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2012 American TV series or program
Amish Mafia
John, Alvin, Lebanon Levi, and Jolin (L-R)
GenreReality
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producers
  • Eric Evangelista
  • Shannon Evangelista
  • Matthew Kelly
  • Max Micallef
ProducerDane Walker Chase
Running time42 minutes
Production companyHot Snakes Media
Original release
NetworkDiscovery Channel
ReleaseDecember 12, 2012 (2012-12-12) –
present

Amish Mafia is an American reality television series on the Discovery Channel. The series debuted on December 12, 2012. It was announced in March 2013 that the series has been renewed for a second season of eight episodes, which premiered August 13, 2013.

Premise

The series follows "Lebanon Levi" (born Levi King Stoltzfus, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, in 1979), along with three of his assistants, who are purported to protect the Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Cast

  • Lebanon Levi: "Lebanon" is the nickname of Levi King Stoltzfus. Within the show, his surname has not been disclosed, and is masked whenever mentioned. Levi has been arrested multiple times for drunk driving. He is also a member of the local fire department.
  • Alvin: Alvin Stoltzfus Lantz is Levi's "main assistant", who is soft-spoken but has a loud personality.
  • Jolin: Jolin 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.
  • John: John Freeman Schmucker is Esther's brother and the newest member of Levi's group. He is mischievous, and the son of the former leader of the alleged Amish mafia.
  • 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.

Episodes

Season Episodes Season Premiere Season Finale
1 8 December 11, 2012 (2012-12-11) January 20, 2013 (2013-01-20)
2 8 August 13, 2013 (2013-08-13) TBA

Season 1 (2012-13)

No. in
series 		No. in
season 		Title Original air date U.S. viewers
(million)
11"No Peace for the Wicked"December 11, 2012 (2012-12-11)3.43
Note: This episode was a pilot for the series.
22"Fire from the Lord"December 12, 2012 (2012-12-12)3.41
Lebanon Levi takes his faithful group of men to locate one of their fellow members whom they have some questions for. John tries to host a hut party and it doesn't go as planned. Alvin took care of a drug problem and John took care of the problem of fake Amish goods hurting the local business. Alvin dealt with a taxi driver that's been overcharging Amish people.
33"Devil Comes Calling"December 19, 2012 (2012-12-19)3.07
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.
44"The Book of Levi"December 26, 2012 (2012-12-26)1.77
This episode provides viewers with an in-depth look of what is to come on this season along with the first three episodes.
55"Fall From Grace"January 2, 2013 (2013-01-02)3.08
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.
66"Holy War"January 9, 2013 (2013-01-09)3.51
Levi's crew contemplates leaving after an ongoing feud with Merlin escalates.
77"The Reckoning"January 16, 2013 (2013-01-16)3.19
88"The Book of Merlin"January 20, 2013 (2013-01-20)0.93

Season 2 (2013)

No. in
series 		No. in
season 		Title Original air date U.S. viewers
(million)
91"Wayward Sons"August 13, 2013 (2013-08-13)2.54
102"Prodigal Son"August 20, 2013 (2013-08-20)N/A
113"Paradise"August 27, 2013 (2013-08-27)N/A

Specials

No. Title Original air date U.S. viewers
(millions)
-"Amish Exorcism"March 3, 2013 (2013-03-03)2.81
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.
-"The Resurrection"August 12, 2013 (2013-08-12)1.67

Authenticity and criticism

The veracity of the events depicted on the show 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 a possibility that all of the scenes are staged." Additionally, "a closing credit clarifies that 're-creations are based on eyewitness accounts, testimonials and the legend of the Amish Mafia." It is not publicly known which scenes are based on accounts and testimonials and which are based on legend.

The show has also been strongly criticized by Amish scholars. Donald Kraybill, an Elizabethtown College professor and prominent researcher of the Anabaptist lifestyle, states: "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 in television.... These production crews should be ashamed of trying to say that represents Amish life." This view is echoed by David Weaver-Zercher, Messiah College Professor and Amish expert, 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 . My sense is this Amish mafia is about as real as the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company on The Office."

A former prosecutor in Lancaster County stated that his office was aware of no "Amish Mafia", and if there were they would have been prosecuted. During one episode, the narrator states that Lebanon Levi was arrested by the "Lancaster County Police". There is no such law enforcement agency. The owners of one store portrayed as paying protection money to Lebanon Levi have denied having any relationship with him. Several sources agree that the Amish community will not respond as to the credibility of the show's plot due to the fact they value their privacy and usually do not interact with the media.

References

  1. ^ "Shows A-Z - amish mafia on discovery". the Futon Critic. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  2. "Discovery Channel Takes Viewers Behind Closed Doors in the Groundbreaking New Series 'Amish Mafia'". Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  3. ^ Schneider, Michael. "Exclusive: Discovery Renews Amish Mafia For Season Two". TV Guide. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  4. ^ Bibel, Sara (July 23, 2013). "'Amish Mafia' Season 2 to Premiere Tuesday, August 13 on Discovery Channel". TV by the Numbers.
  5. "Official Arrest Record, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania". Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  6. "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.
  7. "Biography – Lebanon Levi". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  8. "Who is Lebanon Levi from Amish Mafia? Levi Stoltzfus mug shot photo and criminal record". Retrieved December 27, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. "Biography – Alvin". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  10. "Biography – Jolin". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  11. "Biography – John". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  12. "Amish Mafia – About the show". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  13. "Biography – Esther". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  14. ""Amish Mafia" episode review: The Reckoning - Chuck Miller". Blog.timesunion.com. January 17, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  15. "Discovery Channel's "Moonshiners" and "Amish Mafia" Break Viewership Records". Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  16. "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Storage Wars" Leads Viewers, "Chopper Live" Tops Demos". Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  17. "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Moonshiners," "Amish Mafia" Top Charts for Second Week in a Row". Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  18. "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Discovery's "Amish Mafia" Event Leads Demos, ESPN Tops Viewers". Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  19. "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: Sugar Bowl Continues ESPN Win Streak". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  20. "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Amish Mafia," "Moonshiners" Pull Back in Front for Discovery". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  21. "Wednesday's Cable Ratings: "Amish Mafia," "Moonshiners" Remain on Top for Discovery". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  22. "Sunday's Cable Ratings: "Real Housewives of Atlanta" Continues Demo Reign". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  23. 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.
  24. "Amish Mafia: Prodigal Son". Zap2it. August 13, 2013.
  25. "Amish Mafia: Paradise". Zap2it. August 13, 2013.
  26. 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.
  27. 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.
  28. Hale, Mike (December 11, 2012). "The Dirty Work for the Clean". The New York Times.
  29. "Discovery Channel's next reality series: "Amish Mafia" - News". LancasterOnline.com. January 5, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  30. "Experts Dispute Existence of 'Amish Mafia' as Reality Show Debuts". Newsmax.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  31. "Amish Mafia Reality Show Blasted As 'Pure Fiction'". Inquisitr.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  32. ^ "'Amish Mafia': Is it real or fake? Network says it's real; Lancaster Countians doubt it". Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  33. "'Amish Mafia' sparks more controversy in Central PA". Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  34. "'Amish Mafia' TV Show: SPOILER Reveals The Truth Behind The Series' Legitimacy, Details". Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  35. George, David (December 12, 2012). "'Amish Mafia': Is there really such a thing as an Amish thug?". Salon. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  36. Shank, Michael (November 29, 2012). "'Amish Mafia' is a shameful, unrealistic portrayal of plain people". The Washington Post. Guest Voices. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
General references

External links

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