Kid Nation 10/24 Bonaza is Disgusting!

[Meeko]

Great start so far.

One of the best lines.... perhaps so far:

"GUNPOWDER?!"

[Meeko]

My HD feed cut out (or something)

I missed the interview bit with Taylor talking about being a Beauty Queen.

Can someone relay what she said, or the gist of what she was saying?

[AuntiePam]

Meeko, I think it was the usual Taylor spiel -- we're pageant queens, we don't work.

So the teaser for next week -- "Money changes everything" -- does that mean that Taylor doesn't get paid and so she tries to reform?

She's probably not the only kid who's not pulling her weight, but she's the only one who's vocal about it. It's too bad that she's taking so much of the attention, causing so much of the negativity that almost defeated D.K.

Don't the kids ever play? I haven't seen any team-type fun -- tag, hide and seek, not even a game of catch. Those buildings are perfect for Annie Annie Over.

[mobo85]

Thanks for starting the thread this week, Meeko, as it proves you're still with us- you're one of the few Kid Nation Kadets (Komrades? Maybe something less Commie-sounding...Kaptives?) who didn't post last week.

Time for my weekly recap, then:

Continuing to take care of the world's social problems for our entertainment (or at least, for those of us who aren't watching Pushing Daisies), Bonanza City takes care of the Great Garbage Crisis of 2007. Seeing as they aren't able to blow it up with gunpowder or send it to that really stinky country (you know what one I'm talking about), they decide to take the same route Atari did when people weren't buying E.T. games: bury it under the New Mexico desert. Taylor decides to take the slogan of famed sanitation chief (among other things) Homer Simpson to heart: "Can't someone else do it?" For punishment, she is forced to bring water from the water tower to the pump. Naturally, she rebels. In this week's physical challenge, Marc...I mean Jonathan makes the kids scramble into beans with pigs in order to find tin cans. Surprisingly, Taylor pulls her weight (although she's none too happy about it.) The kids reach the required 75 cans to get a reward: fruits and vegetables...or dune buggies. The Yellow District is in the dune buggy camp, but cooler- and more sensible- heads prevail. Taylor uses the prize to make a fruit salad when she should be working. Zach lays down the law because of this: if she doesn't work, she doesn't get paid. As tensions rise, DK proves that at times, words speak louder than actions, by helping to ease tensions by talking them out- including a great Taylor-bashing at Town Hall. DK chooses to leave Bonanza City (obstensibly because he misses his family, but we all know that the real reason he was going to leave is to help negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty), but Guylan convinces him to stay- and a good thing, too, since he ends up earning Bonanza City's Nobel Peace Prize, in the form of a Gold Star.

Next week: "The Root Of All Evil." The love of money leads to disasters of Biblical proportions. Forty years of darkness. The dead rising from the grave. Dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria. That kind of stuff. Also: let's go treasure-huntin'!

Originally Posted by Meeko

My HD feed cut out (or something)

I missed the interview bit with Taylor talking about being a Beauty Queen.

Can someone relay what she said, or the gist of what she was saying?

"Me and Layla were like, 'We're beauty queens. We don't go around scooping up trash, walking 200 yards, and burying it.'"

[AuntiePam]

Mobo85, your recaps bring back fond memories of Mullinator and his Raj Ratings from that one good season of The Apprentice.

Bravo!

[mobo85]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

Don't the kids ever play? I haven't seen any team-type fun -- tag, hide and seek, not even a game of catch. Those buildings are perfect for Annie Annie Over.

There was a soda fight this week between Emilie and one of the other red kids which led to an injury, which led to an argument, which led to DK doing his thing.

Thanks for the compliment, AuntiePam. I just write 'em because I like to- I'm glad somebody else likes it, too.

[Sapo]

Good episode.

DK is a real asset. I can see why he wants to get out of there. Some kids are used to dysfunctional environments, some others not so much. It seemed to me that he is the oldest of six. That means a lot of being in charge, and probably respected. No wonder he is getting sick of all the bickering. Good to see he stayed.

Taylor, wow. I just can't see what going back to her life is going to be like. Expect a ton of teasing on the schoolyard. I hope they make the whole punishment thing stick. Right now she is just a parasite.

Anjay is useless. He was lucky that what he got for competition was just Olivia. Who, by the way, is closing in on Taylor as the witch to hate. Gosh, I can't believe I liked her for a bit with the whole "give the star to my little sister" thing.

For the rewards, once I saw the fruits and vegetables, I said there was no need to even show the alternative. Then I remembered it is Yellow doing the cooking. A complete waste of good produce unless someone else jumps in and gives a good hand.

[Sapo]

Oh, and Layla a beauty queen? Really? That must be some ugly town.

[Rubystreak]

What I really want to know is, how coached was Taylor on how to be such a bitch and create drama for the show? How much of that "I'm a beauty queen and I won't work no matter what AAAAAAAAAAH!" thing is an act? Any way to know or find out? Because if all that is real, wow. Her parents must be some winners. I wonder how they feel watching her epic brat performance?

Also, I agree with Sapo about Leila. She is pretty weird looking. But then again, so is Taylor. She's probably going to grow into those giant teeth, right?

[AuntiePam]

Any ideas why we're not seeing the kids washing up? Who's doing laundry? I haven't seen any clothes lines. Are they getting fresh team shirts for every showdown?

That dirty dishwater skeeves me out.

