I divide child reality shows (as well as family youtube channels) into two categories. Those are 'boring and unnerving' and 'interesting but absolutely dangerous'. Most pageant or other child reality shows always feel kind of creepy. Maybe there is just something inherently abusive about profiting off your child. They're too young to understand what's really going on, and it gives these shows a weird vibe where you're wondering what's going on in the background.
Then there is something like this masterpiece of television that goes 'Yeah we're dumping a bunch of children in the wilderness on their own, what of it?' No seriously, its a TV show where they dumped 40 children into a Western ghost town, filmed it, and then broadcast it. Its fascinating, its riveting, and you can feel your brain slam against your skull screaming 'What the FUCK?! Who approved this? Who would pay money to abandon children in the wilderness for a month?"
Its a desert with nothing for miles. There are rattlesnakes, coyotes and scorpions out there. The only food and supplies are in the style of the 1800s and cooked by other children. There is one toilet and almost no water. Its hot with the sun overhead, so heatstroke is a constant threat, and its bitterly cold at night. The only adults around are the producers, cameramen and maybe a medic team. Kids are burning themselves trying to cook or accidentally drinking bleach. And somehow CBS signed off on this.
Then again maybe I'm mentally adjusted enough that finding a crying child and asking to film them is weird to me.
