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Episode Recap: "Viva la Revolucion!"
It’s about time the kids of Bonanza City got the chance to change the leadership of this city. We’ve been clamoring for this for weeks now. I have to admit that I was disappointed that each group only got to vote for their own leader. It makes sense in a way, but it would have been nice to see how the vote went if everyone voted for one person per team color. Bad for TV, good for Bonanza. At the same time, though, the elections went pretty well overall.
For Green, Laurel has been a good leader and the team was probably correct in leaving her in power. The only thing wrong with her this entire time was the lip thing. But nasty lips never prevented anyone from getting elected (or so I have to assume).
The Blue team reelected Anjay. He’s been decent as a leader but he needs to grow a thicker skin. Personally, I’m excited that Olivia didn’t get elected. Not only is she a pain in the rear but that face scares the daylights out of me. She was really on Anjay’s butt about a lot of things, and it really has affected the way he acts. I know he’s only a kid, but he needs to grow a pair. And Olivia needs a muzzle.
It seems a lot of you thought Mike should remain the leader, and I don’t really agree with that. I disliked the way he kept telling everyone to shut up. The kid just seemed a little too full of himself. I didn’t expect that he would only get one vote, though. Guylan made a good speech but really hadn’t got enough air time yet for me to seriously think he had a chance. Actually, I’m not even sure I knew he was a boy up until this point. Guylan certainly sounds kind of masculine, but I can’t be the only one that wondered that at some point. With all the crazy names going around these days, who knows? I mean, Apple Martin?
And then of course there’s the ousting of Taylor! Hooray! I have to admit, that after realizing that all the girls might vote for Taylor, I was kind of worried that Zach had no shot. But they showed that little confessional-type thing for one of the girls on Yellow at the end where she mentioned it was time for Taylor to move on. I’m impressed that being lazy didn’t trump being productive yet again. Zach made quite a speech. That kid has a future as some kind of public speaker. We’ll have to see if he can be a leader though. The magic 8-ball says, “All signs point to yes” for this one, but I have a slight bit of doubt. His statement at the end about making everyone’s idea a reality seems nice right now, but I just wonder if he’ll try to incorporate so many ideas that he’ll forget that he needs to reject bad ones as a leader. Still, it’s got to be better than Taylor.
My biggest question about all of this is: Do the kids on the council make any money? I mean, Laurel has no chance of winning a gold star and Zach just had his last chance to win one unless he gets voted out at some point. Maybe some of these kids are in it because they truly want to be leaders and make the town better, but then maybe kids like Greg didn’t run because they realized they couldn’t win $20,000 anymore. I wonder if during the final episode they’ll announce that for every section of time they were on the council they'd earned a certain amount of money. I don’t think I missed them saying this at some point, but if they did, please let me know.
The challenge tonight was pretty cool, too. Break open the piñatas and grab the presidential cards and put them in order from when they were president. I’m shocked the yellow team won this one, since they were the youngest kids and I figured they would have the hardest time putting the presidents in order. Then again, I have no idea when they teach kids the presidents these days. I’m also shocked the blue team had so many kids that just couldn’t crack open the piñatas. They did seem to have some bad luck in that the ones they did get open didn’t have any cards, but I would have thought the little girls on the yellow team would have had the biggest problems with that, too. It’s fitting, though, that Little Miss Prissy gets ousted from office and gets to finally be in the upper-class on the same day.
The one thing about this episode that really made my jaw drop is that these kids didn’t have toothbrushes or toothpaste. That might be even worse than giving them shot glasses. You’re telling me this entire time they haven’t brushed their teeth? So not only are their teeth rotting but their breath smells like the inside of a fake leg? How did Miss Diva deal with this one for so long?
And what, they don’t even bother asking if anyone wants to go home now?
Until next week, friends.
Don’t forget to head on over to our Online Video Guide for clips of Kid Nation .
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Oct 17, 2007 9:57 PM
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Thanks for getting the recap up so quickly. Here in OK we had only the first few minutes of the show and just as the challenge was being explained, we went to wall to wall weather coverage for hours. :sigh:
I am really sorry that I missed the elections!!
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Oct 17, 2007 10:48 PM
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Dave, great recap! I'm still laughing as I'm writing this!
Laurel's lips were looking much better this week. Maybe she's drinking a lot more water. Do they even have drinking water? I wonder when they will have another reelection. If Laurel keeps up the good leadership I don't think the green team will ever vote her out.
I totally agree with you about Anjay and Olivia. I'm so glad she didn't get elected. Olivia reminds me of a bully. It seems like she says those things to Anjay because she knows it will rattle him.
