Amish Mafia
| Amish Mafia | |
|---|---|
|
John, Alvin, Lebanon Levi, and Jolin (L-R) | |
| Genre | Reality[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 35 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Hot Snakes Media |
| Release | |
| Original network | Discovery Channel |
| Picture format |
480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original release | December 12, 2012 – March 31, 2015 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
| Production website | |
Amish Mafia is an American reality television[1] series that debuted on December 12, 2012, on the Discovery Channel. The series follows "Lebanon Levi", along with three of his assistants, who are purported to be a "mafia" in an Amish community. Although portrayed by Discovery Channel as documentary reality television, the authenticity of the series has been questioned by scholars, local newspapers and law-enforcement. There have also been accusations of the series being bigoted toward and defaming the Amish people.
Storyline
The series follows members of the "Amish Mafia" in their efforts to keep the peace within the Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and protect it from outsiders (usually referred to as the "English"), as they deal with internal struggles for power as to who will lead the Mafia.[2]
Cast
- Lebanon Levi: "Lebanon" is the nickname of Levi King Stoltzfus.[3] Levi is the powerful boss of the Lancaster Amish Aid syndicate, which provides protection and relief to the largest Amish community in America. Having staved off power grabs from fierce rivals, Levi walked away from the "English world" and spurned the cameras from his organization in an attempt to avoid the limelight. Levi has been arrested three times between 2000 and 2007 for drunk driving and drunk and disorderly conduct. He is also a member of the local volunteer fire department.[4] Throughout the series, Levi mentions that he was never officially baptized into the Amish church.[5]
- Alvin: Alvin Stoltzfus Lantz is Levi's "main assistant", who is soft-spoken but has a loud personality. He has an arrest record for drunk and disorderly conduct and fleeing police to avoid arrest where he was put on probation for six months and paid a $500 fine.[6]
- Jolin: Jolin Zimmerman[7] is a loyal member of Levi's crew who is portrayed as a Mennonite, and he can therefore accomplish certain tasks that the crew cannot, due to the restrictions by which Amish people must abide. He has a criminal record for marijuana possession, hit-and-run, and disorderly conduct.[8]
- John: John Freeman Schmucker is Esther's brother and a former member of Levi's group. He is mischievous and the son of the former leader of the alleged Amish mafia. He has a criminal record for five counts of driving under suspension and a misdemeanor hit-and-run since 2008.[9][10]
- Esther: Esther Freeman Schmucker, knows Levi sees her as more than a friend, and she uses this knowledge to lead Levi on, to the benefit of her brother, John. She has an arrest record for two disorderly conducts.[11][12]
- Wayne: Merlin's former enforcer.[13]
- Alan: Alan Beiler is known as "Schwarze Amish" or black Amish.[14]
- Caleb: Caleb is a member Levi's crew and is a from a Brethren community.[15]
- Freeman: Freeman Schmucker is Esther and John's brother and is rumored to be possessed by the devil.[16]
- Crazy Dave: Dave is a member of Levi's crew.[17]
- Big Steve: Steve is an associate of Levi's.[18]
Episodes
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 8 | December 11, 2012 | January 20, 2013 | ||
| Specials | 2 | March 3, 2013 | August 12, 2013 | ||
| 2 | 7 | August 13, 2013 | September 24, 2013 | ||
| Christmas Special | December 10, 2013 | ||||
| 3 | 8 | February 25, 2014 | April 8, 2014 | ||
| 4 | 9 | February 15, 2015 | March 31, 2015 | ||
Season 1 (2012/13)
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "No Peace for the Wicked" | December 11, 2012 | 3.43[19] |
| Note: This episode was a pilot for the series. | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Fire from the Lord" | December 12, 2012 | 3.41[20] |
| Lebanon Levi takes his faithful group of men to locate one of their fellow members for whom they have questions. John tries to host a hut party and it doesn't go as planned. Alvin takes care of a drug problem within their community, and John takes care of the problem of fake Amish goods hurting the local business. Also, Alvin deals with a local taxi driver who had been overcharging Amish people. | ||||
