40 kids from the ages of 8-15 are put into the abandoned town of Bonanza City, New Mexico for 40 days. They have to build their own society by electing leaders, passing laws, and establishing an economy.
Debate over acquiring a new source of food divides the Pioneers.
When disorder erupts among the Pioneers, the Town Council is forced to make some tough decisions regarding the rules and maintaining order that don't go over well with everyone.
The Town Council is faced with a dilemma when the topic of religion arises. Their suggestion of having one religious ceremony to accommodate all faiths ruffles some feathers.
The Kids get the opportunity to choose new leaders. Olivia vows to defeat Anjay in the elections, which leads to a heated exchange between them.
The town council also hands out it's first punishment to one of it's citizens. And pigs, rats and flies become a problem in Bonanza city.
The kids try to make more money by selling products on the streets of Bonanza. The town council finds a treasure chest in a gold mine and have to decide what to do with it. And one pioneer is accused of bribing fellow towns people for support in winning the gold star.
Kennedy and Savannah cook the town a authentic Kentucky dinner which leaves one of the girls feeling homesick and wanting to leave. Also the kids hold a talent show to bring some entertainment to Bonanza City but one kid goes on stage to make a very surprising announcement instead.
The town council makes a big decision regarding the districts which upsets a lot of the pioneers. The pioneers also learn about equality and realize that it's not that easy to achieve.
The town council is faced with another hard decision regarding a reward challenge. Their decision causes emotions to run high in Bonanza City.
The town council elects a law enforcer for the city and Taylor is banned from participating in any of the future rewards.
Bonanza's town-council leaves the city to visit with nearby Native Americans. While the town-council is away Bonanza City's sheriff sees this as an opportunity and takes control of the town.
The first season comes to an end with the pioneers trying to keep the town running after they find out that the job board has been destroyed. The pioneers take part in three challenges with each one worth a gold star worth $50,000. At the end the pioneers all receive a surprise that brings many of them to tears
With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV. We introduce the concept of Kid Nation through the lens of its controversial reception, including a campaign to have the show banned before it even aired. But how bad was it? We hear from one of the parents about their hopes for the show, and their daughter’s auditions and first few days. We’re left wondering: what have these kids signed up for?
With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV. Every reality show has a villain. In Kid Nation that role was assigned to 15-year-old Greg Pheasant. Through multiple perspectives on Greg’s bullying, we explore whether kids were cast to perform predetermined roles. It raises questions about the different levels of agency these kids had in what was a high-pressure and high-stakes situation.
With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV. The kids are forced to navigate social hierarchies as producers introduce class, competition and warped financial incentives. Every few days, a team competition sorts the kids into four social classes: upper class, merchant, cooks and laborers. We ask what these themes reveal about America’s values and prejudices.
With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV. The producers prompt the kids to confront adult themes, with a joint religious service and town hall elections. Through the introduction of politics and religion, we see how Kid Nation is a microcosm of the real world in 2007, where the shadow of 9/11 and the War on Terror looms large.
With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV. After the chaos of the first few weeks life in Bonanza City stabilizes – but that doesn’t make for great TV. The former pioneers say that as the show wore on, the drama became more contrived, with plot-lines that saw kids portrayed as gambling addicts and anarchists, looting the town stores. It leaves us wondering whether Kid Nation could ever have lived up to its utopian premise. How do the former pioneers feel about it now?
With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV. Negative portrayals left kids like Olivia traumatized whereas others, like Laurel and Anjay look back with fondness. How did being on the show affect the trajectory of the pioneers? And why does Kid Nation continue to strike a cultural chord?