I'm not surprised Mike wasn't reelected. He doesn't have that down to earth personality that Laurel and Zach have.
I'm glad Taylor got voted out. She was getting on my last nerve. It doesn't seem like her attitude gets any better next week. I don't see her lasting too long though. She'll probably end up going home.
I too was shocked when one of the prizes was toothpaste and toothbrushes. They should have thrown in chapstick too. So what is the prize going to be next week? Shampoo! Speaking of shampoo, do these kids even take a shower? I know they have outhouses but I don't see any showers. And how do they wash their clothes? I felt bad for Anjay when one of the kids threw food at him and got his sweatshirt all dirty.
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Oct 18, 2007 1:16 AM
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Zach: "The reign of Taylor... is over"
Best.
Line.
Ever.
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Oct 18, 2007 3:09 AM
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I'm wondering if any of these kids' parents had any idea of what they were subjecting them to prior to them going in. In otherwords, are the parents seeing some of the things for the first time as they air? Because I can't imagine any parent agreeing to let their kid go this long without toothpaste. And a few weeks ago, there was the kid who was playing with the bull that looked like it was going to charge him.
Some of this seems a little over the top for a parent to have agreed to in advance.
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Oct 18, 2007 6:44 AM
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Great editing on this episode! I really thought that Zach had no chance of winning over Taylor until the voting started and even then it was a nailbiter. Until Zach won, I was thinking everyone should be able to vote for one person in each district just so he had a chance of ousting the queen bee.
Poor Mike! He must have voted for himself. How sad but then he wasn't cut out for leadership.
I'm surprised the kids didn't bring toothbrushes with them. However, I was told by an assistant in my periodontist's office that toothpaste is not necessary. (Of course, she had lousy breath.) Good point about the showers. Maybe that will be their reward next week.
I really wish they would show more of the council making the reward choice. It sounded like it was deadlocked 2-2 when they showed them conferring and then TAYLOR, who wanted the dental stuff, announces that's what they're taking. Did they let the leader's take a quick vote that they didn't show us?
I was glad that Sophia and Michael didn't run against Laurel. I think Michael would have made a good leader but Laurel has done a good job so far. Sophia even admitted she wouldn't be a good leader.
My DVR cut off during the previews so I had no idea Taylor might decide to go home next week. That will be interesting to see but it wouldn't be a surprise since she is no longer in charge.
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Oct 18, 2007 7:58 AM
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I was happy with the town elections. I agree with David's comments regarding Anjay and Olivia. Mike was a lousy leader. I'm glad Taylor's been replaced, but I think there are going to be problems for the Yellow team since all the little girls were taught it was okay to be lazy. I think Zach's gonna have a hard time motivating them, but not paying them is a good item.
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Oct 18, 2007 9:39 AM
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David, this was one of the best blogs you've ever written. Really funny but covered all the info needed for those that missed the episode. Great job.
I too was disappointed that the kids could only vote within their district. I was sure that all those girls who were allowed to be lazy with Taylor were going to keep her in power. Zach could have a tough time ahead of him, but I think he's up to the challenge.
I was also pleased to see Mike ousted. He grated on me every single episode. Not sure what kind of job Guylen is going to do , but I do think he'll work with people better.
Who knew sweet faced [if somewhat frightening ![]<img border=](http://community.tvguide.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif) ">] little Olivia was such a witch? I guess I can understand if she feels Anjay is a weak leader, but her animosity seemed really out of sinc with just weak leadership. I can't believe the council went along with her request to give her sister a gold star for her birthday. Surely Olivia has been behaving like this before now.
So glad that Greg was finally awarded the star. And there was Mike immediately arguing against it again, thankfully he was overruled. Greg may have a temper, but he is a good, hard working kid. How sweet was he with the little spoiled girl on Taylor's team when she was crying because they tore her poster? I also saw him pick up a yellow team member [maybe the ame kid] after they won the reward.
Speaking of the poster, that was fabulous  . I know the kid shouldn't have hurt her poster, but the sentiment was right on. Having Taylor in power damaged everyone in the town, not just yellow team so I thought it was proper that there should be campaigning against her by everyone.
I must say though that much of last night seemed scripted. The speeches seemed a little off. The conversation that really nailed it down for me though was the conversation between Olivia and Greg when she was trying to get his vote. There were some other instances too but can't think of them now. Just didn't seem quite as natural as it should have.
Overall though very entertaining and satisfying episode. Of course I'm talking about the end of the reign of Taylor! Go Zach! 
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Oct 18, 2007 10:41 AM
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Excellent recap, David... you had me in stitches, as usual! 
