choice of prize was after the contest? Outhouses and...? I missed it after the commercial - flipped over to ANTM.

Oh man, it's not just me. It's got to be Dick's fault that I didn't find this absolutely atrocious.

And yeah, I have to say Jared is far from my favorite kid.

I loved it when Greg asked Jimmy if he wanted to be his (Greg's) new wingman:
"Jimmy, do you want to be my new wingman?"
"Who is it?"
"Greg."
"No."

I'll miss Jimmy's succinct point of view.

The other choice was a tv they could watch any time.

The I-don't-do-dishes-I'm-a-beauty-queen remark reminded me of the infamous "As a former beauty queen..." remark from The Apprentice. Anyone, anyone, Bueller?

It's official. I hate this show.

The one thing I usually hate about these shows with large casts, is that they seem to focus on a select few, and then run with it all season. I'm sure they'll get around to giving everyone ample airtime, but in true reality TV fashion, they'll edit these episodes together to give whatever slant they are aiming for this season.

I wonder if they kids were told not to curse. I wonder if they'll have to bleep out anyone?

I think Mike is a horrible leader and if they really wanted to do it like in the old days, they'd have a public election to vote him out! I think that would be a great twist, if they switched up leaders mid-way through the season (even all of them) so the rest of the townies had a chance to vote on which 4 they think are the best candidates.

I don't know if the show will keep me enthralled all season, but until something comes up at 8, I'll give this a whirl.

Yeah, I agree that Greg was cast as a villain or is getting the villain edit. I didn't get what the big deal was about him running around writing "Go Blue!" on everything. When I was 15, guys were writing much worse on the walls in permanent marker. At least chalk washes off.

Mike...eh. He's 11 and thinks he knows everything. At least he's trying to maintain order. Plus, he's a Boy Scout, and I bet he's better prepared for this environment than some of the others, like Pageant Princess (what was her name? Taylor?)

Jared is annoying with a capital A. He acted younger than my seven-year-old.

Oh, and the kids rock for choosing the outhouses. Very smart. Many, many adults would have gone for the TV, especially if they had thrown in an ESPN package. So far, I'm impressed with the kids.

Poor Jimmy. Did he go home?

ETA:

I think the host said that the council positions are not permanent, and they will have a chance to choose others.

I had to watch this. I couldn't resist.

Mike had his Little Caesar moments but who wouldn't at that age with that position? I think he got over it but I can't hold it against them that much at that age. He really did care. Greg is an ass, but he is 15 so that's to be expected, it's not really totally indicative of his whole personality. A few times I wanted to reach in there and check his ass, then I remembered who I was at 15, and I don't know if I'd be any more assertive today at 15 than I was at the actual age.

Sophia was a trip and a workhouse, but she is power tripping over the cooking thing. But again, 15 (or 14?).

Jared was adorable. Some kids are just like that. I used to teach kids like that. And poor little Jimmy.

I loved that one kid's bullshit rationale for getting a TV. "If a tornado comes..."

Michael, the kid who made the speech, will win control and hearts very shortly.

I really think it was a stroke of genius to bring some country kids on the show, from the boy who roped that calf in the first half of the show to the kid milking the goat.

Crap! I forgot tonight was the premiere. Missed everything except the last ten minutes. Anyone know if it's gonna be on innertube? (Just checked, it's not listed.)

Anyway, from what I saw, I have to say I'm surprised the council kids gave Sophia the gold star after she just called them out during the town meeting. I expected them to be far more petty and self-serving. So kudos, I guess.

Sophia sounds like she's about 42. She also came off kinda snarky, which is promising.

Thanks!

I loved how Michael got a huge round of applause each time he spoke. He was logical and succinct, a good leader it seems to me. How were the current leaders chosen in the first place? By adults? Not cool, show. There should've been elections.

I actually liked it. Now I don't know if I would let my kid do it, but there seems to be some structure and the older kids (Sophia and Mike) seem to have their heads on straight.

I had tears in my eyes when poor Jimmy was crying. I'm a sap.

TWoP is not a chat room. -- Mars

Which one is Jared?

Props to Jimmy. The tone of the host's voice made it sound like he was really wanting to say: "any kid who can't stick it out and runs back to mommy and daddy is a big fat cry baby".

I totally loved Taylor's "I don't do dishes, I'm a beauty queen" line - as though it is a totally valid reason not to do dishes. I might use that one after dinner some night.

My favourite part was how they all shut up and stared at the gold star in awe. And that was before they knew it was worth $20,000 (do the eight year olds really comprehend what $20k is? Because they seem as excited about it as they did about candy and extra outhouses).

I wouldn't be surprised if CBS conjured up a storm for added drama.

