I agree with David and James -- that "Challenge
of the Child Geniuses" Show was creepy and exploited
the kids. Had they just played the game, it wouldn't
have been as bad. But the introductions with the "I'm
going to a Johns Hopkins Physics Program at Stanford
and I'm a member of MENSA" accomplishments
immediately made me think of JonBenet Ramsey and the idea
that some of those parents push those kids to the
point where they "lose their childhood". I'd guess the
majority had normal, nurturing parents, but that 10-15 or
so had Stefano Capriati/Marv Marinovich-like
parents.
One thing I think about is that, with the exception
of Geography Bee I guess (Spelling Bees aren't
academic), most true Academic Competition at that age is
with teams, and not individual. At that age IMHO I
think it's better to learn to work together than to
engage in cutthroat competition with suspenseful
music...
Finally, I have lost any respect for Dick Clark this past
year. His last two game shows reeked, and my dad told
me that while Alan Freed got busted on payola, Dick
Clark took it too and got away with it.
Sorry
for the rant; that was just the most disturbing thing
I've seen on TV since "Showgirls".
-Adam