What’s the Deal With “Suddenly Amish”? 4 Key Questions Before the Premiere
You may have heard there is another Amish-themed TV program releasing soon – “Suddenly Amish” – on TLC. Here’s the show summary:
TLC’s all-new series SUDDENLY AMISH follows six non-Amish individuals on a rare journey as they leave behind their modern “English” lifestyle and step into a deeply traditional Amish community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Seeking a profound change from their present way of modern life, each participant contemplates the possibility of converting into Amish society, as they navigate drastically different routines and a culture defined by faith, discipline, simplicity and community.
It seems TLC has firmly planted itself in the Amish “reality” space – given its prior two hit series, “Breaking Amish” and “Return to Amish”.
And interestingly, “Suddenly Amish” was produced by Hot Snakes Media, the company responsible for those two series.
In fact, Hot Snakes also did “Amish Mafia” (and I guess are now responsible for crazy people out there thinking one actually exists).
I know there are a lot of questions about “Suddenly Amish”. People are wondering how “real” this show is going to be, and just who might be involved in it.
With that in mind, here are my thoughts on four questions on “Suddenly Amish” – or at least what we know of it so far:
1. Can you actually become “suddenly Amish”?
First of all, can you actually become “suddenly Amish”? Well in a nutshell, no. It’s typically at least a year-long process, and there isn’t a standard “playbook” necessarily, since it rarely happens, and the Amish are highly congregational (which means certain things can vary from church to church).
There are lifestyle changes, learning the Pennsylvania Dutch language, adapting to a different mentality – not to mention, and probably most importantly – understanding the spiritual side of things.
Though I do wonder how much they’ll get into that aspect of what it actually takes. I suspect it won’t be covered too deeply, for purposes of playing up “decision drama”, for one.
But the premise, for a show, is a good one (does the “fish out of water” trope ever fail?), and I expect it will be another Amish TV hit.
They are calling it a “reverse Rumspringa” which, from a marketing perspective, I think is brilliant. Public interest in the Amish is steady or increasing, as pressures from technology and the modern economy remain a part of our lives, if not a growing part of our lives.
As we’ve seen with past programs, good or at least likable or at least compelling-in-some-way characters are important to carrying a series as well.
I trust that the non-Amish cast part has been well-chosen, as that is the easier part of this equation (the harder part is finding the Amish families, though maybe not as hard in the current circumstances – more on that below).
If you’re wondering, here are the six non-Amish participants about to become suddenly Amish (via the official site):
- Kendra (33, California) is a former dancer and content creator who is seeking to shed body image issues and find a more purposeful path.
- Judah (22, Missouri), a bougie young rapper with a taste for luxury, Judah craves real belonging beneath all the swagger. But his secret germ-phobia makes the idea of barns, mud, and anything less than spotless a whole new challenge.
- Matt (34, Texas), a newly divorced dad with a rugged yet vulnerable side is looking for a spiritual reset and to rebuild his life on stronger values.
- Aaron (40, Michigan) is a pastor’s son who is dedicated to his principles and drawn to the devotion of Amish life but has a hearing disability that requires modern technology to manage.
- Esmerelda (25, Texas) wants the stability of a traditional family life that she never had growing up but has so deeply intertwined her identity with glamour that she doesn’t know how to separate them.
- And for Billie Jo (44, New York), a lifelong aficionado of Amish culture who already dresses in traditional clothing, the chance to officially join the Amish is a dream come true.
Sounds like a diverse group of people. They talk about spirituality, values, and family life in these descriptions, so maybe (maybe?) that will be emphasized in this show, and less of the over-the-top stuff (maybe).
So you can’t in fact become “suddenly” Amish…but you can “suddenly” print large amounts of money if you have a good idea and execution of a show. I expect they will do just that.
2. How many viewers will now want to become suddenly Amish?
I expect this series could lead to at least a mini-onslaught of seekers wanting to become suddenly Amish. I guess that in part depends how they frame it, and how they couch the challenges of Amish life.
But just by putting the idea of becoming Amish out there to a large TV audience, there are going to be hundreds if not thousands of people who at least entertain the idea, and some of those people will try to make it happen.
As I’ve been on record many times, joining the Amish is possible, but for most people, it’s not feasible or really a great idea. There are a lot of obstacles to it, and people typically don’t know what they’re getting themselves into.
Some are drawn to the superficial aspects of Amish life without a great grasp about why the Amish live that way – or that the Amish are humans and far from perfect – or that the Amish are not a solution to a problem.
So expect some sort of aftermath of “Amish wannabes” in the show’s wake.
