Kid Nation doesn't premiere until next month. But the CBS reality series, dubbed Survivor: Clearasil by some critics, already has generated controversy, including charges that producers slipped under the wire and finished production before New Mexico changed its child labor laws on July 1.

Premiering Sept. 19, Kid Nation follows the adventures of 40 youngsters (ages 8-15) who lived during April and May in Bonanza City, a ghost town that flourished in the late 19th century. The 13-week series follows the adventures of the youngsters who "survive" in the area while "rebuilding" the town.

New Mexico, unlike many other states, at the time did not have laws dealing with how many hours youngsters could work during production of films and TV series. Stricter new laws became effective July 1.

During a recent, contentious session with Television Critics Association members in Los Angeles, executive producer Tom Forman denied New Mexico's laws were changed because Kid Nation often had youngsters filming from 7 a.m. until midnight. But Forman admitted it would be difficult to film a second season of episodes (if CBS wants them) because of child labor laws.

Series excerpts indicate the youngsters were "on their own" during their 40 days inhabiting the town. But Forman said the "on their own" format was not quite accurate, since "hundreds" of adults - doctors, child psychologists and animal wranglers - were on hand, although never on-camera.

Forman's description of Bonanza City as a ghost town was questioned, since it has been used recently for on-location filming of TV and movie westerns. The town, about 20 minutes from Santa Fe, has 45 structures, some original and some built during the past 100 years. And the Kid Nation crew built several structures before filming began.

"We needed a place which these kids could populate and live in safety, where we had the flexibility to actually make a television show," Forman said.

The thrust of the show: The efforts of the 40 youngsters (some left before filming was completed) to rebuild the town in pioneer style.

"They get up in the morning, light a pioneer-era wood-burning stove, cook breakfast and head out to the water pump - just like the founders of Bonanza City," Forman said.

Each day the youngsters, while working on projects, talk with one another about their lives back home, religion, sports, entertainment and other issues. Each episode ends with a town hall meeting in which a youngster is given a gold star by co-workers for work exceptionally well done.

Forman said "the mixing of prepubescent and pubescent youngsters didn't cause any problems." And there were no issues with drugs or sex among the 15-year-olds.

Forman said unlike Survivor and other reality series, Kid Nation won't necessarily provide individuals that viewers will root for or against.

So why watch?

"We worried about this, too," Forman said. "But we needed a large cast if the participants were going to realistically make an impact in the rebuilding of this town.

"But if you look at a show like Lost - and I'm not making any direct comparison to Lost - it supports a large supporting cast and a few heroes in every episode."

Hell's belle

Rock, the winner of Hell's Kitchen season three, was so far under the radar he was virtually undetectable. Even when the 30-year-old from Spotsylvania, Va., was saying things like "I'm here to win" and "I'll do what I have to do," the tall, stocky executive chef sounded more like a teddy bear than a "force to be reckoned with" (as Bonnie, his final competitor, described herself).

ACHING WITH HAPPINESS

"I can't take the smile off my face, and it's hurting so bad."

Sabra Johnson, after being named "America's Favorite Dancer" and the winner of the $250,000 first prize on Fox's talent show So You Think You Can Dance. The 20-year-old from Roy, Utah, earned the honor last Thursday, besting remaining finalists Neil Haskell, Lacey Schwimmer and Danny Tidwell.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

• The show: Anchorwoman • When, where: 7 p.m. today, Fox-31 • Why watch? Don't you want to know what happens when a swimsuit model with no journalism experience assumes anchor duties at a CBS affiliate in Tyler, Texas?

Kid Nation

• What: Youngsters rebuild a New Mexico "ghost town"

• When, where: Sept. 19, CBS

• Why watch: What happens when you mix children ranging from ages 8 to 15 on a reality project?

Dusty Saunders writes periodically about broadcasting. Contact him at tvtime@comcast.net.

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