LOS ANGELES, July 21 (UPI) -- UPN introduced the five Amish stars of its new reality series "Amish in the City" Wednesday, while critics continued to challenge of the show's propriety.
The series, premiering next Wednesday, will follow the young adults on their "rumspringa," a traditional journey of discovery far from their homes. During the filming of the series, they shared living quarters in Los Angeles with six roommates from diverse backgrounds.
UPN identified the five as having been raised mostly in the strict Old Order of the Amish tradition. One is the daughter of a bishop.
Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa. -- who led a protest against the show when it was announced earlier this year -- said Wednesday the five are not Amish at all.
"These young people may have grown up Amish," said Pitts, "but to suggest they're Amish now or represent the Amish is a gross distortion."
Pitts said the five were cast because they fit the image that executives at UPN and its parent company, Viacom Inc., wanted.
"They've made a Faustian bargain with UPN and jeopardized whatever tenuous ties they may still have had to their heritage," said Pitt. "I hope they were well paid."
