Month: August 2007

Lately, Kid Nation has been the subject of controversy, and one parent told Access Hollywood she’s frustrated with the fact that people are only interested in stirring up the negative aspects.

Lori, a lawyer from New Jersey, whose daughter Sophia is on the show, had this to say, “I know I speak for most of the parents when I say we are just mystified by this uproar and I guess it’s because people like to read sensational headlines.”

“Every time they show them, they cut out anything that might put the show in a good light, and it was such an amazing experience for these kids,” she said. “We really are so mystified by it. My daughter has nothing but great things to say about it. They had the time of their lives. I’m perplexed.”

“My child was better supervised there for six weeks than she could have had (she) been living with her family for six weeks. We don’t have her surrounded by doctors, and safety experts, and therapists, and producers and counselors.”

Regarding the controversy over child labor laws, “It wasn’t putting the kids in a situation where they had to work,” Lori said. “My daughter told me that there were so many kids that would just lay around the entire time and never did anything at all. So, my understanding from talking to my daughter was that kids could do as little or as much as they wanted to do. Nothing was forced at all.”

And on the issue of child endangerment, “I’ve been reading stuff that’s been coming down the pipe, and it’s really been distressing to me and most of the parents that have been involved with this production,” she said. “I’m a former prosecutor of child abuse and to label this show child abuse and child neglect is insulting and denigrating to children who have been victims of child abuse.”

A month before it goes on the air, and CBS’ newest reality show, Kid Nation, is already the subject of controversy over the issue of child labor laws and child endangerment.

The LA Times reports Janis Miles, the mother of a 12-year-old girl who was burned in the face while cooking, filed a complaint in June in Georgia, where she lives. She has asked for an investigation into “abusive acts to minors and possible violations of child labor laws.” Her complaint was forwarded to Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, who on July 20 posted an item on his department blog revealing Miles’ claims and stating he had found no criminal wrongdoing related to the production.
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“These kids were in good hands and under good care with procedures and safety structures that arguably rival or surpass any school or camp in the country,” the CBS statement read.
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The children did receive $5,000 stipends, and they competed for $20,000 gold stars in each episode.

(CBS legal counsel) Anschell, however, said the stipend and rewards are not considered wages for work because, “It’s a stipend for participating in the show. It’s not tied to specific output or tasks.”

Anyone who considered allowing their kids to do this had to know what they were getting themselves into. Despite the potential for money/fame, it’s not summer camp, and just as if they were at home, accidents may happen, which in this case they did to a handful of the kids (with nobody being seriously injured). That being said, as much as this show is billed as being about kids surviving on their own, these kids have more adult supervision than anyone they know.

I’m finding it hard to believe that CBS would intentionally break laws like this just for the sake of producing this show. At the end of the day, this is similar to the race tribes on Survivor, which I thought worked out fine but was blown out of proportion before anyone really knew what was happening. CBS is ultimately just getting massive amounts of free publicity, which should only help to enhance the ratings.

What do you think? Has CBS gone too far, or is this much ado about nothing?