Fox Shelves "Our Little Genius"

[alp227]

Marisa Guthrie, Broadcasting & Cable

Fox has shelved new competition series Our Little Genius after child welfare experts raised concerns over the show's premise of putting children through the wringer to win a cash prize.

In a statement released Thursday, Jan. 7, Mark Burnett, the show's executive producer said: "I recently discovered that there was an issue with how some information was relayed to contestants during the pre-production of Our Little Genius. As a result, I am not comfortable delivering the episodes without re-shooting them. I believe my series must always be beyond reproach, so I have requested that Fox not air these episodes."

The show has children 6-12 vying for cash prizes in excess of $500,000 if they successfully exhibit encyclopedic knowledge of subjects they select. Questions increase in difficulty over ten levels. Their parents appear with them in front of the show's studio audience and ultimately decide whether their child quits and keeps the money accrued or advances to the next question and a bigger payday. If the child delivers an incorrect answer, they lose accrued cash down to $10,000.

In a simultaneously released statement, Fox expressed support for Burnett, the prolific producer behind successful reality franchises including The Amazing Race and The Apprentice.

Read more: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/443114-Fox_Shelves_My_Little_Genius_.php

[FSogol]

1. Man, why didn't they have this when I was little? I would have chosen either Marvel comics

or the peanuts comic strip.

[alp227]

2. I agree. Good concept, bad production

That's what derailed the show I suppose.

Child exploitation in reality TV is nothing new. In 2007, CBS's Kid Nation was quite controversial. Its idea was basically re-enacting Lord of the Flies.

[lazarus]

3. article is wrong

Bertram von Munster did The Amazing Race. Burnett does Survivor.

[Jkid]

4. That's just great.

FOX promotes a show, then pulls it when something goes wrong. I bet they will not tell the viewers about it when they think they'll start watching the show and instead get another repeat.

[Tunkamerica]

6. actually they are extending american idol to 90 minutes that night

no repeats

[Onceuponalife]

5. I'm not surprised by this.

I think the producers just saw "Magnolia" and said "What were we thinking?" Yeah, they didn't want any little kids pissing their pants from stress.

But Kid Nation was nothing at all like Lord of the Flies. The kids weren't left to their own devices. There was much more control and meddling from the producers than may have been evident to the casual viewer.

[shadowknows69]

7. k

[shadowknows69]

8. k