Gone are the days when networks like the Discovery Channel and
TLC featured programming that allowed viewers to get their dork on. The
channels that used to be a nerd’s favorites are now filled with
programs that focus on finding obscure places to hunt for gold and
building custom guns and motorcycles. While the Discovery Channel’s
newest venture may be entertaining, it in no way fosters the pursuit of
knowledge, Discovery’s original goal. It’s actually opposite, airing
what seems to be a dramatization as a reality show and exploiting a
minority population. The most disappointing aspect of the new show,
“Amish Mafia” is that it’s actually quite entertaining, but would fit in
better on HBO than the Discovery Channel. The network should not
present a show as a true reality series when it’s obvious that it is
scripted.
On December 12, 2012 Discovery aired the first episode of Amish Mafia. It opened with a disclaimer telling viewers that the Amish Church denies the existence of the Amish Mafia and to protect participants and their family members some identifying information has been changed. There aren’t any scenes that have that little ‘Dramatization” disclaimer in the corner, so I’m led to believe that the entire thing is a re-enactment. In fact, as the show goes off there’s another disclaimer that reads, “Recreations are based on eye witness accounts, testimonials, and the legend of the Amish Mafia.” So in other words, what you have just seen is totally fabricated based on stories the producers were told.
On December 12, 2012 Discovery aired the first episode of Amish Mafia. It opened with a disclaimer telling viewers that the Amish Church denies the existence of the Amish Mafia and to protect participants and their family members some identifying information has been changed. There aren’t any scenes that have that little ‘Dramatization” disclaimer in the corner, so I’m led to believe that the entire thing is a re-enactment. In fact, as the show goes off there’s another disclaimer that reads, “Recreations are based on eye witness accounts, testimonials, and the legend of the Amish Mafia.” So in other words, what you have just seen is totally fabricated based on stories the producers were told.
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| Jolin |
It seems as
if the fiasco that followed TLC’s, Discovery’s sister channel,
“Breaking Amish” taught them something. After “Breaking Amish” aired it
came out that much of the show was scripted and faked, but there was no
disclaimer saying so. After catching a lot of flak over the fakery,
Discovery jumped on the sudden fascination with the Amish (there was
also “Amish at the Alter” on the National Geographic Channel and Neve
Campbell starred in the Lifetime Movie “An Amish Murder”) but included
the disclaimer.
Even with the disclaimer, Amish Mafia has been catching heat for not being a reality show. So much so that last week another new episode aired that gave cast members the opportunity to ensure viewers that what they were watching was real. As evidence they produced a local genealogy book that records all Amish births in the area. Sure enough, their names were in there. And that proves, what? That they were born Amish? The show explains that the Mafia members haven’t been baptized into the Amish Church so they can operate outside it’s laws. I’ve never heard of a show that had to air a special to validate itself. But as much as I hate to admit it, I’m entertained by these guys. Just as with some of the haunted house stories we’ve written about, we have to ask if the quality of the story is worth foregoing a basis in reality.
Even with the disclaimer, Amish Mafia has been catching heat for not being a reality show. So much so that last week another new episode aired that gave cast members the opportunity to ensure viewers that what they were watching was real. As evidence they produced a local genealogy book that records all Amish births in the area. Sure enough, their names were in there. And that proves, what? That they were born Amish? The show explains that the Mafia members haven’t been baptized into the Amish Church so they can operate outside it’s laws. I’ve never heard of a show that had to air a special to validate itself. But as much as I hate to admit it, I’m entertained by these guys. Just as with some of the haunted house stories we’ve written about, we have to ask if the quality of the story is worth foregoing a basis in reality.
When
you start digging around the internet you can quickly find a mountain
of evidence that Amish Mafia is fake. The first red flag pops up with
Alan Beiler, the show’s black Amish guy and Godfather Levi’s event
planner. Up until December 14, Beiler operated several websites that
were taken down after the show’s premiere. Before it was scrapped his
website stated what the show told about him, that he was born in
Brooklyn and was adopted by the Beilers when he was 9. It also listed
various jobs Belier had held in the entertainment industry and led some
to wonder if he was a paid actor. Beiler worked on National
Geographic’s “Amish at the Alter” and was a production assistant on a
movie. The website, BlackAmishMan.com featured ideas for several shows,
which included Amish reality shows, buggy races, and pimp-my-buggy
contests…sound familiar to any viewers? Sure sounds like Beiler is the
mastermind behind many of the shows storylines.
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| The "real" Alan Beiler on right |
Surely if
these guys were all paid actors, the casting directors responsible for
their hiring have since been fired. Watch the show for a few minutes
and you’re bound to get frustrated by John, the lowest guy on Levi’s
totem pole. He seems to stammer through what he’s supposed to say.
There’s just a goofy quality about him that makes it hard to believe
he’s part of any organized thought.
