If you missed the premiere of Kid Nation last night you can catch it online HERE.

As I watched, my cynicism took over, I wondered if this “ghost town” was really ever real. Since the last ‘new’ reality show I watched, Pirate Master, tried to weave a story about a fabled pirate, I was cynical that this place called “Bonanza City, New Mexico was real.

With a short search I found out there was indeed a town called Bonanza in New Mexico. It only lasted from 1880-1885 and unlike the town shown on the CBS show, there is nothing but foundation lines left of the real Bonanza City.

The best source of information I found was at the site GhostTowns.com

The town never lived up to its name for it didn’t live long enough. Bonanza was founded in 1880 and died about 1885. Silver, zinc and lead were the primary ores in the Los Cerrillos Hills during this period. The population of Bonanza in 1884 is listed as two hundred and declined thereafter. One has to look hard to find the traces of the town for all that is left are faint foundation outlines and rock ruins of a smelter

As I expected the town we see on the show is simply a set created by the show’s producers, but you wouldn’t expect them to be able to take over an authentic ‘ghost town’ and have 40 kids live there.

My take on the show?  It is pretty much what I expected, a show that a lot of people will enjoy, but only thanks to the producers who managed to make it both funny and dramatic.  Some examples, calling a 10 year old girl a ‘beauty queen,’  an eight year old worried he may die, the kids attempting to cook their first meal, the bullies of the town using chalk to make graffiti.

The competition to determine the class status of the kids was very reminiscent of  a Survivor type challenge but at the end all 40 kids were rewarded for completing the task (outhouses all around!).

Compelling television?  No.  Interesting enough to keep on a Tivo Season Pass?  Yes.

If it is a ratings hit it will be because it is a kid/family show, something parents won’t be afraid to let their children watch.

There has been a lot of buzz about Kid Nation which premieres on CBS at 8pm Wednesday.

I will be watching, I have a feeling it will be an interesting show for at least a couple of episodes. I’m not sure if I will let my kids watch it (Ages 8-14) even though CBS is promoting it as a show for the whole family.

Of course comparisons have been made to the famous William Golding novel, “Lord of the Flies,” in which a group of kids end up stranded on an island and have to fend for themselves. No need to worry about someone getting smashed over the head with a rock however as there were more adults than kids on the set, even if they all were hiding off camera.

I suspect that the show will have a lot of funny moments. kids doing jobs they never had, burnt toast, undercooked food, cleaning bathrooms. milking cows? In the preview I saw there was also the ‘drama’ of a town meeting where the voices were raised but it appears no punches were thrown.

The real question is, can this keep the viewers interest for the entire season? I’m just not sure.

Another thing that will be interesting to see is how these kids will be treated in the “real world” once they have been on television a few weeks. I am sure there will be a villain or two, will they find themselves ostracized in their home towns?

I’ll share my thoughts on the first episode later this week. I hope the show lives up to the hype. I need a new spin on the reality theme.

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I’ll be writing about Kid Nation as I watch it this fall.

There has been a ton of controversy over this CBS show. I am kind of interested although as with all reality shows besides Big Brother, I have some problems with it since the producers have the entire show ‘in the can’ before the first episode airs.

I’ll have many more thoughts soonly on this show. For now here are the basics.

“Kid Nation,” will feature 40 kids, ages 8-15, who have 40 days to create a new town – over which they’ll govern without any adult supervision.

The show is set in a ghost town, Bonanza City, N.M., without any amenities or grown ups. They cook their own meals, empty their own latrine and even run their own businesses. During the course of the show, they’re confronted with typical kid problems – homesickness, rule-breaking, etc. – with any kid allowed to leave at any time for any reason. They will also create their own government, complete with a town council. Unlike other reality shows, though, no kids will be “voted off” the show each week. At the end of each episode, the kids will gather at the town hall to discuss issues facing Bonanza City.

Link: Official CBS Site.