I don't get supernanny, personally. Though let me note, I've only seen a couple shows since we don't have a TV. I think that her methods are very manipulative and only work while kids can be manipulated effectively. In some cases only work while kids can be physically overcome (restraining kids in time out). I find no reason to assert my power over my kids. Because when it is all said and done- I can't always be there to force them to make "approved" decisions.
Instead, my goal is to teach them to make smart decisions and use their brain to think ahead to the natural consequences of every decision they make. To understand how people are interrelated and how their seemingly small decisions DO affect other people in their world.
When my kids were babies, people told me that my ideals would create "little monsters". Now that they can see they were wrong- they tell me to "just wait until they are teens", surely then I will see how naive my ideals are. I just disagree I suppose. Sure, we might have a lot more struggles with behavior, but so do people who use punitive discipline. Growing up is just hard. I was super rebellious and really horrid at times... and I promise it was not from a lack of discipline or beatings.
I learned to avoid getting caught. Fear of external consequences teaches you (imo of course) to avoid the external source from knowledge of your actions. That isn't my process with my kids. I want them to be internally motivated and aware of what consequences exist beyond any authority figure so that even when there is no perceived risk of being caught, they can consider what real world consequences they risk with any choice they make (be it positive or negative).
IMO there is a misunderstanding about the people who get themselves on shows like supernanny and whose children behave that way. Like I said, we've never spanked, we don't use time out, removal of privileges, or grounding. Yet my kids are nothing like those children either. Lack of an iron fist does not equate to out of control kids.
I will go on record saying that I think spanking is wrong. I think it is wrong to hit an adult and I think it is wrong to hit a child. I feel most of us are smart enough and resourceful enough to reach the hearts of our children in other ways. I feel as an evolved species we should reach beyond physical enforcement to logic and reasoning. I welcome your disagreement, that is just MY opinion.