"DOWN IN THE CELLAR!!!"

*having Wizard of Oz flashback*

I didn't like Sophia at all. She may be getting paid less, but her job is a hell of a lot easier than being a cook/clean-up of 40 kids. Maybe future episodes will change my mind. Mike is just spazzy, he seems like one of those kids who gets picked on at school.

Awesome.
Best line: "And it will hurt your colon."

Awww, the Little Rascal went home. Jimmy, we hardly knew ye.

Sophia seems (IMO) too mature for this group.
And wouldn't the LABORER group do the dishes, hmmmm?

Ok. I'm hooked now. I don't know why, but the show has drawn me in for now. This is a show that can turn sour *very* quickly, but so far so good.

Loved Sophia. She's like a young Dustin/Kandace!

I didn't like Mike at first, but he seemed to get his stuff together later. I think he's probably a Type-A and/or perfectionist and was just overwhelmed by the chaos at first, but he calmed down once they got a little bit of order going.

Michael (he of the curly tresses) is flat out awesome at public speaking.

Jared, I like. He's cutely funny, without being overly twee. Also, he bought a Shakespeare play. A SHAKESPEARE PLAY! He the little nerd of the prairie and I love it!



I don't know if he's as bad as he's being edited, but he *is* a typical 15-year-old. And the others seemed upset about the "graffiti" at first, but quickly forgot about it. I liked Mike giving it right back before the challenge by running over with some of his guys and yelling "Red Red Red!"

Interesting. If they had done this when I was a kid, I would have begged my parents to let me do it. Of course, they would have told me that I had lost my mind.

In our house we've decided that they're divided into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. It's OldWest!Hogwarts.

I really wanted Jimmy to stay, because the little 8-year-old makes more sense then most of the rest. But I admire his decision. Good for him.

Michael - I was very impressed with him, but damn if he doesn't look like the return of Leif Garrett.

My biggest problem with the show so far? It's hard to judge kids and say they should know better. Because quite often, no, they shouldn't. I also find it hard to snark on the little ones, and that cuts into my enjoyment immensely. But I can try.

I think it would be more interesting if the host were an older teenager or maybe college aged.

We lost Deadwood for this?

Just kidding, but that's what it reminded me of. It also reminded me of the Puppy Bowl.

I liked it -- love watching kids (sorta) being themselves, working, stepping up, caring for each other. But I think the money will ruin everything. Sophia seemed pleased just to get the gold star, and I could see the other kids being just as pleased at recognition by their peers. They should have left it at the gold star, and told them about the money after it was all over.

Just watch -- some of the kids will be forming alliances and voting to remove council members so that they'll be able to decide who gets the money. The producers took all the fun out of the experience, and made it all about the money. Maybe it's a microcosm of the real world -- money equals power -- but I hate to see it happen to kids -- they didn't sign up for money, they signed up for the experience.

Feh.



Ha! Great minds and all that. Well shoot. If I think of it as Li'l Deadwood maybe I'll have to keep watching.

Sophia rocks. "I feel like I am surrounded by dumb people." Good thing she learns now. I also loved her dancing for a bike.

Laurel seems like the only leader with any sense.

Other than that, I kinda hated it. I couldn't understand half of them. And it was a little boring. Cool challenge though. Better than most that Survivor has.

What a pleasant surprise. I was expecting the real world with children. Instead it was survivor with children, and most of them acted more mature than alot of contestants on survivor.

I really love the kids in the interviews, they really make alot of sense, and are fun to listen to. Whoever is coaching them deserves a gold star.

I also love the government structure. Every week they cast a no-confidence vote for the council. When I realized this, I figured it would happen every week, and the show runners seemed to be shooting for it with the choice between practical and fun rewards.

I haven't been this pleasantly surprised by a pilot since Dexter.

that actually cracked me up at various points. My favorites were the already mentioned 'do you wanna be my wingman?' 'who is it?' 'Greg' 'No' exchange, Sophia's 'sometimes I think I'm surrounded by stupid people' (or something to that effect), and the kids talking about the outhouse wait saying 'that could really hurt your colon...a lot'.

So far I like Sophia, Laurel, and the little Asian kid with the transitions sun/glasses. I think he was the one that said the fifteen-year-olds writing 'go blue!' on everything were really juvenile...like two year olds.

I've been needing a new guilty pleasure; this works

The show will now change from being motivated to make a new town (and oh yeah, appear on national television) to getting the $20,000.

I agree with the poster that alliances will begin to form.

I really enjoyed the show and felt bad for young Jimmy.

I will keep watching but it will be interesting now that winning the gold star will probably be the focal point of the program just like winning the million dollars drives Survivor contestants.

