Reality Recap: ‘Amish RENOgades’ Comes to Boston
Maybe we’re biased, but this week’s Boston-based episode of “Amish RENOgades’’ was the best episode yet.
In its third week of airtime, DIY Network’s “Amish RENOgades’’ featured Amish craftsmen Leon Kurtz and Albert Miller renovating a local family’s basement. Entitled “Beantown Basement’’, it just happened to be set in Boston, and the fact that it was the best episode yet is a total coincidence (okay, maybe we’re biased).
The episode opens with Leon’s pronouncement that, “Everyone around here drives really fast.’’
Yes, we do, Leon. Thanks for noticing!
The two Amish craftsmen head to a suburb of Boston, which isn’t specified, and meet the Sullivan family: Joe, Fran, and their three children.
After a tour of the basement, a mostly-brown room stuck in ‘70s décor, the family tells the men their renovation wishlist, including a request for more light, a kid-friendly snack bar, and a crafting table.
“We are wicked excited to have Albert and Leon here working on our home,’’ said Fran.
Her excitement wasn’t misplaced. By the end of the episode, Leon and Albert leave the Sullivans with a red and blue basement with light-stained wood and a chalkboard wall. They put the final touches on the basement, installing Mason jar lights in place of outdated light fixtures. Leon explains to the viewer that Mason jars give the room a touch of Amish country charm, delightfully unaware of the day in the sun that Mason jars are currently enjoying.
Though the building was impressive, this episode stood out from the other two because of the social interactions of the Amish men in the Boston community. They go to the Pushcart Pizzeria in the “Nahhth End,’’ as Albert poorly mimics, and the two make pizza with Fran’s brother.
B-roll of the Connah Store, Quincy Market, and Zakim Bridge help to set the scene, but what truly sets the tone of this Boston-based episode is the friendly ribbing that goes on when Albert and Leon frequent Casey’s in Somerville.
The two stroll in and every patron turns to stare, Budweisers suspended halfway to their mouths. Albert orders a cranberry juice, and Leon requests a cola.
“You’re going all out tonight, huh? You want a lime with that, huh? It is a Tuesday, you know what I mean?’’ teases the bartender.
After revealing their Ohio origins, the bartender says, “You guys are Amish (he pronounces it Aim-ish)? I thought you were dressed up for Halloween!’’
One man asks how they got there and when Albert explains their Mustang convertible, the man says, “It beats the hahhs.’’
“The what?’’
“The hahhs’’
“The horse!’’
A few more minutes of reveling in the Boston accent ensue, and when differentiating between “steer’’ and “stare,’’ the bartender explains, “Steahh is something you do at people. Like when you drive down the street in that red convertible with the roof down in those hats, people are gonna steahhh at you.’’
Read last week’s reality recap of ‘Amish RENOgades’ here.
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