3. How “Amish” will their “Amish lives” be?
They chose Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for this series. I’d say Lancaster County Amish living is one of the “easier” ways to live Amish.
Now, I’m not talking about making a living as a Amish person (it’s probably among the harder for that, in terms of having to hustle for your supper).
But in terms of lifestyle, Lancaster County is one of the most progressive – technologically – Amish communities. I lived on an Amish farm for two months in this same community back in 2008, and I return and stay over there regularly (last month).
Back then, I never once felt suddenly Amish, though of course there were things to adjust to – the early morning schedule, lack of light switches, and so on.
At that time, gas mantle lighting and even oil lamps were more common. Now, much more of it is the handy Dewalt battery lights. So, many of the Amish there do have light switches now, they’re just attached to flashlights, and not the wall.
In Lancaster County, the acceptance of tech has only increased since then. Still, there is variation. Might depend on how plain or progressive the Amish families actually are (they are described by the show as “a progressive group of Amish hosts”).
And that makes sense, the people most likely to host and allow filming are going to be the more progressive ones (if they’re even actually Amish…more on that in the next point).
So it’s not like they are setting up with extra-traditional Swartzentruber Amish families (which would be shocking, if they were able to pull that off), but the Lancaster County Old Order Amish are still different enough.
And I’m sure that if need be, it will be easy enough to play up the more old-fashioned ways.
4. Who are the Amish people in the show?
But that also leads me to wonder, who exactly are the Amish people that we’ll be seeing on camera?
As mentioned in our closer look at Amish musical couple Ben & Rose, there is currently a lot of upheaval happening in this community, with several groups within the horse-and-buggy Amish having formed over the past year or two.
To very much oversimplify it (and admittedly, I’m not that on top of it), there are hardliners, more progressive groups, and churches in the “moderate middle”.
But in the more progressive parts, there have been changes to Amish practice that are affecting things like church service – where you attend, or even services held not at members’ homes but in buildings, breaking down the traditional Amish church district model.
That may all be moot, however. Let’s have a look at the participants in the Amish roles.
WB provides us with images and brief descriptions of each of them. I don’t know anything about them, so we’ll first see what the show has to say.
This first gentleman is Bishop Vernon, who they describe as “a strict and respected leader […] determined to grow his community while balancing tradition with his bold and unorthodox approach.” Bishop Vernon also has something of an unorthodox look:
Next we have Allen and Sarah, who as “parents to four adopted children, bring warmth and patience as seasoned mentors.”
Next is James, “a self-proclaimed rebel who is determined to get back into the good graces of his community after being shunned, [who] wrestles with temptation, tradition and redemption.”
For a split-second with James there, I thought I was looking at Harrison Ford from Witness.
Finally, there is Emma, “James’ cousin who recently returned to Amish life, [who] offers support while navigating her own complex relationships and boundaries.”
This period of disruption in Lancaster County may be why it was possible to do this series now, or at least I assume probably made it easier to find willing people.
At the same time, I’m not sure how many of these people are actually horse-and-buggy Amish, or if they are fudging by using people from “higher” non-horse-and-buggy churches, “Amish heritage” people, or even people pretending to be Amish.
In the photos above you’ll notice a number of odd things when it comes to appearance, from the men’s hair to Sarah’s and Emma’s kappa being a non-Lancaster County style. Also, eyebrow-raising details like a “recent return” to Amish life.
So given the track record of their previous shows, I just don’t know…perhaps we’ll even see Lebanon Levi make a guest appearance on this one.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is this will probably be an entertaining show. They know how to make them. I’m not sure how reliably informative it will be about the Amish. But that’s not really the point of these shows, is it.
“Suddenly Amish” debuts on January 13th, so I guess we’ll learn more then. Will it be a successful show? I think so. Will it be a “good” show? That’s of course a different question, and remains to be seen…til then, you can check out the trailer below.
One last point: I realize I’ve been a little snarky in this post, given the past content these folks have put out. But I do think that this series has potential to get viewers thinking about more uplifting and potentially positively life-changing things, so to speak – and by that, this series could do some good.
Full disclosure: I wrote pretty much this entire post before I watched this trailer (that was on purpose).
Update: I Watched Episode One
So, after giving you my pre-watch thoughts in this post, I got around to watching Episode 1. It was…interesting. See what I thought here: 6 Of The Most Ridiculous Things In “Suddenly Amish”.
And if you’d like to view it too, here is the full Episode One (“Transformed”):
If this is successful.....
If this show works, they should follow up with “Suddenly Lutheran” They could do this for all the religions. This is such an insult.
