LOS ANGELES, July 8 (UPI) -- Viacom's UPN TV network plans to air a controversial reality show depicting Amish youth living in Hollywood, Daily Variety said Thursday.
Members of the Amish community expressed outrage earlier this year when UPN announced plans for a show that would examine the Amish coming-of-age tradition known as "rumspringa" -- a Pennsylvania Dutch word meaning running wild or running around. The network issued a statement at the time urging critics to be patient and wait until the show is finished before they condemn it.
Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., who represents a district with a significant Amish population, led a protest of the planned series on Capitol Hill.
"If UPN proceeds with this, they're going to be facing a serious public relations debacle," said Pitts' Washington chief of staff, Gabe Neville. "They're going to have communities all over the country furious with them."
According to Variety, UPN and New Line Television filmed the show in secret over the past two months. "Amish in the City" is set to premiere with back-to-back episodes on July 28, then air on Wednesdays at 9 p.m.
