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Archive through July 28, 2004

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2004-2: Amish in the City: ARCHIVES: Archive through July 28, 2004 users admin

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Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 5:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
}NY Post
July 21, 2004 -- FIVE people who've never even watched TV seem destined to become television's next reality stars.
In "Amish in the City," a new reality show debuting next week on UPN, five Amish youngsters are plucked from their rural homes and put up in a glitzy Hollywood hills mansion.

They share the mansion with six city kids in very close quarters. Then sit back and watch the fireworks as the two cultures meet.

UPN shot the series in secret — announcing its existence only after taping had already ended and the Amish kids had been sent home.

On arriving at LAX airport, one Amish youngster admits that he has never been on an escalator before as he gingerly steps on. "I'm freaked out!" he exclaims.

Another city kid marvels when one of his new roommates admits she had no idea what an avacado is.

The Amish kids are going through a religious rite of passage called "rumspringa" in which Amish teens leave their homes to explore the outside world — before deciding if they want to return to the Amish lifestyle.

"The Amish don't see the inherent value of being on a TV show," says Daniel Laikind, one of the show's co-producers. "For them, getting the chance to live in the big city, to make a decision in their life . . . was a big part of being on the show."

The Amish, a strict Mennonite sect that first settled in Pennsylvania in the late 17th century, reject nearly all things modern. They refuse to use electricity in their homes or gas-powered engines — using horse-drawn buggies to travel.

The show was kept under tight wraps because some Amish leaders expressed concern that it might exploit their brethren.

The show has generated a lot of buzz among TV insiders who predict its unusual premise will turn the Amish kids into overnight — if unlikely — celebrities.

The people who are really surprised are the worldly teens, who only know they are going to be in a "Big Brother"-type show. They were not told they would be shacking up with a group of Amish youngsters.

"Absolutely not! Absolutely not!" says Nick, a 21-year-old busboy from Boston upon first seeing his new Amish housemates.

Reese, a city kid from Mississippi, is more succinct: "They are going to change [their clothes] before they go out with me in Hollywood," he says.

In one episode, the Amish kids and their real-world roommates switch clothes — to see how the other half lives — for a trip to a go-cart park.

In another, the Amish youngsters hit the California beaches for the first time.

Miriam, one of the Amish participants (she's 21), says she's using this experience to see if she wants to be a part of the world outside her Amish community.

"I don't want to be a part of the Amish community just yet," she says. "I want to see other things. It'll be an experience of a lifetime."

"We didn't want to bring in a bunch of people who would just be pleasant, cordial and unchallenged," said series co-producer Jon Kroll. "There are lots of different points-of-view here and lots of interesting discussions."

Okay, who else, thinks this is going to be hysterically funny?????

Kady
Member

07-30-2000

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 10:34 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'll give it a shot. If anyone finds out a day and time, let me know. Please don't let it be Tuesday, I have enough stuff to watch on that day.

Ginger1218
Member

08-31-2001

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 10:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think it starts next week, I am not sure what day. But I think this is going to be very very funny.

Kady
Member

07-30-2000

Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 11:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
TWO-HOUR PREMIERE EPISODE
Wednesday, July 28, 8PM ET/PT

Thank goodness, it is on Wednesday!!!

UPN

Willwillbee
Member

09-20-2001

Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 1:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I saw a documentary about Amish teenagers being encouraged to explore the outside world before committing to their church and lifestyle. I was extremely impressed with the Amish for doing this. They don't want anyone in their community that is not fully committed to this way of life. Some of the teens went off the deep end into drugs, sex, all the worst aspects of the outside world - just as many teenagers do. Few remained in the outside world.
Unfortunately, being involved in the world was an all or nothing experience. If they chose to be in the outside world they lost the emotional support of their family and friends.

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 6:23 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I wonder if there's anybody from "the outside" that went "inside"?

Realfan
Member

08-08-2001

Monday, July 26, 2004 - 3:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good question. Probably very few. They have a problem with inbreeding causing mental retardation, because they are such a small population. I visited the Amish country a few years back and was fascinated by their culture. (Straight pins and buttons used to fasten clothes together. Plus, zippers bad, yet velcro good! Hooking up to the government electrical grid is bad, but home-owned and run generators are good!) This show could be interesting.

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 1:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I live in an area that has a large Amish population (in fact, this region is known as "Amish Country" in my state). There are some aspects of their culture that I admire, others I do not. And it's tricky making generalizations about them because while many do use some modern conveniences, others shun anything that isn't traditional. Their practices are no stranger than mainstream America's - just different.

I hope this series doesn't mock them or their way of life.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 2:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I so agree Calamity, and I was thinking the same thing, but didnt know how to phrase it (well actually I thought I had posted...) I went to school and became really really good friends with twins who were Mennonite, and their dad owned a used car dealership, and of course they drove... that really confused me because my grandparents owned a farm and sold stuff to a Mennonite group... I learned that each sect has differnces, much like each Baptist Church also has differences. I wonder if it goes back to that quote "never assume"...

Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 7:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
According to locals, two of the girls were recruited from Holmes County, OH (which is the next county west of me).

