Experts On “Suddenly Amish”: Amish Cast Are Likely “Ringers”, Premise Is Nonsense (But…Does That Mean It’s “Bad”?)
“Suddenly Amish” is TLC’s new “reality” show which, we are told, places six outsiders into an Amish community where each “contemplates the possibility of converting into Amish society”.
The first episode premiered several days ago, and has been getting a flurry of media coverage.
As I noted in my post two weeks ago (“What’s the Deal With ‘Suddenly Amish’?”), this is the fish-out-of-water formula again, and will likely be another Amish-themed hit for the network.
Michael Long of Lancaster Online wanted to know how realistic the program actually is, so he tapped the expertise of Dirk Eitzen and Steven Nolt, who shared their thoughts.
Ringers with NDAs?
Dirk Eitzen, film and media studies professor at Franklin & Marshall College, is the author of Fooling With The Amish among other analyses of Amish-themed media.
Eitzen likens the series to the mid-2000s show “Amish in the City”, which he describes as the first combining the Amish with the fish-out-of-water premise.
Only in that case, the Amish were the ones placed into modern-world situations we were meant to believe were awkward and befuddling to them. On “Suddenly Amish”, and its inversion of that formula, he has this to say:
But keep in mind that the whole point of the series is not to teach, in spite of appearing on The Learning Channel [TLC]. Its purpose is to entertain.
If “reality” needs to be massaged or contrived or even totally faked for the purpose of entertainment, so be it. Savvy reality TV viewers know this. So do reality TV participants, even in a show like this one. They are paid to take part in a kind of charade.
This whole business is something very few actual Amish individuals will readily sign on to, much less Amish households and communities.
So one can be pretty confident that, as with “Amish Mafia,” all of the so-called Amish who appear in this show are ringers of one kind or another — no doubt including some people who grew up Amish and never joined or left the church as well as some non-Amish actors masquerading as Amish.
And, by the way, they all signed nondisclosure agreements, to forbid them from telling the truth about what they are doing.
That last bit is good to keep in mind.
The Amish population is…shrinking?
Steven Nolt also added his thoughts, after viewing the trailer. Nolt is Director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, where he is also a professor of history and Anabaptist studies.
He takes on one of the most eyebrow-raising bits of the trailer, the claim of “Bishop Vernon” which basically sets up the premise of the show – that “our population is shrinking, so I will be inviting people in from the outside, in hopes of repopulating the church.”
As to that, Nolt says:
The premise is entirely contrived and unconnected from anything real. To begin with, the Amish population is not shrinking, but is growing rapidly.
The vast majority of children born to Amish parents join the church through baptism in their late teens or early 20s. As a result, Amish church membership doubles every 21 years or so, making it one of the fastest-growing religious groups in the country.
As director of the organization which puts out the only comprehensive annual Amish population estimates (that I’ve ever seen in any case), Nolt is in a good position to know what the Amish population is doing.
So, essentially, the idea the show is based on is nonsense. It makes you wonder who is Bishop Vernon exactly to make that claim (as to that, I’d say check back with Eitzen’s prior comments on “ringers”).
I also got the following comments when I posted about this, from folks claiming this is a man named Vernon Coblentz, who they say is (surprise) not actually Amish, or at least not now. For example: “Ahem Vernon Coblentz no longer Amish” and “he is not Amish in this picture! He is my uncle”.
So take from that what you will. None of this is shocking of course. In most cases, reality TV is not actual reality, something that most of us in the year 2026 are well aware of. It’s a storyline created to deliver the goods, which is often enough the drama, real or manufactured.
Nolt also had this to say on the idea of joining the Amish, and how that works, compared to what the show is presenting us:
It’s true that relatively few people join the Amish church from other backgrounds. But some do. Those who do, don’t experience anything like the “trial period” suggested here, with a focus on mastering certain stereotypical old-fashioned skills.
They join because they accept Amish religious beliefs. Adapting to a community-centered Amish way of life follows, of course, but that’s hardly the starting point nor is there ever anything like a “Survivor”-style physical and emotional contest to weed people out.
Both Eitzen and Nolt have more to say; you can read it all at the link at top.
Even if it’s not realistic…it may not be “bad”
In my write-up two weeks ago, I noted I intentionally didn’t watch the trailer before sharing my initial thoughts. I’ve since seen it, though haven’t watched episode one (yet). I may or may not have more to say once I do that.
I’ll also just repeat what I wrote before – that even if the premise here is contrived, the concept of this show, at least, has the potential for an overall positive message for viewers. Much more so than a show with themes of violence, partying or promiscuous behavior.
Slowing down, examining life, and considering one’s spiritual or religious direction are generally not bad things. If you’d like to watch it yourself and see what you think, you’ll find episode one in full below.
Driver of Old Order Amish
Hello,
That show is way different than the original Amish. I live in a community of Old Order, we respect the way they live and wish we had known how to have become old order. I believe in how they live, how they will make it when the English world crashes. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand! What is shown in some of the shows on TV are not even right or correct. I may watch it but find alot of faults in the displays on TV are so far off, well maybe not for Mennonite Amish, and the NRA Amish, nra you say most Englishers call them Not Real Amish. So what is portrayed is highly inaccurate for what I know and see…
TLC’s only interest is to undermine the Amish. That’s what all of their reality shows have a record of. Undermining the people, communities, families featured in their shows.
Agreed
TLC is certainly not benevolent in any way—their shows seem to chew up real people and spit them out later as washed out “stars” with a totally different life trajectory than what they started the show with. The shows are also exceedingly manufactured and create drama and tension for “entertainment.” We knew a family with a reality show and watched it being filmed a couple times. That network (not TLC) was kinder and more positive, but even then the scenarios were very contrived and some of the family members immediately switched to a different “tv persona.” So, even though they were playing themselves, they were still actors.
