Jimmy Flynn got out of Bonanza City, N.M., while the getting was good at the close of CBS’ “Kid Nation” on Wednesday night.
The 8-year-old Salem, N.H., resident bowed out of the controversial reality TV show after four days in the desolate ghost town. He was the youngest of 40 kids placed in front of cameras to build a community with little more than a few goats, chickens and canned rations.
“I think it brought back funny and good memories because I miss all the people,” Jimmy said yesterday about watching the first episode, which drew about 9.1 million viewers and finished second in its time slot to NBC’s “Deal or No Deal.”
Since the show aired, the Walter Haigh School fourth-grader said he has received marriage proposals from a few female classmates and has encountered jealousy from some friends.
The Granite Stater said his only regret was leaving before he could earn a gold star.
On the program, “town council” members, four peers, award a gold star worth $20,000 to the community member they feel has made the most effort in helping the town.
“If I had known about the gold star, I would have stayed a lot longer because I wanted to win that much money. After the (team) challenge, everyone understood why I wanted to go home because it was brutal,” he said.
Brenda Flynn, Jimmy’s mom, said she and her husband, Jim, a manager with Pelham Plastics, were unaware of any monetary prizes when they signed Jimmy up for the show.
“As far as I knew, he was going on a big adventure. It sounded like he was going to a summer camp. I didn’t know until much later that there was a gold star,” said Brenda, who works at Salem High School.
Until the “Kid Nation” trip last spring, Jimmy hadn’t spent more than a day away from his parents.
“I think he is kind of missing what sounds like some real fun, but you know, he is young. I’m glad he came home. We were missing him,” Brenda said.
CBS President Leslie Moonves, in Boston yesterday to speak to a business luncheon, said he was pleased with the show’s ratings. “It wasn’t a blockbuster, but it did well,” he said.
He defended the show against criticism from some child welfare advocates. “The controversy was unfounded,” Moonves said. “There was more attention paid to those kids than at any summer camp in America.”
– [email protected]