CBS' New Shows for the 2007-08 Season

Kid Nation

Premieres: Wednesday, Sept. 19
Airs: Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

The Pitch: Can you think of a better lead-in for "Criminal Minds" than a wholesome show in which a bunch of kids learn all about self-governance?

Forty kids between the ages of 8 and 15 are given 40 days to build a new community -- complete with their own cooking, businesses and government -- in the ghost town of Bonanza City, New Mexico.

What They Got Right: For a show with no track record, no stars and, thus far, very little promotion, "Kid Nation" is sure getting an awful lot of publicity, particularly since nobody has seen more than a few minutes of footage. Some people are firm believers in the maxim that there's no such thing as bad publicity. If that's the case, "Kid Nation" could be huge.

What's Oh, So Wrong: Maybe there is such a thing as bad publicity if you're being picketed by every guild in Hollywood and if pundits who'd never heard of your show two days ago (and still haven't seen a second of it) are accusing you of child abuse.

Recommended If ...: It makes it on the air at all.

'Kid Nation' Photo Gallery

'Kid Nation' Video Clip: 1

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