Ah ha, that's who he reminds me of. (You realize we've just aged ourselves, right?)

This show would be way cooler if there was no meddling. I think the arbitrary way the adult-run contest decided who belonged in which "class" was ridiculous-- especially since some of the kids had already shown an ability and willingness to perform the necessary duties. I say, have the shops and the duties all the same, but let the kids decide who does what.

And what happens with the money people buy stuff with? Do the shopkeepers get to keep it? If so, they'll soon be the new "upper class" if they figure out delegation. For that matter, why can't they change the prices? And why didn't Sophia try and haggle for the bike? "I'll give you ten cents for it." If the shopkeepers are required to turn their earnings in to the moderator, I don't see why they wouldn't mess around with the prices.

Anyone over the age of ten should know how to boil water to make pasta. That was pretty pathetic.

It was also sad how everyone had sunburn blisters on their noses and chapped lips by the end.



Oh, jeez, that drove me crazy. That kid is very pretentious and obviously hasn't learned to turn the other cheek. It's CHALK. Get over it. The graffiti was done to get your goat; letting it bother you is exactly what those obnoxious teenagers want.

I also laughed at whoever it was who bought Shakespeare. They're in for an interesting light reading. But, you know, props.

And I must shamefully admit I did not know how to boil water at 10.

I... um... I kinda liked it. I have an eight year-old and a nine year-old (and a couple others too young to pimp out to CBS), so I was feeling guilty for wanting to watch this and snark about it. And I felt guilty about reading the kids' bios today and wanting to snark on a few of those (I think I'm still on the Blaine Hate Express - how motherly). I was sure this would be a horrible concept that would damage these children in the airing, if it hadn't in the filming. And so I felt like I was betraying my Loving Mother status by, uh, deriving pleasure from, as someone elsewhere on this forum aptly put it, "televised child abuse." But it wasn't half-bad, once I got over Jared, Blaine, Greg pushing a kid four years his junior (no matter how assy the eleven year-old was being - welcome to eleven year-olds), and I realized about halfway through that I kind of liked the show.

And couldn't help but be impressed by how much more mature these kids were than their adult counterparts on other reality shows. (In fact, I now have a theory that the younger you are on a reality show, the more mature you actually are. Because as assy as Mike was, I still think older Greg was assier. And Jimmy? The youngest? I liked that kid.) I also liked the way the show was constructed so that it wasn't critical of the kids - you didn't have activities and challenges that foster kids' natural mean streak. I was envisioning some horrible kidly twist on the "Which Tribe Member Sucks the Most?" challenge, which is designed to stir up conflict. I mean, I totally watch reality shows for the meanness and the awfulness of it, but I just couldn't, in good conscience, watch this show hoping that the show would stir up shit among the kids, who will find ways to be plenty mean without the producers prompting it. I don't like smarmy feel-good stories, but I was happy to see positive focuses there for the kids, instead of "who are we gonna vote off." I didn't feel like they did it too over-the-top, either. Like, it seemed that they gave the kids room to do what kids do. And, as DK said (and man, that kid looks about 30!), the kids really rose to the occasion. Kinda makes me feel good about kids these days, when all I can remember from when I was in those age ranges was what wretched creatures children can be.

I don't know if I'll last out the season, but I think I might. And, while I wouldn't sign that contract on behalf of my own children for any amount of money in the world (not even a gold star), I find I'm not nearly as averse to the concept as I thought I might wind up being after a single viewing.



And he was one of the more pretentious, erudite-sounding kids, if I recall his bio correctly. Like, one of the kids you'd think would eschew TV. From reading his answers to the questions, I was thinking, "Wow, this kid's parents totally threw away their TV years ago and tell anyone they can about having done so at every single possible opportunity... so they're letting him on a TV show why?"

I was proud of the kids for picking the outhouses over the TV.

Also, was that an electric range mocked up to look like an old-fashioned stove, or a real old-fashioned stove of the sort that gave some of the women in the PBS "House" series fits while they were cooking?

Sophie is a 40 year trapped in a 14 years old's body. LOL She reminded me of a young Jodie Foster. I'm not sure about everyone's names yet. I didn't like the skinny kid with the glasses. He seems to be letting the the power go to his head already. This show has promise but I expect it to go all Lord of the Flies in a few weeks. I'm going to hell because I'm actually looking forward to that moment!

Whatever happened to that kid that collapsed in pain on the trek over? Was it just a cramp? Did he pull a muscle? Was he out there hauling watertowers with the rest of them?

ETA (or delete, really): keeping myself on topic

I don't remember any $20000 gold stars in Lord of the Flies. I guess I need to re-read it! :)

It looked like an "authentic" stove. I don't think they'd have the kids light matches and newspaper just for the hell of it. Although, this is CBS so who knows.

