By Stone Martindale Sep 4, 2007
There is no such thing as bad publicity in show business. Case in point, the controversial CBS series that chronicles kids left to their own devices out in the New Mexican desert.
CBS’ new reality series, “Kid Nation,” will be broadcast starting Sept. 19, in spite of lawsuits and negative articles alleging child abuse and labor law infractions.
Network executives and the program’s producer continued to exude confidence that the reality show would go on as scheduled.
“Everybody’s questions about the show will be answered when it airs,” the show’s executive producer, Tom Forman, said to the New York Times.
According to the Times, CBS has started a series of screenings of the first episode for advertising executives, with some taking place last week and more scheduled for this week.
The show premise is that 40 children, ages 8 to 15, are placed in a “ghost town” in New Mexico to see if they can build a working society without the help of adults.
But soon after the production ended in May, the parent of a child in the production complained about her child being injured and about sub-standard working conditions on the set.
Now, CBS has allegedly made some plans to produce a second edition of the series. It has already held some casting sessions for new children, claims the Times.
Forman told the Times the producers need to be ready to start shooting again if the network likes the early ratings, and orders a second series.
But the problems with the labor law infractions that the state of New Mexico cited for the “Kid Nation” production will have an effect on what state will house the future location of any kid based reality series.
The Times reports that the “attorney general’s office in New Mexico had dropped an investigation into the show, but reopened it two weeks ago after the complaints began to surface.”
Most states have tougher laws than New Mexico’s regarding children and labor.
The negative attention that has popped up over “Kid Nation” has made it too hot a potato for any state to permit future filming, one unnamed CBS executive said to the Times.
Asked if the show could be relocated to Mexico or elsewhere, Mr. Forman said to the Times, “Nothing is off the table.”
Depending on the ratings and the public reception once the series is aired, will determine any future expansion of the “Kid Nation” franchise.
The Times explains that “advertisers buy network programs in packages, rather than on a show by show basis, but they always reserve the right to withdraw from any show whose content they believe may alienate customers.”
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