'Kid Nation': Out with nary a whimper

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TV This Week
'Kid Nation': Out with nary a whimper
By Diego Vasquez
Dec 12, 2007 - 1:00:00 AM

As it turned out, CBS’s “Kid Nation” wasn’t all that controversial, or all that notable, either, despite the frenzy that erupted over the reality show over the summer. “Nation” bows out with an 8 p.m. finale tonight in which the kids try to pull their parentless society together before parting.

The firestorm over the summer surrounded whether the network had violated child labor laws by filming kids ages 8-15 for 24 hours a day and subjecting them to less-than-ideal living conditions, all for a $5,000 stipend.

CBS insisted all along it did nothing wrong, and the fuss seemed to die down after the show’s non-eventful debut.

Yet despite all the pre-premiere publicity and the fact that the show airs in one of the weakest timeslots in primetime, “Nation” never gained much of a following among adults 18-49, total viewers or households, where CBS shows usually excel.

“Nation” has averaged a 4.7 rating in the latter, some 2 points behind timeslot leaders “Deal or No Deal” on NBC and “Pushing Daisies” on ABC, and tied for 64th on all of broadcast this season. Among 18-49s its numbers are even weaker. It’s tied for No. 77 on broadcast with a 2.4.

But don’t be surprised if the show is still picked up for a second season, media researchers say. CBS is desperate for fresh programming during the ongoing writers’ strike, with the smallest number of scripted shows premiering on the Big Four at midseason. Media people say CBS may pick up the cheap-to-produce show for a limited spring run or perhaps a summer return, when it would face minimal competition.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Feist performs.
7 p.m.	ESPN2	“College Basketball” (S)	Intercity matchup between Cincinnati and Xavier.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Pushing Daisies” (D)	Paul Reubens, aka Pee Wee Herman, reprises his role as a scent expert.
8 p.m.	CW	“America’s Next Top Model” (R)	Season finale. The final three are cut to two before a winner is selected.
9 p.m.	Fox	“Kitchen Nightmares” (R)	Season finale. Surprise, surprise: Ramsay has a heated discussion with a restaurant owner.
10 p.m.	CBS	“CSI: NY” (D)	A murder victim is found with disappearing ink and an exploding cigar.
10 p.m.	MTV	“The Real World” (R)	KellyAnne thinks she may be pregnant.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	CW	“Smallville” (D)	Clark tells Lana they should team up against Lex.
8 p.m.	NFL Network	“NFL Football” (S)	The Broncos take on the Texans in Houston.
9 p.m.	CBS	“CSI” (D)	A socialite is murdered, and it could be tied to dog fighting.
9 p.m.	NBC	“30 Rock” (C)	The staff throws a holiday party.
10 p.m.	ABC	“Big Shots” (D)	Duncan finds ways to distract himself from Lisbeth’s wedding.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Without a Trace” (D)	A department store Santa Claus disappears.
10 p.m.	USA	“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (D)	The team looks into the execution-style deaths of three college kids.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Julia Roberts guests and Brian Boitano skates.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Ghost Whisperer” (D)	Melinda tries to help a spirit who thinks he’s Santa Claus.
8 p.m.	ESPN2	“College Football” (S)	Title game of the Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA.
9 p.m.	Fox	“The Next Great American Band” (R)	The final three groups perform.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Numb3rs” (D)	A former subcontractor for the FBI goes wild and starts taking hostages.
10:30 p.m.	ESPN	“NBA Basketball” (S)	Should be a high scoring one between the Lakers and Warriors.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15
Time	Network	Program	Description
3:30 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	Good matchup between Louisville and Purdue.
5 p.m.	ABC	“NFL Legends: Brady, Manning Favre” (S)	A look at today’s top three NFL quarterbacks.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Las Vegas arrest a drug-using transsexual.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Surviving Christmas” (M)	The 2004 holiday flick starring Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini.
9 p.m.	Style	“My Destination Wedding with the Knot” (R)	A couple plans for their wedding in the Cayman Islands.
10 p.m.	VH1	“Critics’ Choice: Best Movies of 2007” (N)	Sam Rubin hosts a discussion of the year’s top films.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	ABC	“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (R)	The crew helps a single mom who uses her swimming pool to help disabled kids learn to swim.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Survivor” (R)	Season finale. The jury members question the remaining contestants.
8:15 p.m.	NBC	“Sunday Night Football” (S)	NBC gets to pick which game it airs, and it went with Redskins versus Giants.
9:30 p.m.	Fox	“American Dad” (C)	Stan faces death while trying to find a Christmas tree.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Survivor: China Reunion” (R)	This season’s winner is selected, then the trash talking begins.
10 p.m.	E!	“Girls Next Door” (R)	Hef wants to keep the mansion’s gym in a ‘70s style, but Holly has other ideas.
10 p.m.	Showtime	“Dexter” (D)	Agent Lundy thinks he’s solved the case of the Bay Harbor Butcher.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.