The community is not happy with this show. According to news reports, producers from the show told the community that they weren't recruiting and they would not shoot footage that would be used on the show. Alledgedly they lied. How the local people know this without seeing the show, I'm not sure.

I'll check it out to see how it is being presented.




Tishala
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 8:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
HA! I remember that documentary about kids who explore life away from the community. It was fascinating how quickly they acted like the "English"[what they call non-Amish].

Back in Philadelphia we used to see those teens sometimes cause Philadelphia is relatively close to Lancaster. The best was that a while ago--maybe 15 years ago?--some Amish kids got busted for their involvement in methamphetamine trafficking with Hell's Angels, which inspired the Philadelphia Daily News to its all-time best headline: "HORSE AND DRUGGIES"

Calamity
Member

10-18-2001

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 11:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
They were repeatedly hyping a late night news story on this show while I was watching TAR last night so I left the channel on. (Quick aside, I can't believe how tacky this station's news broadcasts have become! I missed Jon Stewart for this mess?!) One of the Amish participants is from here so I expect this will cause much local indignation and gossip. Small towns love to gossip!

Not that I expected to be but I wasn't impressed by the clips they featured from the show.

Reader: It is interesting to see how differently people in your own area live. I remember visiting a classmate's (she wasn't Amish) house after school. No tv, no magazines, no radio...but a traveling salesman stopped by (I had only heard of door-to-door salesmen, didn't know they were still around - it was like meeting a knight on his steed or something, lol) and everyone gathered in the living room to see his presentation. That was an entertaining diversion for them.

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 11:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Half: My guess? That they learned about it through one of the English liasons in the community.

I always loved the idea of a chance to sow your oats before making an adult commitment to your life. I want to watch, but I wonder how much hurt they are going to cause these innocents in the name of good television.

Realfan: do you have any stats on your "mental retardation" claim? They aren't that small of a community to require what you term as "in-breeding."

Tk4x5
Member

07-10-2004

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 5:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Is anyone else watching this ... don't know what I think so far.

Jan
Member

08-01-2000

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 5:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I would like to Tk but it conflicts with both Canadian Idol and next action star :-(

Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 5:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm watching closely, Tk.

I keep flipping from being ticked off to enjoying the endearing moments.

The optimist in me predicts a warm and fuzzy ending to this nine weeks.


Tk4x5
Member

07-10-2004

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 5:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Me too Halfunit ... at least I'm hoping ... though I think this "fight" between Reese and Kavon seemed a bit staged.

The HG's really seemed to loosen up once the Amish kids were in clothing that was a bit more what they along the lines of what they are used too.

The vegan girl, Arial calling milk "cow pus" was a bit, uhm, much. Oh, it's back on.

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 6:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm watching - I think I read where at least one of the Amish opts not to return to the Amish life... When are the Amish girls going to cook? (lol wonder what they think of the guys pitching in - well not all of them anyway!!) They really seem to be taking the vacation to heart!! Its really kinda sweet.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 6:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You know, I'm really not sure what the point of this show is.

A couple of years ago, there was a critically-acclaimed documentary made about the Amish. Apparently, when kids turn a certain age, they are allowed to leave home and live as we do. Many of them do end up living in cities. They also get heavily into drugs and party a great deal.

After a certain amount of time, they must decide to either come back to the Amish community or never return. Every Amish person goes through this rite of passage. (Most return to the community.)

The idea (or should I say gimmick) of taking an Amish person and putting them in a city seems so exploitive and such a lie.

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 6:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This show is awesome. Very moving. Makes BigBrother look like BigBrother(not a compliment).

Tk4x5
Member

07-10-2004

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 6:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Scorpiomoon they explained right away that all Amish when they reach a certain age go through "rumspringa" but most do it much closer to their hom communities.

So far, I haven't seen anything really exploitive (IMO) about the show. They haven't done anything shocking or over the top.

The vegan girl has seems more stange to me than the Amish kids, maybe because of the way she expresses her dislike of all animal products (eggs=chicken abortions, milk=cow pus) and she said that she thought cow's were from outerspace (seriously ... not beamed from outerspace, but their DNA.)

So far I've found it really interesting and am learning things about everyone that I had no idea of before.



Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 6:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I am enjoying seeing different types of lifestyles learn about one another. Especially types of these extremes.

On a personal note, I am surrounded by Amish and Mennonite communities and it is interesting to me to see reactions of others to what I consider "everyday interaction".

I am already a huge fan of Mose :-).


Halfunit
Member

09-02-2001

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 6:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
PS - to give you an idea of how close I am, Miriam is from a town that is 24.1 miles from where I live. :-)

I expect this show to get more mean and then, I hope, friendships will develop. It reminds me of The Real World, somewhat.


Tk4x5
Member

07-10-2004

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 6:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Halfunit ... I was transfixed during this program. There is an Amish community near where I grew up but that was many, many years ago.

I'm liking Mose too, but then again, I think I like most everyone on the show so far. I'm sure there will be some huge "spats" I think for the most part this really seems like an accepting group of people.

It reminds me of the earlier seasons of Real World.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 - 7:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Tk4x5: Thanks for the explanation. I appreciate it.

I never realized (because I didn't read closely) this show is on UPN. I'm going to have to watch it with you guys next week.