Curious about the Amish pastor/bishop saying their community is dying. Sounds like the opposite of normal for the Amish.
Yes good catch. That one was also eyebrow-raising. There are things going on in the community, but…a challenge here is we don’t really know which church he is the leader of (though I’m sure someone out there knows more).
Fakeness
if you grew up Amish or Mennonite you can spot fake Amish a mile away , maybe even more …. Doesn’t matter what they have on or how they look
Repeat after me....
“It’s only a movie…” I have to remind myself that these programs are meant to entertain, not to educate, if I watch them. I suppose that’s what comes with an affinity for and a pretty good understanding of the Amish theology, lifestyle, and mindset. In other genres, we might call it “editorial license” and be more forgiving of errors and misrepresentations–both positive and negative. It would appear this is less about the Amish and more about the individuals and their search. Even so, it’s only a movie.
Well Stated
Exactly. If it’s not your cup of tea movie on change the channel. We are actually enjoying it and hope it runs many seasons.
Most likely actors
Having tried to join the Amish myself back in the 1980s and being raised Mennonite I was more readily accepted in their communities and even lived in their houses with them. However when I watch the trailer for this upcoming TV show I got the distinct feeling everyone in the show is an actor, and not likely actors of Mennonite or Amish background. If the show was realistic it would be very boring to show people getting up at 4:00 or 5 in the morning to milk cows before eating breakfast. And then going to work all day and eating a sack lunch and coming home and milking the cows again and eating and having a devotional period perhaps and then going to bed, dog tired!
And if the show is really realistic it could show a buggy accident because there are many reports in the BUDGET newspaper of people being killed and seriously injured when their buggies get hit by motor vehicles.
Having never owned a TV, I don’t intend on watching this show but thanks for keeping me up to date on the decadence of the worldly culture, Erik, which will probably focus on sex and violence and love and hate, in between the commercials that promote consumerism!!
Disrespectful
I won’t be watching. It’s clear that this is just yet another TLC attempt to make money off the Amish. The trailer showed that it’ll be filled with Englishers whining, crying, begging, etc. Not adapting. I find this disrespectful! I’m waiting for TLC to capitalize on other faith cultures….not! The Amish seem to be easy prey, unfortunately. Plus, the comment on having to recruit others to join the Amish because their numbers are falling. The Amish do not recruit or even evangelize others to join them!
Fake Amish
Just a comment that in Lancaster (maybe other communities too) there is money to be made if you pretend you’re Amish. As Englisher tourists we’ve experienced those promoting their Amish buggy rides, wares, tours, etc., only to discover they weren’t really Amish after all! Although the flouncy polka-dot skirt one lady wore should have been a clue! I asked one person (dressed Amish) are you really Amish? Her snarky reply was “Did we say we were?!” ♀️
Good luck
Maybe start with going to church every Sunday, reading the Bible daily, dressing conservatively, getting rid of all electronics and planting a garden.
Non-reality TV
In addition to Erik’s comments, I noticed that as one woman on the trailer discussed laundry, she was wringing out a piece of cloth in a basin. Duh – they have washing machines!
Reality?
There’s not a lot of reality in these shows. They are heavily scripted with a bit of truth added in. Don’t forget, everyone involved is most likely on the payroll. Maybe not. But I wouldn’t be surprised.
So fake.. almost all actors in trailer
This is sad, when they are washing clothes in a tub, and splitting wood… who does that anymore? They do split wood but only a very small percentage. I see all are actors plain as day, maybe James was Amish. Emma looks like “lower Amish” in parts of Kentucky or Missouri & Sarah looks very much Ohio and the one girl had the PA cap on top of her head, not on the back like normal. The bishop is acting. And to think people will believe it.
Suddenly Amish: Garbage TV
As a 13 year veteran tour guide to the Amish in Lancaster County, Pa, I have been fortunate to share factual, honest and impartial information with thousands of tourists around the world. Many people finish tours with a greater appreciation and respect for the Amish. A few, a VERY few, have ever seriously concerned becoming Amish themselves. At work, I met a local man who spent many years living with an Amish family, dressing Amish, studying the religion, etc–truly wanting to become Amish. The challenges he faced were eventually too great and he gave up.