In case you haven’t caught the phenomena that is “Amish Mafia,” the show is set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where a large Amish population lives. The show revolves around Lebanon Levi and his gang of thugs. Levi is described as the protector, judge, and jury for the Amish community. He describes his role as “keeping the peace and making sure everyone’s following the rules.” I suppose he and his gang are exempt from following those rules? The Discovery Channel website says that Levi exists above the law.
Nevermind the fact that the show seems to depict Levi and his gang breaking numerous laws on camera without any concern. Either they really are above the law, or the stunts were staged. More on that later. Similarly, the Discovery Channel’s show “Moonshiners” depicts a handful of rednecks making illegal liqueur. I find Moonshiners entertaining as well, especially when it comes to Tickle, but I wonder how the cast can continue to make moonshine after they’ve been on TV doing so. Wouldn’t local law enforcement just stake them out until they busted them? I’m starting to see a pattern here.
In case you haven’t caught the phenomena that is “Amish Mafia,” the show is set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where a large Amish population lives. The show revolves around Lebanon Levi and his gang of thugs. Levi is described as the protector, judge, and jury for the Amish community. He describes his role as “keeping the peace and making sure everyone’s following the rules.” I suppose he and his gang are exempt from following those rules? The Discovery Channel website says that Levi exists above the law.
Nevermind the fact that the show seems to depict Levi and his gang breaking numerous laws on camera without any concern. Either they really are above the law, or the stunts were staged. More on that later. Similarly, the Discovery Channel’s show “Moonshiners” depicts a handful of rednecks making illegal liqueur. I find Moonshiners entertaining as well, especially when it comes to Tickle, but I wonder how the cast can continue to make moonshine after they’ve been on TV doing so. Wouldn’t local law enforcement just stake them out until they busted them? I’m starting to see a pattern here.
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| Levi |
In one episode Levi is found doing construction work,
which is supposed to be a cover, a way to make legitimate money. In
reality, Levi is co-owner of C&L Siding, Decking, and Roofing. It
seems as if before television cameras came around Levi made a living
roofing houses. Some more digging revealed that Levi is a member of
Richland's Neptune Fire Co. At a Richland Borough Council meeting last
year Levi was given permission to set a trailer on fire and put it out
for a Discovery Channel documentary. Then we watch the final episode
this season and see the trailer, Levi’s new office, go up in flames,
but they said it was Merlin’s, Levi’s Amish Mafia boss rival, doing?
During the first episode rap sheets for Levi and the others were shown and started a big controversy. The arresting agency appears as the Lancaster County Police Department. Locals were quick to point out that there is no such agency. There is the Lancaster County Sheriffs Department and the Lancaster City Police Department, but the Lancaster County Police Department does not exist. The criminal records are real, to an extent. Records have been found for four of the show’s cast members. Levi was arrested in Shelby, OH for DUI, and has also been arrested for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and two other DUIs.
The show plays up the relationship between Levi and Esther, John’s sister. Levi has always been interested in Esther, and she uses this to her advantage. In one episode she gets Levi out of town and the two take a vacation in Florida. There Esther reveals to Levi that she has two children. It seems there’s a lot more she could have revealed. Esther’s full name is Esther Freeman Schmucker. Before Amish Mafia Esther was shopping around for modeling gigs. She has a profile on the dating website PlentyofFish.com where she says she drinks socially, has children and wants more, does not do drugs, and lists her job as “insurance policies.” She also has accounts on Formspring, MySpace, eBay, and Twitter.
Esther’s Twitter account was active after the show’s premiere, touting her new relationship with Twitter user @TheRealMirkat, a rapper who took to the site to brag about the sexual exploits that went on between the two. Esther, posting as @ecstasy686, and Mirkat tweeted back and forth about how in love they were. Mirkat wasn't shy about posting pictures that seemed to show him using drugs. Since then both the accounts have been deleted.
Esther’s actual criminal history includes arrests for disorderly conduct twice, and a DUI. John, who may or may not be Esther’s real brother (they share the name Freeman Schmucker and Esther is 2 years older) has his own real disorderly conduct charge. He’s also been arrested for marijuana possession and a hit-and-run.
Depicted on the show as Levi’s right-hand man is Alvin. He’s the quiet, might-be-crazy one. “Nobody gets to Levi without going through Alvin.” Alvin Stoltzfus Lantz has a criminal record for a DUI and for fleeing from police. On his arrest records his occupation is listed as ‘construction’ so he may actually work for Levi.
During the first episode rap sheets for Levi and the others were shown and started a big controversy. The arresting agency appears as the Lancaster County Police Department. Locals were quick to point out that there is no such agency. There is the Lancaster County Sheriffs Department and the Lancaster City Police Department, but the Lancaster County Police Department does not exist. The criminal records are real, to an extent. Records have been found for four of the show’s cast members. Levi was arrested in Shelby, OH for DUI, and has also been arrested for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and two other DUIs.