| 3 | 3 | "Devil Comes Calling" | December 19, 2012 | 3.07[21] |
| Levi finds himself in an unusual predicament when a rival mafia boss comes his way. Jolin gets pumped up as he prepares for an upcoming MMA match. | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Book of Levi" | December 26, 2012 | 1.77[22] |
| This episode provides viewers with an in-depth look of what is to come on this season along with the first three episodes. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Fall From Grace" | January 2, 2013 | 3.08[23] |
| Esther releases information that could change who holds the power in the group, and John concocts an illegal buggy race in order to repay his debt. | ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Holy War" | January 9, 2013 | 3.51[24] |
| Levi's crew contemplates leaving Lancaster County after an ongoing feud with Merlin escalates. | ||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Reckoning" | January 16, 2013 | 3.19[25] |
| 8 | 8 | "The Book of Merlin" | January 20, 2013 | 0.93[26] |
2013 specials
| No. in series |
Special No. |
Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | SP1 | "Amish Exorcism" | March 3, 2013 | 2.81[27] |
| The two-hour special shows John and Esther as they partake in an Amish exorcism to clean one of their own. Lebanon Levi works to rebuild his crew while Merlin tries to gain control over the Ohio Amish community. | ||||
| 10 | SP2 | "The Resurrection" | August 12, 2013 | 1.67[28] |
Season 2 (2013)
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Wayward Sons" | August 13, 2013 | 2.54[29] |
| 12 | 2 | "Prodigal Son" | August 20, 2013 | 2.38[30] |
| 13 | 3 | "Paradise" | August 27, 2013 | 2.38[31] |
| 14 | 4 | "Brother's Keeper" | September 3, 2013 | 2.58[32] |
| 15 | 5 | "The Last Supper" | September 10, 2013 | 2.30[33] |
| 16 | 6 | "Sacrificial Lamb" | September 17, 2013 | 2.71[34] |
| 17 | 7 | "Judgment Day" | September 24, 2013 | 2.15[35] |
2013 Christmas special
| No. in series |
Special No. |
Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | SP3 | "A Very Amish Christmas" | December 10, 2013 | 1.47[36] |
Season 3 (2014)
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | "He Has Risen" | February 25, 2014 | 2.27[37] |
| 20 | 2 | "De Rott" | March 4, 2014 | 1.73[38] |
| 21 | 3 | "Deadly Sins" | March 11, 2014 | 2.30[39] |
| 22 | 4 | "Joining the Flock" | March 18, 2014 | 2.06[40] |
| 23 | 5 | "The Bear" | March 25, 2014 | 2.27[41] |
| 24 | 6 | "Doppel Leben" | April 1, 2014 | 2.42[42] |
| 25 | 7 | "Shepherds' End" | April 8, 2014 | 2.45[43] |
| Levi and his crew demand that production end and cease any further participation. Steven Breit, who defended John and recommended that Levi drop out, filed a cease-and-desist order. The episode ended with an on-screen note stating that as of February 26, 2014, production has been halted. | ||||
| 26 | 8 | "End of Days" | April 8, 2014 | 2.31[43] |
| The season finale features unaired footage, background information, and further explanation of the season's sudden end. The majority of those involved refused to participate. The only people willing to talk on camera were a private investigator, Lancaster County Constable Paul Castline, lawyer Steven Breit, and Alan Beiler. | ||||
Season 4 (2015)
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1 | "The Return" | February 10, 2015 | 2.08[44] |
| 28 | 2 | "A Church Divided" | February 17, 2015 | 1.72[45] |
| 29 | 3 | "Love Your Enemies" | February 24, 2015 | 1.44[46] |
| 30 | 4 | "Forbidden Knowledge" | March 3, 2015 | 1.34[47] |
| 31 | 5 | "Merlin's Judas" | March 10, 2015 | 0.86[48] |
| 32 | 6 | "False Prophets" | March 17, 2015 | 1.53[49] |
| 33 | 7 | "Day of Reckoning" | March 24, 2015 | 1.65[50] |
| 34 | 8 | "The End is Near" | March 31, 2015 | 1.65[51] |
| 35 | 9 | "Amish Confidential Post-Show" | March 31, 2015 | 1.65[51] |
Authenticity and criticism
The veracity of the events depicted on the series has been widely questioned, with The New York Times noting that "An early credit warns of 'select re-enactments', and since we're never later told whether we're watching staged scenes, it's fairly safe to assume that everything is staged." Additionally, "A closing credit clarifies that 're-creations are based on eyewitness accounts, testimonials and the legend of the Amish Mafia'."[52] It is not publicly known which scenes are based on accounts and testimonials and which are based on legend.
