DIY Network’s Amish RENOgades Couples Endearing Stars With Honest Culture Clash
DIY Network’s latest renovation show illustrates how endearing stars and quality craftsmanship can win out over the drama of a house gone bad.
If you’re looking for entertainment to pair with leftovers this weekend, forego Netflix and turn on DIY Network instead.
A new show called “Amish RENOgades’’ has premiered and it is magic. Two Amish men doing cross-country home renovations, while making statements like, “This polyurethane glue holds tightly, like an alligator gripping a turtle.’’ What’s not to love?
It stars two middle-aged craftsmen, Albert Miller and Robert Schlabach, who travel from Holmes County, Ohio to the nation’s most debaucherous cities. The first two episodes take place in Los Angeles and Las Vegas respectively, and during breaks from building, the men experience “something called surfing’’ and play black jack at a pool party.
If you went on a class trip to Amish Country, you know these are things Amish people don’t typically do. The men received permission from the Holmes County Bishop to use the Internet to advertise their services and to drive a Mustang instead of the typical horse-and-buggy (we see what you did there, DIY Network.) Proceeds from the renovations go to their community back home, which falls into the “if it helps the community rather than hurts it’’ loophole of Amish technology use.
Seeing as they’re on TV, driving a car, and using the Internet, it’s unclear whether the men really are unfamiliar with modern American culture or if they’re hamming it up. (Not knowing Miley Cyrus during a Hollywood tour is one thing, but Jennifer Lopez? Come on). Either way, watching their first experience with a drive-thru makes for good programming.
A culturally oblivious person, rubbing shoulders with the Common Man, is inherently amusing, but the Amish component has double value because the renovations are top quality. Unlike other shows with shoddy workmanship or cheap décor, the Amish are known for superior craftsmanship: that’s what happens when you can’t just order IKEA online.
In “Sin City Amish,’’ Albert and Leon revamp BMX Biker Ricardo Laguna’s man cave. To achieve his vision, they focused on a wet bar, fireplace, and sliding barn doors to block out windows. The Los Angeles-based episode “Holmes to Hollywood,’’ features a kitchen renovation that leaves the space nearly unrecognizable, in a great way.
Rather than the drama of dashed hopes or stressful time pressure, “Amish Renogades’’ relies on the endearing stars, a bit of hokey culture clash, and genuine explanations of the changes underway.
Imagine two Amish men building a cabinet between outdoor BMX bike ramps and earnestly exclaiming “it fits like a pigeon in a pigeon hole.’’ Or rather, set your DVR and watch it happen for yourself.
If you missed this weekend’s episodes, they’re bound to repeat, or just wait for the upcoming Boston-based episode, “Beantown Basement’’ set to air in December.
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