Kid Nation - That's Entertainment

Are the TownsKids literally bored to death? Sophia certainly thinks so and proves the point by conducting another one of her ‘social experiments’ to show just what lengths Kids will go for a little entertainment. Sophia lies down on the dirt in the center of town and waits to see what happens and sure enough, a dozen Kids desperate to try anything new quickly join her. Sophia quips, “This place is so boring, you see what I resorted to?”

Meanwhile, there’s growing unrest in the Red District bunkhouse. DK and Maggie are fed up with what they see as a lack of initiative on the part of their fellow TownsKids. The two Red District members want to do more than survive in Bonanza City—they want to thrive in Bonanza City. Unsure what to do, the duo calls the entire town to action, ringing the town bell and demanding that something be done in the name of progress. “I think we should have a little bit more fun in Bonanza City.”

After reading about the social unrest in 1880’s Bonanza, the Council devises a plan to bring a little fun to Bonanza City—they decide to throw a town talent show. But as they head to the Mess Hall to share their proposal with the TownsKids, the four leaders fret that nothing will satisfy the other Kids. And sure enough, the Council members are met with glassy stares when they first address the Kids, but the mood in the Mess Hall quickly changes when they announce the talent show. The Kids enthusiastically applaud the idea and clamor to sign up for the show.

The Council is relieved that their plan has been received so positively by the TownsKids. Laurel proposes to the other Council members that they award the next Gold Star to the winner of the talent show. The four young leaders consider the importance of arts and entertainment in society and that perhaps they’ve been overlooking Kids that do other forms of work beside physical labor.

After rushing to sign up for the show, the Kids are now faced with the prospect of actually performing in front of the entire town and begin preparations for the big event: Kennedy practices a goofy rap for Guylan, admitting that while she may not have the most fly moves, she’s sure to bring a smile to a couple of people’s faces. Jared rehearses a monologue from “Henry V” for the denizens of the chicken coop and frets that perhaps he’s bitten off more than he can chew since it’s a lot to memorize in one day. Olivia is a bundle of nerves and refuses to practice her standup comedy routine in front of anyone. Meanwhile, Greg and Blaine are anything but nervous as they practice their crazy riff on Romeo and Juliet with a little Rapunzel mixed in.

As part of their duties as the current town Cooks, Savannah and Kennedy prepare a traditional meal from their home state of Kentucky: the delicious dinner of dumplings and corn is met by much approval from the diners that evening. While the meal was intended to be a treat for the other Kids, preparing the food has made Savannah’s thoughts increasingly turn to home. Alex notices Savannah sadly walking alone and talks to her, hoping that his friend won’t grow so homesick that she’ll leave Bonanza City. “Are we gonna win this?”

Even though the Blue District is in the Upper Class, Greg and Blaine firmly believe in continuing to work for the town; the two boys haul water and help out where they can. But this work ethic doesn’t extend to all members of the Blue District, as Natasha and Migle prefer to hang out in their bunkhouse and engage in girl-talk. The older Blue boys decide to teach the two girls a lesson and threaten to throw the Showdown if the girls don’t start pitching in, because as Laborers they’ll be forced to do work.

When the Kids arrive at the Showdown, they discover they’ll be competing to make art out of bubblegum. The Kids will have one hour to race against each other, chewing gumballs of different colors, with the District Leaders placing the gross, chewed-up gum on a color-coded canvas. It’s paint-by-number with gum instead of paint. The sugar-loving Kids of the Yellow District cheer; they assume that their constant candy consumption will give them the upper hand in the contest. But constantly chewing gum is not fun or easy, especially when the gum doesn’t always stick to the canvas.

Soon the Kids are groaning as they forcibly move their jaws up and down.But no amount of chewing can dampen Campbell’s spirits, as he dances and chews his way throughout the competition, cheering on his Green District teammates who rise to the challenge and win the Upper Class. Laurel celebrates, “It took the Green District 23 days. We finally, finally got Upper Class!” Migle worries that Greg and Blaine will in fact throw the Showdown and chews like a champion, helping the Blue District to take the Merchants. The Red District completes their canvas and becomes the town Cooks. But the Yellow District is unable to finish the task at all and the Kids lose the town reward. The Kids watch dejectedly as Jonathan reveals the two prizes they would have had to choose from if they had won the town reward: gallons of paint to transform the town’s gloomy exterior or an all-night block party. The Kids groan as they imagine the fun they could have had if they’d only won.

