Tammi's World

I'll Be Watching...

Got this via email from blogless friend LeeAnn. Hmmm-how'd she know I'd want to see this??

Will plain Amish take a fancy to Los Angeles?
By Gary Levin, USA TODAY LOS ANGELES

Producers of Amish in the City, UPN's latest reality show, defended the show late Tuesday amid controversy that filming a group of sheltered young Amish people interacting with "city kids" Real World-style, in a swank Los Angeles house, would seem exploitative. To calm fears, the show was first screened Tuesday at the semi-annual gathering of TV critics, who seemed unoffended.

"People on the show are already struggling with how they want to live the rest of their lives," says producer Daniel Laikind (also behind the Amish documentary Devil's Playground). He was referring to the period known as rumspringa, or "running wild," in which Amish youth test their devotion to the lifestyle by leaving it. "They expressed interest in spending time in a city to more fully learn about the world." "I came into the show knowing there was going to be a lot of controversy," says Mose, one of the Amish participants, noting some of his "family and best friends were going to disapprove." But "so many people are curious about the Amish way of life. I felt like I could be the person to teach Americans about how the Amish live.

"In the show, premiering July 28 at 8 ET/PT, six city kids share a house with the five Amish, who've never flown on a plane, seen sushi or hot tubs, or practiced yoga. A culture clash ensues, both learn new tasks such as CPR — but no one gets evicted each week. "We're exposing these young adults to something they haven't seen before," says UPN entertainment president Dawn Ostroff.

First and foremost - for those that are new here, my Mother's family is Amish/Mennonite. I know a bit about this religion and the people there in. I'm not just some joe schmoe cracking a line off here.

I may not agree with many things in the Amish religion, but I do have to respect those that choose this as their way of life. It's more than just a Sunday or Saturday deal with them. It's a way of life - a difficult way of life in many ways. They live differently, dress differently, talk differently - they do a lot of things differently and in this day an age of "sameness" that says a lot.

So.....who do these "folks" (remember Tammi, religious post, hold cursing to a minimum) think they are? They are going to put 6 "worldly" kids and 5 Amish in a house together (like Big Brother only no one gets voted off) and watch what happens. OK?!?! The write up sets the stage, in my mind to some pretty strong laughs at the Amish kids expense. Yeah, many haven't flown on planes, most haven't seen hot tubs or sushi - they're AMISH for cryin' out loud.

Not only that, but you do realize that the Amish community will be kinda strapped on responding. They Don't Have Electricity. No T.V.s to watch the show, No computers to surf or post or email. No telephones. Nothing. They can't defend themselves against anything that is incorrect or shown in a light that is biased (and we all know the media can be a bit biased now, don't we). Oh and just so you know - the documentary Devil's Playground - SUCKED. I had my Mom watch it and had to hear about that for a few months. I was living in Sarasota at the time they filmed it, wish I would have known then.

Anyway - I know it will be funny. There are many times in the family that someone will say or do something and we all (all us out of it now) just look at each other and "That's so Amish". But again, we can. We're not being mean - we're being a family.

Let me explain something here. I don't like meanies. You know, those people that make fun of people in a mean way - point out their differences like they are faults, make fun of those that "don't know" instead of helping them to understand. I'm half afraid that this is what this particular show will do.

I'm reserving complete judgment until I see the show. Unfortunatly I'll be in Atlanta (health providing) at some fancy dancy dinner thingy so will have to have a friend tape it.

I realize this has now becoming a burning issue you for all of the folks out there, and I promise to stay on top of it for you! (BTW - I'll work up a post telling you about "rumspringa" in the near future.)

Posted by Tammi at July 22, 2004 02:14 PM