The series has been strongly criticized by scholars of the Amish. Donald Kraybill, an Elizabethtown College professor and prominent researcher of and author about the Anabaptist lifestyle, commented about Levi allegedly being an unbaptized Amish: "Baptism is essential in the Amish faith: Either you're in or you're out."[53] Also, Kraybill and others observed that genuine Amish people wouldn't appear on camera, as their faith forbids it. Such criticisms include: "To call these shows documentaries is a fraudulent lie," and "[the show] is just sort of an example of the foolishness and stupidity and lies—misrepresentations I should say—that are promoted [about the Amish] in television...These production crews should be ashamed of trying to say that represents Amish life."[54][55]
These views are echoed by Donald[56] Weaver-Zercher, Messiah College Professor and authority on the Amish, who stated that upon initially seeing the trailer for the show, "I thought maybe it was a Saturday Night Live skit on reality television because it was so far fetched".[56] "My sense is this Amish mafia is about as real as the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in The Office." Several sources agreed that the Amish themselves are unlikely to respond about the show's credibility because they value their privacy and usually do not interact with the media.[57][58] Jeffrey Conrad, a former prosecutor in Lancaster County, stated that his office was not aware of an "Amish mafia", and if there were they would have been prosecuted.[53]
Several factual errors have been highlighted by local press: during one episode the narrator states that Lebanon Levi was arrested by the Lancaster County Police, which does not exist. There is a Lancaster City Bureau of Police, but no county-wide force.[53][59] The owners of one store portrayed as paying protection money to Lebanon Levi have denied having any relationship with him.[60] A scene purported to be shot in the "heart" of Amish country – south-central Lancaster County – turned out to have been shot in a riverside park in Columbia on the county's western edge.[53]
The series has been controversial both locally and in national media as a result of its alleged bigoted and inaccurate portrayal of the Amish.[58][61] Churches and Lancaster County residents have banded together in opposing the show.[62] Additionally, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett called for the show's cancellation and said it was "bigoted" and "an affront to all people of faith and all secular people with moral principles".[63]
References
- 1 2 "Shows A-Z – amish mafia on discovery". the Futon Critic. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Discovery Channel Dominates as #1 in All of Television Among Men on Tuesday with "American Chopper Live: The Revenge" and "Amish Mafia" Sneak Peek Premiere". Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Biography – Lebanon Levi". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Who is Lebanon Levi from Amish Mafia? Levi Stoltzfus mug shot photo and criminal record". Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ↑ Sheridan, Patricia (May 4, 2015). "Patricia Sheridan's Breakfast With ... 'Lebanon' Levi Stoltzfus". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
- ↑ "Biography – Alvin". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ Hatmaker, Julia (August 21, 2013). "'Amish Mafia' update: Arrests, professional actors and a trip to Florida". The Patriot-News. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Biography – Jolin". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Biography – John". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Amish Mafia – About the show". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Biography – Esther". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ ""Amish Mafia" episode review: The Reckoning – Chuck Miller". Blog.timesunion.com. January 17, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Wayne". Discovery. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Levi's Former Events Coordinator". Discovery. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ "New Addition to Levi's Team". Discovery. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Freeman". Discovery. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ↑ "New Addition to Levi's Group". Discovery. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Big Steve". Discovery. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
- ↑ "Discovery Channel's "Moonshiners" and "Amish Mafia" Break Viewership Records". Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Storage Wars" Leads Viewers, "Chopper Live" Tops Demos". Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ↑ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Moonshiners," "Amish Mafia" Top Charts for Second Week in a Row". Retrieved December 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Discovery's "Amish Mafia" Event Leads Demos, ESPN Tops Viewers". Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Sugar Bowl Continues ESPN Win Streak". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Amish Mafia," "Moonshiners" Pull Back in Front for Discovery". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
- ↑ "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Amish Mafia," "Moonshiners" Remain on Top for Discovery". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Sunday's Cable Ratings: "Real Housewives of Atlanta" Continues Demo Reign". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara. "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Wins Night, 'The Bible, 'Vikings', 'Shameless', 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Pawn Stars' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (August 13, 2013). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' Wins Night, 'T.I. & Tiny', 'Major Crimes', 'Teen Wolf', 'Longmire', 'Switched at Birth' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (August 14, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Rizzoli & Isles' & 'Amish Mafia' Win Night, 'Pretty Little Liars', 'The Game', 'Dance Moms', 'Covert Affairs' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (August 21, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'Catfish', 'The Game', & 'Amish Mafia' Tie for Top Spot + 'The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man', 'Suits' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (August 28, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Pretty Little Liars' & 'Rizzoli & Isles' Tie for Top Spot + 'The Game', 'Amish Mafia', 'The Legend of Shelby the Swamp Man', 'Suits' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (September 5, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Game' Wins Night, 'Tosh.0', 'Suits', 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'Catfish', 'Face Off' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 11, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Rides to First Place + 'Tosh.0', 'Rizzoli & Isles', World Cup Qualifiers, 'Amish Mafia' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (September 18, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Wins Night, 'Tosh.0', 'Suits', 'Amish Mafia', 'Face Off' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 25, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Wins Night + 'Tosh.0', 'Amish Mafia', 'The Daily Show', 'Brickleberry', 'Ink Master' & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (December 11, 2013). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Sons of Anarchy' Wins Night, 'After Anarchy', 'Moonshiners', 'Awkward', 'Tosh.0' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 26, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Being Mary Jane' Leads Night + 'Teen Mom II', 'Amish Mafia', 'Pretty Little Liars' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 5, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Game' Wins Night, 'Teen Mom 2', 'Justified', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'The Little Couple' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 12, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Teen Mom 2' Wins Night + 'The Game', 'The Haves and the Have Nots', 'Tosh.0', 'Rizzoli & Isles' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 19, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Game' Wins Night, 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Teen Mom 2', 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'Justified', 'Cougar Town' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 26, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Game' Wins Night + 'Teen Mom II', 'The Little Couple', 'Tosh.0', 'Are You the One?' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (April 2, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Teen Mom 2' Wins Night, 'The Game', 'The Little Couple', 'Inside Amy Schumer', 'Cougar Town' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- 1 2 Kondolojy, Amanda (April 9, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Teen Mom 2' Leads Night + 'The Game', Women's NCAA Basketball & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 11, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Haves and the Have Nots' Tops Night + 'Being Mary Jane', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (February 19, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: '19 Kids and Counting' Wins Night, 'Being Mary Jane', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'Cougar Town' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 25, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Being Mary Jane' Tops Night + 'The Haves and the Have Nots', '19 Kids and Counting', 'Pretty Little Liars' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 4, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: College Basketball & 'Being Mary Jane' Win NIght, 'The Haves & The Have Nots', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Rizzoli & Isles' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 11, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Haves and the Have Nots', 'Pretty Little Liars' & 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Top Night". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 18, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Pretty Little Liars', 'The Haves & The Have Nots' & 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Win Night, 'Being Mary Jane', 'Rizzoli & Isles' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 25, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Pretty Little Liars' Tops Night + 'The Haves and the Have Nots', 'If Loving You is Wrong' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
- 1 2 Bibel, Sara (April 1, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: '19 Kids and Counting' Wins Night, 'Real Housewives', 'Justified', 'Finding Carter', 'Cougar Town' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
- ↑ Hale, Mike (December 11, 2012). "The Dirty Work for the Clean". The New York Times.
- 1 2 3 4 "'Amish Mafia': Is it real or fake? Network says it's real; Lancaster Countians doubt it". Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Discovery Channel's next reality series: "Amish Mafia" – News". LancasterOnline.com. January 5, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Experts Dispute Existence of 'Amish Mafia' as Reality Show Debuts". Newsmax.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- 1 2 "Amish Mafia Reality Show Blasted As 'Pure Fiction'". Inquisitr.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ↑ George, David (December 12, 2012). "'Amish Mafia': Is there really such a thing as an Amish thug?". Salon. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
- 1 2 Shank, Michael (November 29, 2012). "'Amish Mafia' is a shameful, unrealistic portrayal of plain people". The Washington Post. Guest Voices. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
- ↑ "'Amish Mafia' sparks more controversy in Central PA". Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ↑ "'Amish Mafia' TV Show: SPOILER Reveals The Truth Behind The Series' Legitimacy, Details". Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ↑ "Joint Statement of Respect Amish" (PDF). Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Harrisburg Patriot". Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Governor Corbett calls for an end to 'Amish Mafia'". Retrieved August 13, 2014.
- General references
- "Amish Mafia on Discovery". TV Guide. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- "Shows A-Z – amish mafia on discovery". the Futon Critic. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- "Amish Mafia: Episode Guide". MSN TV. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
- "Amish Mafia: Episode Guide". Zap2it. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
External links
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.