They head back to town hoping the talent show will bring a little zest back into their lives. “I don’t know what to do.”Most of the Green Kids celebrate their newly won Upper Class status, but Savannah cries in her bunk, wondering how much longer she can battle her mounting homesickness, “I love the people here, but the place overwhelms the people.” Kennedy and others continue to do their best to remind Savannah of all of the good times to be had in Bonanza City.The Kids from the Yellow District are doing anything but celebrating as they buckle down to the nasty work of the Laborer’s class. Taylor is doing laundry, and grumbles about the stinky “boys’ smelly poisoning” that covers the clothes she launders.

While the four Council Members watch on, Markelle emcees an astounding display of talent, oddity and sheer silliness by the Kids of Bonanza City: Kelsey wows the Kids as her nimble fingers fly across the piano. Guylan says it was so good that he thought Chopin had come back from the dead. Campbell lets out a series of ear-piercing shrieks as he does a very convincing imitation of his cockatiel. Eric earns applause as he flexes his musical chops, performing a song he wrote about his home state of New Jersey. Jasmine draws the crowd to a hush as she also sings an original, written by her brother.

And after much hard work and hand-wringing, Jared successfully recites his monologue from “Henry V.” Zach was impressed that Jared was able to memorize all that text, and Jared feels pretty good about his performance, “You know what? I wasn’t the worst.” While Jared stays faithful to the Bard in his speech, Greg and Blaine’s performance of Romeo and Juliet is more interpretive in nature. The two boys bring a heaping of extreme silliness to the show, and the Kids shriek with laughter as both boys appear on stage in dresses. Olivia overcomes her own stage fright while performing a set of stinging standup comedy. The crowd howls as Olivia scoffs, “Greg and Blaine, I could invent three million jokes about them, but look at them: they are the joke!”While Greg and Blaine’s skit and Olivia’s standup comedy sent the rest of the Kids into giggles, it’s Kennedy’s routine that finally gets Savannah smiling. Kennedy takes the stage, donning a feathered mask and hot pink boa, and proceeds to do a rap routine of such complete goofiness that soon all of the Kids are howling with laughter.

And at the end of the evening, Savannah climbs to the stage and announces to the Kids that while she may not have a talent to show off, she’s decided to stick it out in Bonanza City. The crowd couldn’t be happier. After witnessing so much talent, the Council is unsure about whom to award the next Gold Star. Should they give it to Olivia, whose standup comedy left the Kids laughing with tears? Or Kennedy, whose crazy, uninhibited fun helped Savannah decide to stick it out. Both girls are fantastic performers, as well as hard workers. The Council members can’t come to an agreement and wait to make the decision at the Town Hall Meeting.“Gold Star quality!”

The next Town Hall Meeting starts quite pleasantly, as the Kids continue to be pleased by the Council’s decisions. The meeting even provides a little entertainment, when DK asks Laurel to sing for everyone. After a bit of prodding, Laurel proves that the Council members are talented too by singing a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Laurel smiles as the Kids applaud but quickly turns to more serious Council business. It’s time to award the eighth Gold Star. The Council gives the Star to Kennedy.

Kennedy thanks the Kids and the Council for recognizing her, telling everyone, “You don’t have to be one of the cool kids…you can be different.” Jonathan hands Kennedy the key to the Bonanza City phone booth and she leaves the Town Hall with considerable applause from her fellow TownsKids and a smiling Savannah. Kennedy cradles the Gold Star and beams with joy, “This is my precious jewel of my hard work and weirdness…I love it.”

Kennedy calls home to share her Gold Star news. Both Kennedy and her Mom shed tears of happiness upon hearing each other’s voices. Kennedy’s Mom encourages her daughter when she admits that Bonanza living can at times be difficult, telling Kennedy, “You’re the strongest person I know. I am just so proud of you!”Back in town, DK, Michael and Sophia congratulate Kennedy on her success. Half of the Gold Stars have now been won by members of the Green District and there are only five left. Which Districts will they go to?