BEVERLY HILLS, California (AP)

'Kid Nation,' a CBS reality TV series that gives 40 children free rein in an uninhabited town, protected the youngsters physically and emotionally during filming, the show's producer said.

The series, in which youngsters age 8 to 15 spend more than a month without parents and with responsibility for their daily lives, is scheduled to premiere September 19.

At a Television Critics Association panel on Wednesday, executive producer Tom Forman was peppered with questions about how the children's well-being was safeguarded, and whether viewers would be interested in a show about kids in power.

The audience will discover they are watching "incredible people ... They're young, but wise beyond their years, doing things you never could imagine," Forman said. There was no sex or drugs, he said in response to a later question.

As for the effect on the children, Forman said that "almost to a one" they consider it a highlight of their lives.

"I exchange emails with every one of these kids and they're doing just great," he said.

Asked if he set the show in New Mexico because a loophole in its labour laws made the production possible, Forman said that was incorrect.

The state was picked because it had "the right location," Forman said. The uninhabited town, Bonanza City, is about 20 minutes outside of Santa Fe.

CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler told reporters the network expected the show to create a buzz.