The harm I see in a show like this about the Amish is that it perpetuates stereotypes which most people do believe. However, I agree with Erick that it sounds like the show’s premise is at least a bit more respectful.
The Amish definitely don’t help themselves. When I was kid the Amish didn’t use any sort of electricity, not they’re driving e-bikes and have electric light in their homes. There are Amish on TikTok and on the Internet.
These are not the Plain People I grew up with. It’s clearly turning into a grift, especially in Ohio. Tourist-y BS while they shovel sugar down people’s throats.
I watched the beginning on you tube where they have several of the younger people speak about their lives and communities. I have been around the Amish in Lancaster and in Berlin Ohio and I’ve always noticed a very distinct accent when they speak. I’m guessing because English is their second language. These young people did not have one- At least not that I could hear. They just don’t seem Amish to me.
A disservice
These inaccurate and contrived-for-entertainment-for-profit type of shows or movies do the culture a real disservice to any viewer. It could not take that much effort and study to accurately portray, if portrayal is be achieved for educational and interest purposes.
Exactly!
Well stated and I could not agree more. Thank you.
Fetishizing the Amish is so bizzare...
To take the humble lives of such an honorable community and culture to utilize for entertainment purposes is beyond deplorable. To create a false narrative that casts a shadow of doubt, question and possible disdain over other individuals, their beliefs, practices, lives and/or ideologies is truly ugly and not even remotely acceptable from an ethical and moral perspective. This is not entertainment, by any stretch of the imagination. It is a deplorable attempt at fetishizing a people whom likely would not wish to have their respective communities portrayed in such a manner. As someone with a limited understanding of the Amish culture, I do not appreciate being fed misinformation in an effort to “entertain.” Nor, do I feel like the tragedy in which Allen and his family have endured (real or not), is appropriate in the construct of an attempt at “entertainment”. If the devastating occurrence of the death of a child is an actual and lived tragedy, especially one in such recent history, Allen and his family should be shown support and compassion. Their story should not be utilized as an attempt to gain the interest of potential viewers and consumers. Do better TLC.
P.S. If the tragic story of Allen and his family is an actual occurrence, I would like to extend my condolences and respects to Allen and his entire family. If the portrayal of Allen and his family somehow happens to be empirical truth, it is absolutely heartbreaking to witness. Anyone whom is fortunate enough to be in their home or care would be truly blessed. I’ve attempted to verify and validate their story and actual existence, in an effort to convey my admiration. However, the lack of information pertaining to the alleged tragedy and/or family is extremely limited and difficult to find outside of what narrative TLC has created. Which, also lends to the theory of this being intentionally created fiction and merely a distasteful attempt at entertainment.
I understand it is a scripted entertainment show, but.....
I understand this is a scripted entertainment show not a documentary, but it could be handled differently, to make it less ridiculous and a little less insulting to viewers. I do think many people have no idea about Amish culture and still see it as something alien. And I think there is an interest in learning more about how Amish live for a lot of people. I am guessing the cast members portraying the Amish are formerly Amish. I can guess the Amish cast members are directed to keep some things authentic and to fictionalize or exaggerate other things to add drama and conflict. The cast members portraying the English looking to ‘join’ or ‘become’ Amish, I am guessing were cast as any actor would be cast and are being directed to be as difficult, as vulnerable, as ignorant as possible. And maybe the actors portraying the English cast members see this is a steppingstone into the industry. I don’t think the show would be less entertaining if it was created differently, if it was created to be more informative. I think there is enough interest in learning more about the Amish to still make it successful. If it was set up as, ‘the Producers acquired properties, set them up as authentic Amish homes and former Amish were hired to live with and educated English actors to learn about Amish life. If it were explained that Amish communities are as diverse as any other communities in the United States and they are actually not that different from any other Americans. They are not oddities they are not cartoons they just have different customs. Right now, as the show is, it is more fictitious than it is factual. It portrays the Amish as a cartoon and the English as ‘too stupid to live.’ (sorry) My example would be the comment about bats drinking blood from two of the actors portraying the English cast members, I know some people believe that and it should not be encouraged. Bats are an important part of farming. If the two actors cast to portray the English cast members truly believe that false narrative about bats, the facts should have just be explained. I’m just not sure how this kind of shock and awe T.V. isn’t completely insulting to anyone, even entertainment has some responsibility or there would be no need for any specialized consultants in the industry to a help add some authenticity to the television and movie industry. It is what it is I guess, When I watch a fictional a show or movie, I have no trouble completely suspending belief and just being entertained. And if this was simply a Mock-umentary it would be fine. But is it clearly presented as reality T.V. not a Mock-umentary.
Is James seriously mentally disturbed
James gives me the creeps. His behavior is very sociopathic. His character is too outlandish to be believed.
I can’t believe I’m the only one who feels like this.
How about all those birth defects in the community from the decades of inbreeding, when you have a community of 40, 50 THOUSAND, and they all relate back to the same 80 ancestors, that’s a problem, and why they have such a high rate of birth defects. They are in desperate need of genetic diversity.
Well Directed And Produced
Well Directed And Produced. Suddenly Amish is well made. It’s entertaining and the characters are likeable. I hope that this show comes back next year.
Suddenly Amish
I did watch this movie and felt it had some fairly good points and some really “not nowaday amish” points taken. I was in Florida when I had the opportunity to watch it and you wouldn’t believe it, I see James Miller at the ice cream shop and we talked. The next morning he came to our house and we had coffee and conversation. Talk about a surprise meeting… an