Jimmy, Don't Go!!!

that was the cry that rang out among the 39 other kids as 8-year-old jimmy decided to leave bonanza city after just 4 days on cbs's Kid Nation.

ya, i know this thing premiered last week and the second episode is tomorrow, but i just got to it yesterday and wanted to just say a few things about it.

i was actually really looking forward to this one. something about the survivor-meets-lord of the flies concept appealed to me. and what do i think after just one episode? i kind of enjoyed it. the kids are great (well, at least some of them are) and i found myself trying to see what i would have done if i had been on such a show back when i was between 8-14 years old.

the personalities and characters are interesting and whoever was doing the casting over at cbs should get a pat on the back. its also funny how even with all the divisions and personality clashing, at least so far they seem to be better at getting along and working things out then grown ups are on their reality shows.

i would have loved for it to be real hardcore, with no adult host and really just let them try to organize themselves and create systems and such, without the show providing the lead. but that might be a little too lord of the flies and not very doable with kids of that age. however, barring that, i am looking forward to see how the whole class system plays out and how that leads to conflict among groups.

on a side note: i can't remember all their names, but there was that one instant where that big kid actually physically shoved that michael kid (one of the town council). i am surprised that the big kid didn't get kicked off the show for that. i am pretty sure that there are strict rules about any kind of physical violence towards other players on all the other reality shows and i would have assumed the same here. - i'm not saying that i think he should have been (as long as he doesn't make a habit of it), but i was just curious about any rules regarding that kind of thing.