It's one of the less likely "reality show" titles, but the one that our story title plays off of—the currently running Amish in the City—has enjoyed quite a success in the ratings wars even while serving as a temperature gauge of cultural values. In the upcoming wrap-up show the kids go sailing, but for those of you who aren't already up to speed on this UPN offering, here's some background.

According to tvtome.com, "This reality series chronicles the experience of five Amish people on rumspringa—the time when young people leave the Amish community to experience the outside world —as they live with six city kids in a Hollywood Hills house. 'Real World'-style culture clashes ensue. The show generated a good bit of controversy when UPN announced the project, but some of the rumbling died down after the network previewed the show for critics and appeared true to its word that it treated the Amish kids—three men and two women—with respect."

The series premier on July 29 captured 4.9/8 ratings and made UPN the overall winner in the overnight ratings. The show has its critics, as you might expect. Another online entertainment site, realitytvworld.com, quotes Amish participant Mose as saying that he knew the show would be controversial, "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."

Variety's take: "No Amish were harmed in the making of this show."

And, lastly, here's Gloria Goodale writing in The Christian Science Monitor: "In the first two episodes, numerous scenes offer a sensitive (if also entertaining) look at the anguish of young men and women of conscience as they question their dearest beliefs. Media mavens say this treatment is a sign of better things to come."

It's after returning from rumspringa, assuming they do return, that the Amish are baptized into their way of life, though doing a reality show from a house in the Hollywood Hills with a swimming pool and a bunch of jaded city kids for counterpoint is hardly the standard rumspringa experience. Nor is sailing a boat off the coast of California. However, as we learned from American Sailing Association executive director Charlie Nobles, it's no accident that the wrapup episode of Amish in the City includes a sailing venture. Nobles, it turns out, went to UCLA Film School and knows a lot of people in the industry. When he heard about the series being developed by UPN he made some calls, "did lunch", and sold the producers on sailing, not just for an episode but for the final episode, which comes with extra publicity and a larger budget. "They wanted to take the kids sailing," Nobles said, "but they were shying away from the idea because of all the standard concerns about shooting on the water. I explained how ASA (American Sailing Association, www.American-sailing.com) could take care of all the details. They liked it."

ASA, whose teaching systems are used by more than 270 schools around the country, and which has certified more than 300,000 students, was more than up to the task. And ASA is headquartered in Marina del Rey, a long walk but not so far by car from the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

Nobles and a small group of ASA instructors made the shooting day a day dedicated to safety and basic instruction. "An interesting little day trip on the water," is how Nobles recalls it: "It was rewarding to see how keen the Amish kids were to learn how the boat worked, and that's what we're all about. Our mission at ASA is to get people turned on to sailing, every which way we can.

"I know I'm preaching to the choir," Nobles said, "but sailing is a good thing. I saw a boat once that had a name that said it all. Mental Floss. That's how I feel about sailing."

The American Sailing Association will be featured in the final episode of Amish in the City, scheduled to air on Tuesday, September 21.The UPN (channel 13) airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (PST). More information is online at UPN's Amish in the City.   —M.S.

 

 

 

 

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