Aaron's Way
Encyclopedia
Aaron's Way is a 1988 American
family drama series
that aired on NBC
. The series starred Merlin Olsen
as Aaron Miller, the husband and father of an Amish
family that moves to California. The series followed the attempts of family members to adapt to California culture while retaining their personal values. Also appearing on the series were Samantha Mathis
and Belinda Montgomery
.
Aaron returns to Pennsylvania to consider what to do. His wife is surprised that he kept in touch with Noah, then a relative of Susanna arrives by motorcycle. He relates Susanna's difficulties, and Aaron expresses his opinion to his wife that they needed to go help Susanna.
To Susanna's surprise, the family arrives, and begins helping out while trying to cope with the unfamiliar society and technology. Susanna's mother asks Mrs. Miller if she could make scrapple
for breakfast; after tasting it, mother gushes with appreciation, but privately tells Susanna that she didn't care for the dish. The three Miller children are enrolled in the public school system.
Subsequent episodes of this short-lived series deal with the continuing clash (and sometimes complementary meeting) between the Millers and their worldly hosts and neighbours. Aaron's stubborn insistence on the values of integrity and justice bend a few dishonest people their way.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
family drama series
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
that aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The series starred Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
as Aaron Miller, the husband and father of an Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
family that moves to California. The series followed the attempts of family members to adapt to California culture while retaining their personal values. Also appearing on the series were Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis
Samantha Mathis is an American actress. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in Pump Up the Volume , opposite Christian Slater...
and Belinda Montgomery
Belinda Montgomery
Belinda J. Montgomery is a Canadian-born actress and painter currently living in California.-Life and career:Montgomery was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She is perhaps best known as Mrs...
.
Synopsis
Aaron Miller's eldest son, Noah, has left the Amish community for the world, but Aaron kept in touch using a post office box. Aaron then learns that Noah died in a surfing accident, and goes to California for the funeral. While there, he learns that Noah had been living with a woman, Susanna Lo Verde, who owns an orchard and is pregnant by Noah.Aaron returns to Pennsylvania to consider what to do. His wife is surprised that he kept in touch with Noah, then a relative of Susanna arrives by motorcycle. He relates Susanna's difficulties, and Aaron expresses his opinion to his wife that they needed to go help Susanna.
To Susanna's surprise, the family arrives, and begins helping out while trying to cope with the unfamiliar society and technology. Susanna's mother asks Mrs. Miller if she could make scrapple
Scrapple
Scrapple, also known by the Pennsylvania Dutch name pon haus, is traditionally a mush of pork scraps and trimmings combined with cornmeal and flour, often buckwheat flour, and spices. The mush is formed into a semi-solid congealed loaf, and slices of the scrapple are then panfried before serving...
for breakfast; after tasting it, mother gushes with appreciation, but privately tells Susanna that she didn't care for the dish. The three Miller children are enrolled in the public school system.
Subsequent episodes of this short-lived series deal with the continuing clash (and sometimes complementary meeting) between the Millers and their worldly hosts and neighbours. Aaron's stubborn insistence on the values of integrity and justice bend a few dishonest people their way.
Criticism
The show was described by one scholar as "a pretentious variation on the Beverly Hillbillies;" while former Amish viewers are reported to have pronounced it “disgusting.”Cast
- Merlin OlsenMerlin OlsenMerlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
as Aaron Miller - Belinda MontgomeryBelinda MontgomeryBelinda J. Montgomery is a Canadian-born actress and painter currently living in California.-Life and career:Montgomery was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She is perhaps best known as Mrs...
as Sarah Miller - Samantha MathisSamantha MathisSamantha Mathis is an American actress. The daughter of actress Bibi Besch, Mathis made her film debut in Pump Up the Volume , opposite Christian Slater...
as Roseanne Miller - Erin Chase as Martha Miller
- Scott CurtisScott CurtisScott Curtis is an American actor and musician.-Career:As a former child actor, he is known for his role as Brandon Capwell on the daytime television series Santa Barbara. He also had a regular role on Aaron's Way, amongst other shows. In 1988 Curtis had the lead role in the horror film Cameron's...
as Frank Miller - Kathleen YorkKathleen YorkKathleen "Bird" York is an actress, screenwriter and Oscar nominated songwriter-recording artist.As a screenwriter, York has written projects for John Wells Warner Brothers, Sony, Paramount and has just completed a one hour pilot for Fox Television Studios...
as Susannah Lo Verde - Jessica WalterJessica WalterJessica Walter is an American actress, known for the films Play Misty for Me, Grand Prix, and for her role as Lucille Bluth on the sitcom Arrested Development...
as Connie Lo Verde - Christopher GartinChristopher GartinChristopher Russell Gartin is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role in the 1996 film Tremors 2: Aftershocks as cab driver Grady Hoover. He also had roles in the films As Virgins Fall, Johns and the comedy Friends & Family...
as Mickey Lo Verde - Pierrino Mascarino as Mr. Benvenuto
Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-01 | "The Harvest" (a.k.a. "Circle of Love"), Part 1 | March 9, 1988 |
| 1-02 | "The Harvest" (a.k.a. "Circle of Love"), Part 2 | March 9, 1988 |
| 1-03 | "New Growth" | March 16, 1988 |
| 1-04 | "A Plain Path" | March 23, 1988 |
| 1-05 | "A Healing Power" | March 30, 1988 |
| 1-06 | "Patches of Light" | April 6, 1988 |
| 1-07 | "HIgh Note" | April 13, 1988 |
| 1-08 | "The Men Will Cheer and the Boys Will Shout" | April 20, 1988 |
| 1-09 | "Man and Boy at the Crossing" | April 27, 1988 |
| 1-10 | "Teachers" | May 4, 1988 |
| 1-11 | "Strong Foundations" | May 11, 1988 |
| 1-12 | "Invisible People" | May 15, 1988 |
| 1-13 | "Solid Ground" | May 18, 1988 |
| 1-14 | "New Patterns" | May 25, 1988 |