As a gamer who has dabbled in reality TV shows over the years, I can say without a doubt that my experience on Kid Nation was as intense and unpredictable as a high-stakes raid in an MMORPG like World of Warcraft. The parallels between surviving in a virtual world and a desert with 40 other kids are uncanny, especially when it comes to the unexpected challenges and the occasional backstabbing.
Today, reality TV shows continue to captivate audiences, encompassing diverse genres such as survival scenarios like “Survivor” and talent competitions like “America’s Got Talent”. In the past, there was a reality show named “Kid Nation”, which placed immense pressure on a group of children to establish their own society without parental guidance. This series subjected its 40 young participants to intense scrutiny for cameras, and one of the contestants, Daniel Kyri, who currently appears as a regular cast member on NBC’s “Chicago Fire”, has shared his experiences on Vice TV’s “The Dark Side of Reality TV”.
In case you hadn’t seen it in 2007, the show “Kid Nation” was loosely based on “Lord of the Flies 2.0”, where 40 kids aged 8 to 15 were abandoned in the New Mexico desert to fend for themselves. This concept might raise eyebrows for those familiar with William Golding’s novel, “Lord of the Flies”, or its film adaptation, as it didn’t seem to turn out well for the children during production or when broadcasted on CBS.
In a special preview (shown above) for the episode of Dark Side of Reality TV focusing on Kid Nation, which is set to air on September 17 in the 2024 television lineup, Daniel Kyri discusses his moments of contemplation about quitting the competition and returning home. Yet, there’s more to his story as he also opened up to TopMob about this topic.
For me, the 15 minutes of recognition following the show had an immense impact on my life, particularly since it happened in a bustling city like Chicago during its broadcast. The surprising moment when I walked downtown with my Mom at around 14 and a crowd of kids started staring, whispering, and requesting photos was truly eye-opening for me.
Although TikTok and Twitter/X didn’t exist in their current form during 2007, Daniel Kyri still faced the notoriety associated with Kid Nation. Regrettably, it wasn’t just the kids who were criticizing him during his brief stint in the limelight.
Additionally, I must admit that the public’s responses took me aback on numerous occasions. Scrolling through online content related to myself and my fellow participants, I encountered a substantial amount of harsh comments. It’s astonishing, really, since these were mature individuals criticizing youngsters whose actions in the final broadcast version of the show might not have been portrayed perfectly.
The “reality” of certain reality shows being skewed due to edits is seen as a problem by fans and competitors in the genre nowadays, nearly twenty years since Kid Nation‘s thirteen-episode run. In fact, just this year, contestants from Love is Blind started an online petition about the Netflix dating show’s edits and a Survivor 46 competitor called the show out. 2007 was just a different time for reality programming, network television, and backlash.
As Daniel Kyri, I’m grateful that my experience on “Kid Nation” didn’t turn me off television for good. Fast forward to 2018, I became part of the crew on Chicago Fire, and it’s been a rollercoaster ride ever since! Over a hundred episodes later, I’ve had the privilege to extend my presence not only in Chicago Fire but also in Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. Get ready for more action as I suit up again as Darren Ritter with the Season 13 premiere of Chicago Fire on Wednesday, September 25 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
To learn more about Kyri’s adventure as a contestant on Kid Nation and the experiences of other selected kids in the show reminiscent of Lord of the Flies, don’t forget to catch Vice TV on Tuesday, September 17 at 9 p.m. ET for an episode of Dark Side of Reality TV that delves into that disputed series.
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2024-09-16 16:39