The show plays up the relationship between Levi and Esther, John’s sister. Levi has always been interested in Esther, and she uses this to her advantage. In one episode she gets Levi out of town and the two take a vacation in Florida. There Esther reveals to Levi that she has two children. It seems there’s a lot more she could have revealed. Esther’s full name is Esther Freeman Schmucker. Before Amish Mafia Esther was shopping around for modeling gigs. She has a profile on the dating website PlentyofFish.com where she says she drinks socially, has children and wants more, does not do drugs, and lists her job as “insurance policies.” She also has accounts on Formspring, MySpace, eBay, and Twitter.
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| Esther rides a mechanical bull |
Esther’s Twitter account was active after the show’s premiere, touting her new relationship with Twitter user @TheRealMirkat, a rapper who took to the site to brag about the sexual exploits that went on between the two. Esther, posting as @ecstasy686, and Mirkat tweeted back and forth about how in love they were. Mirkat wasn't shy about posting pictures that seemed to show him using drugs. Since then both the accounts have been deleted.
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| Esther's profile pic |
Esther’s actual criminal history includes arrests for disorderly conduct twice, and a DUI. John, who may or may not be Esther’s real brother (they share the name Freeman Schmucker and Esther is 2 years older) has his own real disorderly conduct charge. He’s also been arrested for marijuana possession and a hit-and-run.
Depicted on the show as Levi’s right-hand man is Alvin. He’s the quiet, might-be-crazy one. “Nobody gets to Levi without going through Alvin.” Alvin Stoltzfus Lantz has a criminal record for a DUI and for fleeing from police. On his arrest records his occupation is listed as ‘construction’ so he may actually work for Levi.
The motivation for the forming of a group such as the Amish
Mafia is cited on the Discovery Channel’s website as the real-life 2006
school shooting in Nickel Mines, PN. A truck driver shot and killed
five children at an Amish school. Critics are quick say the show is
disrespectful to the victims and families involved in the actual
tragedy.
Several articles quote people who live in the Lancaster area and know the cast members. They say they are nothing like the characters depicted on the show. Levi seems to have been a party guy for a while, but had settled down somewhat, until he became the leader of a religious organized crime syndicate. The residents deny the existence of an Amish Mafia.
Others say the Amish make an easy target to exploit because of their beliefs. Most do not watch television or even have their picture taken, so they’re not likely to come out with a public argument against the show. The racketeering that is depicted on the show would be of interest to FBI’s Violent Criminal Organizations unit and subject to RICO charges. Local law enforcement officers have went on record saying that if there was any such organization in the area they would know of it.
So what do I think of Amish Mafia? I wish they had done what the History Channel did with the Haftield’s and McCoys; made a mini-series. Instead of exploiting an actual tragedy, make one up, cast a gang of Amish thugs to fight back, and let me watch it. Just don’t claim that it’s real. Give the viewers some credit. It’s like professional wrestling. It doesn’t take the fun out of it just because it’s fake. With a little polishing Amish Mafia would have some great characters and potential storylines. Don’t put a pothead on screen bumbling around trying to act out tall tales. The Amish Mafia has become a legend, but legends aren’t reality. They do make great TV movies though. Amish Mafia belongs on Showtime or HBO, not the Discovery Channel, but we’ll support another season.
Several articles quote people who live in the Lancaster area and know the cast members. They say they are nothing like the characters depicted on the show. Levi seems to have been a party guy for a while, but had settled down somewhat, until he became the leader of a religious organized crime syndicate. The residents deny the existence of an Amish Mafia.
Others say the Amish make an easy target to exploit because of their beliefs. Most do not watch television or even have their picture taken, so they’re not likely to come out with a public argument against the show. The racketeering that is depicted on the show would be of interest to FBI’s Violent Criminal Organizations unit and subject to RICO charges. Local law enforcement officers have went on record saying that if there was any such organization in the area they would know of it.
So what do I think of Amish Mafia? I wish they had done what the History Channel did with the Haftield’s and McCoys; made a mini-series. Instead of exploiting an actual tragedy, make one up, cast a gang of Amish thugs to fight back, and let me watch it. Just don’t claim that it’s real. Give the viewers some credit. It’s like professional wrestling. It doesn’t take the fun out of it just because it’s fake. With a little polishing Amish Mafia would have some great characters and potential storylines. Don’t put a pothead on screen bumbling around trying to act out tall tales. The Amish Mafia has become a legend, but legends aren’t reality. They do make great TV movies though. Amish Mafia belongs on Showtime or HBO, not the Discovery Channel, but we’ll support another season.
I really agree with this. I'm halfway through season one and some of these portrayals are so silly.
ReplyDeletethis is a great article. lots of good information about the truth behind the “amish mafia”
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