I'm still on the fence about the host. He seems so fake- faker than most TV reality show hosts. Although I do enjoy all the plaid flannel.

When I first heard Jonathan's voiceover introduction in Ep01, I seriously thought it was Ray Romano who was going to be the host. I don't mind Jonathan at all and I think he does a good job. He doesn't talk down to the kids and has a good chemistry with them. I like the way he has kind of a doting smile on his face sometimes while watching the exchanges between the kids. For example, when Taylor was shouting her lungs out trying to explain to the group the decision to keep the microwave instead of the pizzas, I noticed him in the background. It was kind of like he was suppressing a laugh but not a "laugh AT you" kind of laugh. I also like the way he reached out to Cody when Cody was sobbing trying to explain his decision to leave Bonanza City.

ETA: I didn't realize he was a supervising producer of the show (and of some others according to his IMDB profile).

"He doesn't talk down to the kids and has a good chemistry with them."

I would agree that many of the kids seem to like him. However, I think he absolutely talks down to the kids. Part of this comes from the format and premise of the show and part of it because there are going to be slight differences in how you talk to a 9 y/o vs 14 y/o. But I really think, for instance, the way he phrases the question about who is going home each week is condescending and absolutely talking down to them.

I don't know about condescending, but I don't like how he implies that if they want to go home, they've failed and are letting down the group. Surprisingly (to me, at least) the kids who have left have been pretty plucky about it and not wavered when faced with those comments.

Jonathan was the host of Evening Magazine in the Bay Area in the late 90's. I liked him a bit more there than I do on Kid Nation, he seemed less fake.

If anyone else remembers or has heard this, let me know. I seem to remember that he was fired from Evening Magazine for taking kickbacks on stories. I did some googling but couldn't find any evidence of this, just this article which details his hush hush exit.

Perfect title, considering I call him that out loud at least once an episode! I guess it figures, given that Kid Nation is sort of a watered-down Survivor (4 kidz!!)

I'm quite ambivalent about this guy. He's so cheesy it almost makes my arteries clog, but I love when they cut to his face when the kids are all screaming at each other... his expression amuses me. It's sort of bemused and bewildered and kindly horrified... I wonder if this show has encouraged him to get a vasectomy. (Is that wrong?)

that creepy hug he gave Cody before he left was a little weird. But I do love hearing him selling the awesomeness of the gold star each week.

Ah, I figured he looked familiar. Didn't realize he used to co-host Evening Magazine. I just tuned in one day, he was gone, and went, who the heck is the new guy? (For the awesomeness of Mike Rowe had not yet been revealed to the world.)

Nothing against this season's host, but Andy Cohen should be rewarded for his Bravo "hosting" "abilities" by being awarded the hosting gig on the second season. The kids could totally relate to his desire to take a leak in the ocean. Not that I read Andy's blog, but I do read the Top Chef recaps.

As cheesy as this guy is - and yes, "the Poor Man's Jeff Probst" is the perfect title for him - I was pleasantly surprised to read (on IMDB, anyway) about his wins at the Sundance Film Festival for his documentary, "My Flesh and Blood". The documentary is about a woman named Susan Tom who has eleven adopted children, most of whom have serious and delibitating health/physical problems. It's pretty extraordinary, and it sounds like he is probably quite experienced in working with kids as a result of this film. He won for Best Director and the Audience Award at Sundance! That's cool.

Naw, there's nothing wrong with that. To be honest, some of the kids on this show (I'm looking at YOU Taylor) make me want to run out and get my tubes tied.

Heh, I came here to note that my respect for Jonathan Karsh just went up, really up, as I just discovered he is the director of "My Flesh and Blood." When I first saw him, I thought he looked vaguely familiar, but figured he had just had a previous MC job (he hasn't).

Turns out the reason I recognize him is... I actually hung out with him (and I think, his girlfriend/wife) for like 20 minutes at the Sundance festival when MF&B premiered ! Everyone rides the shuttles at Sundance, so if you go, you have pretty easy access to actors, directors, documentary subjects, you name it. Now that I remember who he is... Jonathan was incredibly smart, funny and it was awesome to hear him talk about the Tom Family. That movie should be a *must see* for all fans of Kid Nation. I don't know how involved Jonathan (if at all) was with the conception/production of "Kid Nation", but you can totally see the seeds of KN in "My Flesh and Blood." I mean, they're obviously very different projects, but there *is* a common thread in their focus on kids.

Whatever you might think of his MC'ing style... Karsh is definitely one of the cooler people in the TV/movie biz, IMO. Total fan now that I've put the dots together !

Damn. I was all set to go on a rant about what a tool this guy is and now I can't because I liked that documentry.

But still, he totally reminds me of Andy Cohen and his douchey comment about Blaine and Greg this episode had me suprised that none of the rocks being towed were thrown in his direction.

He does seem to have that "need to count the spoons" cheesy kinda feel to him. According to his bio, he seems to be a pretty cool person. And "My Flesh and Blood" is one of the finest documentaries I've ever seen.

Just can't shake the feeling that...if this were really an actual "survival" situation...he'd have long ago been tossed in the stew pot.

Text of a phone interview with Karsh by Nuvo.net:

http://cbs3.com/video/?id=45930@kyw.dayport.com

Nothing special...just your basic "the kids are great" kinda thing.

I kind of had mixed emotions about Jonathan throughout the show's run, but I've more or less come around to thinking he was a pretty good host. (I give him a little extra credit because I was really impressed with "My Flesh and Blood", which I thought was an outstanding documentary.)

I guess we all have to understand up front that his job was similar to that of a "barker" at a carnival...keeping chatter going to try and make things sound as exciting as possible. And I think he did that pretty well. Any time his "excitement" sounded a little phony, it was just because he was trying to make some of the less exciting activity seem a little more interesting. In one of the showdowns (I don't recall exactly which one), he was really urging some kids to hurry and "beat the clock" back across the line. But meanwhile, in the background, there were a few other kids just casually strolling along. I also wonder sometimes about how accurate some of those "last second" finishes really were. (But we all know that reality show action is sometimes creatively interpreted.)

Jonathan seemed to interact pretty well with the kids. And I also thought that he was very warm and understanding to the kids who chose to leave, and I think he deserves credit for that. I know it was a very emotional time for those kids, and I'm glad he was as kind to them as possible.

Any weaknesses in the job he did were due to the nature of the job (and the show) itself, and not due to any failure or shortcoming on Jonathan's part, I believe. All in all, I thought he was a good host.

I always found Jonathan's running commentaries rather inane and annoying, but you certainly make a good point that he was doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing. I guess it'd be a little unfair to criticize him for just "doing his job".