A Deranged Reality TV Experiment

The wheels on the bus went round and round and round and round, driving in circles though the desert outside Santa Fe. It was April 1, 2007, a bright, crisp morning and the first day of shooting for a new CBS reality show, Kid Nation. Thirty-six school-aged children from across the country were crammed onto an old school bus, backpacks on their laps. A small crew of cameramen, sound technicians, and producers crowded in the aisle, trying to get footage for the show's opening scene.

As they drove past little other than shrubs, a few dilapidated barns, and dust clouds, the expressions on the kids' faces ranged from bored to outright petrified. They would be without their parents for the duration of the forty-day shoot on a movie set in the desert. They would cook their own food, clean their own toilets—and establish and run their own government. What they told me about their forty days in the desert was the craziest part of all: A lot of them had the time of their lives.

View in Browser  SHOP EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBE What It Was Like To Star On The Weirdest Reality Show Ever Made The wheels on the bus went round and round and round and round, driving in circles though the desert outside Santa Fe. It was April 1, 2007, a bright, crisp morning and the first day of shooting for a new CBS reality show, Kid Nation. Thirty-six school-aged children from across the country were crammed onto an old school bus, backpacks on their laps. A small crew of cameramen, sound technicians, and producers crowded in the aisle, trying to get footage for the show's opening scene. As they drove past little other than shrubs, a few dilapidated barns, and dust clouds, the expressions on the kids' faces ranged from bored to outright petrified. They would be without their parents for the duration of the forty-day shoot on a movie set in the desert. They would cook their own food, clean their own toilets—and establish and run their own government. What they told me about their forty days in the desert was the craziest part of all: A lot of them had the time of their lives. Read More These Are the Only Men's Clothing Deals Worth Shopping, According to Our Editors It's never too early to shop incredible discounts. Read More Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 10 Goes Full Succession' Who runs the Dutton ranch now? Read More The Democrats Need To Stop Giving Such a Damn The Democratic members of the House Ethics Committee are tying themselves in knots over whether or not the country needs to know what the committee learned about the incoming nominee for Attorney General and his alleged involvement in underage sex trafficking and drug abuse. Just put it out there. Stop giving a damn about norms that no longer exist. Just do it, and let the chips fall. Read More Taylor Swift Is Coming for Book Publishing The singer's quest for world domination continues with The Eras Tour Book. But why is Swift self-publishing, and what does that mean for the future of celebrity books? We're unpacking all the major implications. Read More 15 Gifts That Your Cool (and Picky) Daughter Will Actually, Really Love Brought to you by somebody's cool (and picky) daughter. Read More How One of America's Hottest Restaurants Is Coming Back from a Hurricane On September 27, Hurricane Helene lashed Asheville, North Carolina. For a while, the destruction of much of the city made the national news. But even before the flood waters of the French Broad River began to recede, the country had moved on. There were—and are—plenty of calamities around the world in need of attention. But in Asheville, the struggles continue. The city was without power for weeks and still doesn't have running water. People throughout western North Carolina are relying on one another to recover. Living is difficult; making a living is nearly impossible—even for Silver and Cherry Iocovozzi of Neng Jr.'s, a one-of-a-kind Filipino/Appalachian restaurant that has been riding a solid two-year crest of accolades. Read More Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Esquire is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779