The “official tailer” makes it obvious, within seconds, that the “contestants”, with MAYBE one or 2 exceptions, would NEVER, NEVER fit into the Amish community. So, is the show just okay as “entertainment”? NO! All guides have had countless tourist discussing “Amish Mafia” and “Breaking Amish” as real true to life Amish programs. (“Amish Mafia”–at the beginning of each episode declares it to be a DOCUMENTARY!! It is not! I know a couple of the “Amish” actors from the film. I call it docu-garbage!). Now, we will have to correct and clarify so many things from this new piece of garbage. (As if trying to explain already complicated topics such as rumspringa were not challenging enough.).
As you do, Eric, I very often direct people in search of the real facts to the Young Center fro Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at nearly Elizabethtown College and any books, research and articles by its former and present-day leaders: Dr. Donald Kraybill and Steven Nolt.
PS: I can only imagine, Eric, how much you were biting your tongue, and trying to give this show an optimistic, hopeful introduction. My hat’s off to you. Thank you for your contributions to the spread of true knowledge in the Amish World.
Here we go again
After watching the trailer, I’m sure I won’t bother “tuning in”. Looks like a bad MTV “Real World”. Opening shot of the book “Songs of the Ausbund” is not what used at service. The rest was stomach churning crap. The only Amish content will be the blurred images of real Amish caught in a scene shot.
Sad
Exploiting people for fame and financial gain.
Real Amish would not be a part of this.
The Amish in Lancaster are diverse. Many, and I mean many, are assimilating to the English world at a shockingly fast rate.
Speaking with an older Amish person, he did mention that so much has changed and admitted he doesn’t know how much longer the Amish life, as he knew it, will continue with so much changing their communities.
If you are serious about becoming Amish, you wouldn’t be filmed like this. LOL. Come on people. Turn the tv off.
Oh no, not again
Another Amish reality show. Thank you, Eric, for a well-written commentary in advance of the show. When I do presentations about the Amish, I refuse to answer anyone’s question if it starts out with something like “I was watching _____, and saw/heard something interesting that I would like to ask you about.” Watching these show for accurate information about the Amish is like watching shows that claim aliens built the pyramids of Egypt.
No need for drama
Oh my stars! I can’t watch that stuff – If you want to “become Amish,” just become an Amish taxi driver – you get to stay in Amish homes, eat with them at their table, participate with them in their morning devotions, and if you really want to, you can help with the barn and household chores. I’ve done all of those things, and I never want to be Amish.
Quick Question . . .
Hi, Haley . . . Just wanted to ask you, are ALL Amish taxi drivers expected to drive from state-to-state as you did?? Could an Amish taxi driver say, simply pick the Amish up at their homes and drive them to and from town/the cities so they can perform their errands?? Thanks, have a blessed day.
Amish Taxi
I can answer that for you, the Amish pay people to drive them wherever they want to go, the farther the more money the Amish will pay, speaking from first hand experience, the Amish are cheap n expect the driver to accept whatever they propose Also I think it’s ridiculous because if their religion bans them from driving anything with rubber tires, why is it ok to ride in a car with rubber tires…I lived in Delaware n I am very familiar with them, they have alot of contrditons as far as I’m concerned
“Suddenly Amish” . . . (?)
I haven’t watched a show on TLC in years. Is it just me, or does it seem (a bit) like when TLC was doing all of the various shows with the Duggar family?? PS Is TLC still carrying that family’s saga on their network?? I wish I COULD completely give up owning a tv, but I guess old habits die hard, right?? lol. Have a wonderful day everyone! ☮️
Not real Amish
Amish do not allow themselves to be photographed! Especially a bishop!!!
What a joke!
Suddenly Amish
That’s what I always thought too sooooo WTH right
Suddenly Amish
Wether Amish need new blood or not, this show is against everything true Amish believe, if there’s any real true Amish in the first place
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 fictionalized 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.
Suddenly Amish
I love the show suddenly Amish. Their way of living I find very interesting . The characters choosen for the part are perfect. I know the true Amish are more in dept spiritually and living a plain life style but I still enjoy watching the show. Especially James.
Bats flying into house yes it is a sign
Don’t feel bad about removing them from your community we are all here to choose do you follow the 10 commandments and God’s law’s or do you do your own will. When they choose their own will they lead themselves out of God’s protection. And they are free not to choose God’s people. No matter how the wind howls the mountain must not bow. Keep your standards high. Yes listen to the signs from God and be happy that your people are protected by his hand.
Amazing grace/Suddenly Amish S1
Utmost newly acquired educational respect for the local Lancaster Amish Community since viewing this outstanding series 1 of Suddenly Amish. Allen and Sarah taught me personally how profound their acceptance of every individual prospect searching their decision to stay regardless of their past. I pray this series continues with season 2 and the English world can learn compassion as the Amish community lives in a daily life.