If I were them though, I'd stick to making pancakes over pasta. That pasta-mush looked rank!

I hesitate to judge Mike too harshly because he clearly got upset easily; almost any time there was a conflict or interview he was sniffling and wiping at his eyes. I think he means well, but, y'know, he's 11 and you get handed that and you power trip. I can only snark the kids so much the way I would, say, Survivor because they're all only 8-15. Greg pissed me off royally but he's still just 15, and they do that.

It turned out better than I expected and I am glad that so far, every "challenge" is positive-oriented. That they could all take the high road after Sophia's snit over the cooking (which I honestly think was more about territoriality pangs than anything else, though I really dug her) was impressive. Next time it will all go to hell, surely. But God, that host!

Laurel rocked. Irish represent.

I think they were hidden in the pig's head.


I know, I know. I'm going to change out of my bellbottoms and polyester print shirt, soak my dentures, put my walker in the corner and go to bed. Sigh.

The older kid who bullied Mike (can't remember his name) was clearly acting his age. But when a kid that age acts his age like that, he needs a butt-whoopin'. [/Grandma]

OK. I am a big ol' sucker. I felt extremely guilty for watching this show! I wouldn't allow my child to go on that foolish show. But I had to watch it. Of course, I spent the entire looking for value of this show - it dealt with class, economics, and leadership.

I cried when Mike and cute little Cherubic Jimmy cried. I was a little disappointed when the Jimster went home. He is such a sugar cookie! I could gobble him up.

I like all of those kids, but damn HOW OLD IS SOPHIA??? She is more mature than I am. Who cares about the damn dishes???

Word to this. Not one of those kids has made Mac N' Cheese out of a box (not that easy mac microwave crap, either)?

This got a little cheesy toward the end, but it has potential if impeachment, bribery, and skullduggery are options. The town council could improve if Mike (Grade A spazz and know-it-all) and the beauty queen were replaced by Michael and maybe Cody to represent the younger kids. I thought Cody seemed pretty level-headed for 9.

Loved Sophia, Cody, Laurel, Greg, DK, and the ill-fated Jimmy. I didn't think Greg was overly aggressive trying to get the leaders to focus early on. Mike...spazzed. Big time. He's gotta go. Mohawk kid that likes TV too.

How many nickels for a haircut in Bonanza City? A lot of the boys could sure use one. Also, when Greg walked out of the town meeting, did anyone else think he was totally going off to smoke weed? No? (Lowers hand)

Alex for president! I love that 8 year old and his one extra long front fang. He is the only one I like so far.

Okay, I watched this over ANTM tonight and I really liked it. I agree with the above, Sophie does seem like an adult trapped in a child's body. Greg was a bit annoying but a typical 15 year old and I thought it was nice that he asked Jimmy if he wanted to be his wingman.

Jimmy was cute, I really wish that he had stayed on but he missed his family and he is only eight years old. I felt for him when he was crying, and I am sure his parents didn't like watching him so upset on television.

Loved the "beauty queen" line about not doing dishes and the scene with the rabbit hunting.

Also agree, this is totally survivor with kids, should be an interesting season. I wonder if these kids had to go through any psychosocial evaluations before being chosen for this show.

Ah, I missed that. Our cable company sucks balls and rigs their boxes to not work with any DVR but theirs, so our TiVo catches about every other word and the picture freezes and pixelates annoyingly often. I didn't see the match-lighting and newspaper burning. Though any network that would let kids put bleach in soda bottles, well, like you said, you never know. Could have just been a pastime, the matches and the newspaper, since, you know, they opted out of the TV.

Anyway, if that was a wood-burning stove, wow, kudos to the little kids for making it work for them. I've seen authentic stoves stump adults used to cooking (because I watch too much damn TV - it's not like I've ever seen an old-fashioned stove in person). That's another thing that surprised me: how much I was pulling for the little boogers, rather than hoping for their downfall. I guess because it's just no fun seeing little kids cry. I didn't even hate that little beauty queen, and boy, if there was a type for me to hate, that's it right there.

I was surprised...everything seems so *circumscribed*.

Despite what we'd heard about total hands-off, the kids were still apparently forced to follow the job board and classes. I wonder what would've happened if the kids had said they didn't want to participate in the showdown or the job board, and just ran roughshod over everything?

Something tells me they wouldn't have been allowed to 'build their own Kid Nation' that way.

I agree that I like the positive slant of the show - nobody's voted off, they simply have the option to leave. And some great personalities, like Mike and Laurel and Sophia and Greg. Cute kids for the most par.t