A few comments:
- Laurel's lip: I would say that being pretty fair and having sensitive skin is the bane of most redheads (including myself). I did a "walk" this weekend and forgot the balm... within 2 hrs my lips were already cracked. Please, give the girl some carmex!
- Olivia: Gosh, she scares me, too. She looks like one half of the scary twins from The Shining... yikes!
- Entire town voting for each council member: I think they should have been able to vote that way. If you think about it... each council member has a say in the decision making and the decisions affect each person... therefore, they should all have a say in who is making those decisions...
- Oral Hygiene: They may not have had toothbrushes, but they were using baking soda (and I'm guessing their fingers for a brush).... so at least they had something.
Lastly... David.... just how many insides of how many fake legs have you been sniffing over the years to come up with that comparison???? Ewww...
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Oct 18, 2007 10:48 AM
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Umm am I the only one who saw them brushing their teeth with baking soda? You can't think that back in the day they had Crest neatly packaged in a tube for pioneers. They used baking soda and their finger or some other implement. I could see where using baking soda and your finger with braces wouldn't work so hot but their teeth and breath were just fine.
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Oct 18, 2007 10:54 AM
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Great recap! I always feel sorry for Laurel and her lip situation. I mean really. I agree with Daesey, carmex wouldn't be a bad idea.
Olivia really bugs me. I don't see why she feels that Anjay was doing such a bad job.
I'm glad Mike is out. You can't be a good leader holding a grudge. He only wanted to deny Greg to the star because he didn't like him. He's 15 and that's how teenagers act. Happy and helpful one minute and mad at the world the next. I just hope that Greg continues to help out now that he's won. I felt bad for Mike though. I too thought the only vote he got came from himself. Can't wait for next week.
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Oct 18, 2007 12:17 PM
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This was a great episode! I'm glad the green district decided to keep Laurel. She's one of my favorites.
But I was really surprised at how much Olivia hated Anjay. Did we see any of that before this week? She came off as a brat/bully, citing no real reasons why Anjay made a bad leader. I thought he did a pretty decent job and I'm glad he won.
I wasn't surprised that Mike didn't get any votes. He may be an okay leader, but he's annoying as heck and way too arrogant. The red district just wanted some new blood in office, and I don't blame them.
And thank God Zach won for the yellow district! I was so afraid those girls would all vote for Taylor. At least one of them, Randi I think, is smart enough to know that Taylor on council is not what they need. I was hoping Zach might also get the gold star this week because now he can't get one, but Greg was also a good choice. And one last thing about Zach: I absolutely love his plan for next week about not paying anyone in his district until they've done their assigned job. That's pure genius! And maybe the only way to get those girls motivated!
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Oct 18, 2007 12:20 PM
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About the asking if anyone wants to go home...I think a chunk of the town meeting was cut. When all the kids run in and sit down, Laurel took her jacket off. As soon as the host starts talking (maybe 1&1/2 seconds later) her jacket is on and zipped up.
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Oct 18, 2007 12:30 PM
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Did anyone see the Asian girl's comment about Bush last night? She said something like... "Taylor is stupid for not being able to put the presidents in order, but Bush is stupid too.." I'm totally paraphrasing, but it was so funny!
I loved their facial expressions and comments when the council didn't choose the cookout... "I'm a man! I need meat!"
Great show!
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Oct 18, 2007 12:46 PM
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OK am I the only one who thought Mike was fine? The first showdown he lead the kids to victory and everyone loved him. Also he often tried to get the kids a little something special. He tried to get the pizza party and he tried to get the barbecue last night. I was not a fan of the way he treated Greg but come on he's a kid. I am very interested to see how Guylan will work out. He thinks leading will be easier than it actually is. "If I was Mike I would have gotten that meat." How exactly did he plan to get the meat? Guylan has also been home schooled all his life. I can not wait to see his negotiation skills put to the test. I do not know how home schooling works and I know kids who are meat with other children who are home schooled but that is nothing like being in a classroom for 6 hours a day with 20 other kids. Laurel is my favorite that kid is awesome. I am so happy that Anjay is still on the council he's a little nerdy but so much better than Olivia. Olivia is one of those people who is annoying just to be annoying and complains about the problem rather than looking for a solution. Best line of the night: "Please don't talk to me about Olivia when I have this in my hand." As for the Yellow I am sooooooooooooooooo happy Taylor is out of there but I do not see her lasting much longer. The producers probably picked her because they knew she would cause trouble and they placed her on the council because they knew if they didn't she wouldn't last long. Can't wait for next week when she threatens to kick Anjay!
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Oct 18, 2007 1:46 PM
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