The Baby Borrowers

NBC debuted a new reality show tonight called The Baby Borrowers. Five teenage (unmarried) couples attempt to parent a baby for three days. It's horrendously riveting television.

Tonight's episode began by introducing the couples. First there's the stereotypes. The show describes Kelly and Austin as the "preppy Southern couple," Daton and Morgan as the Southern California surfers, and Alicea and Cory as children of teenage parents who want to experience it themselves. Sean and Kelsey are from New Hampshire. Sean's trying to prove to Kelsey they aren't ready for a baby, and Kelsey's trying to prove they are. And then there's Jordan and Sasha, the only normal, loving couple in the bunch.

The couples are brought in mini-vans to a cul-de-sac of new homes, one for each of them. After getting a chance to settle in, the girls must don pregnancy vests for a day that starts with them all getting instruction from a registered nurse. Kelly, the Southern belle, flips out at the weight of the vest, begins crying, and refuses to leave the house. Austin feebly attempts to get her to leave, but, after he fails, goes to the class alone. Kelly spends the day crying in bed.

After returning home, the couples receive boxes of toys, diapers, and a crib, which they must assemble before the babies arrive. In the show's only real tender moment, Jordan understands that Sasha is worn out from wearing the pregnancy vest all day and tells her to lie down while he puts the crib together.

The babies arrive the following morning. The parents express various reasons for participating in the experiment, give the teenagers basic instructions, and then leave. Of course, the show takes precautions. The parents are able to watch the action unfold from a live feed, and trained nannies watch over the teenagers at all times.

Hilarity ensues, assuming you can laugh at ten teenagers in charge of a babies. This week's episode treated us to only 12 hours of real time passage, yet we've already seen one teenage "mother" giving up in frustration (Alicea) and one unexpected surprise: the tables have turned on Kelsey, who feels the baby likes Sean more than her. Next week, one of the teenage parents will have to go to work while one stays at home.

My biggest question left unanswered is what's in this for the participating parents. Why would they let their child be taken for three days by incredibly nervous, angsty teenagers? I only hope the babies are getting college scholarships out of this...