Something else I'd like to see is the kids making something. Bonanza needs some industry.

Dune buggies? Kids putting gas in them? Nuh uh.

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

What I really want to know is, how coached was Taylor on how to be such a bitch and create drama for the show? How much of that "I'm a beauty queen and I won't work no matter what AAAAAAAAAAH!" thing is an act? Any way to know or find out? Because if all that is real, wow. Her parents must be some winners. I wonder how they feel watching her epic brat performance?

Knowing reality shows, I'm guessing it's at least 80% acting. If she's a pageant competitor, she would long ago have been trained to act modest in front of the audience, and there's cameras everywhere.

Remember the rule of reality shows: When in doubt, assume it was manipulated by the producers, because it was.

[Johnny L.A.]

The Council has made some unpopular decisions regarding the rewards. But they've made the 'adult' decisions. IIRC Taylor was one who pushed for necessities (toothbrushes?) over fun. Is that right? Because if it is, it's funny she demanded the co-carts.

At the council meeting Taylor said she'd 'try' to change. I was waiting for someone to say 'There is no "try". Only "do".'

[AuntiePam]

I remember Laurel pushing for the toothbrushes. She said that a lot of the kids had braces and needed the floss and stuff. Taylor probably asked for it too, since it's a grooming thing. Gotta keep those pearly whites pearly white!

I wonder if Taylor has to toe a line at home and is acting out in Bonanza, out from under momma's thumb, doing what she wants, not on a schedule. Is that possible?

[mobo85]

Originally Posted by Johnny L.A.

At the council meeting Taylor said she'd 'try' to change. I was waiting for someone to say 'There is no "try". Only "do".'

That's what I was thinking- "Try not. Do...or do not. There is no try." As usual, Yoda had it right.

[jali]

I cried last night when the council awarded DK the gold star. That was a really moving moment for me - I love that kid!

Again I'm proud of the kids for choosing fruits amd vegetables over the dirt bikes.

[kingpengvin]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I wonder if Taylor has to toe a line at home and is acting out in Bonanza, out from under momma's thumb, doing what she wants, not on a schedule. Is that possible?

No way... that's a Kid who is used to getting her own way without being told no. Kids her age with authoritative parents generally gravitate to those who exert control to fill the role.

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by jali

Again I'm proud of the kids for choosing fruits amd vegetables over the dirt bikes.

My husband made a good point about the dirt bikes-- they could have been used to do work, like haul trash, water, etc. They could have rigged that cart up to the back of them and gotten many magnitudes more work done with less effort (the free gas makes it even more attractive). The fruits and veggies were gone in seconds. It was framed like the food was more of the adult choice, but honestly, I think the vehicles would actually have been more useful AND more fun.

[AuntiePam]

That is a good point about the bikes. I was hoping they wouldn't choose them just because it could turn into another area of disagreement. Who gets to ride, how long can they ride, etc. And some of those kids have probably never been on one.

But that could have worked into something good -- cooperating on a schedule, the experienced kids giving some safety tips.

Hmmmm.

Let's hope the kids go for the fun prize at least once before the show's over.

[KGS]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

I wonder if Taylor has to toe a line at home and is acting out in Bonanza, out from under momma's thumb, doing what she wants, not on a schedule.

It's more likely that she's used to doing whatever she wants, whenever she wants, and her parents let her get away with it. She's so used to being the center of attention, it's not sinking in that she's really just a spoiled little princess.

Guylan...is a BOY??!?? WTF!!!! Guess I really am out of touch with kids' fashion these days. (Get off my lawn & all that...)

Nice to see some injuries, finally! (I wonder if they'll show the kids drinking bleach?)

[Meeko]

Originally Posted by mobo85

That's what I was thinking- "Try not. Do...or do not. There is no try." As usual, Yoda had it right.

I will third this comment.

Also, on the show being fake.

I will again table the concept of the Bonaza Journal.

Who on earth wrote this thing?

We are told that it was some Pioneer from 100 years plus ago.

But, how can he get all the parts of the current town dynamics down so great?

[AuntiePam]

I think even the kids know that the journal was written for them. They're just playing along, being polite, maybe not wanting to hurt the producer's feelings or something. Like when Uncle Frank grabbed your nose when you were three. You knew that your nose was still on your face, but you checked anyway, so Uncle Frank wouldn't look like a dork.

I wish they'd say something about it though.

[mobo85]

Are there more kids than adults watching this series ratings-wise, or is it pretty much even? The "Hey kids, tell your parents Kid Nation is next on CBS!" promos make me curious as to the demographics.

[Gangster Octopus]

My wife cried at the whole DK drama. I didn't though, although I di have soemthing in my eye.

BTW, I know it hasn't beenmentioned bujt do you guys suspect, as I do that the kids are going to get something at the end.

[Sapo]

Originally Posted by mobo85

Are there more kids than adults watching this series ratings-wise, or is it pretty much even? The "Hey kids, tell your parents Kid Nation is next on CBS!" promos make me curious as to the demographics.

I am going to guess the exact opposite is happening. Kids are not watching and this add is meant to make parents think that their kids are missing out and that they are bad parents because their kids are not watching.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by Gangster Octopus

BTW, I know it hasn't been mentioned bujt do you guys suspect, as I do that the kids are going to get something at the end.

I read somewhere that they will. Scholarships, maybe? Trips to Disneyland?