Primetime TV Show Taped In Mahwah Restaurant Airs Friday
'What Would You Do?' filmed scenarios at the Mason Jar
Friday night at 9 p.m., primetime TV viewers will get a look into life in Mahwah. ABC’s show What Would You Do? filmed an episode at Mahwah’s Mason Jar restaurant last summer, and it is airing Friday night.
According to an ABC News article on the episode filmed at the township eatery on Route 202, it ponders the question of whether or not vegan diets are un-American, and if they are healthy for children. The premise of the news/reality show is to create situations with actors in public places, and see how the unsuspecting people in the establishment react. It aims to ask the people in the situations, and the viewing audience at home, ‘what would you do in this instance?’
According to ABC, the episode filmed in Mahwah has a mother in the restaurant clearly indicate that she and her daughter are vegans (eating no meat, dairy or animal by-products). Another couple then offers the young girl meat, saying it is “un-American” to not eat meat, and that the girl isn’t getting the proper nutrition because of her mother’s choices. The mother, daughter, butting-in couple, and the waitress serving them are all actors. In the episode, hidden cameras watch to see how other patrons in the restaurant react.
The bit is titled "Vegan Girl Pressured by Carnivores."
According to Mason Jar co-owner Ira Kaplin, the Mason Jar’s real staff “was in on the whole thing. But, the patrons in the restaurant had no idea.” Which, he said, was quite a feat, considering that about 20 or 30 crewmembers from the show was staked out in the restaurant’s back rooms for lunch and dinner. “They had quite the set up in here,” Kaplin told Patch.
According to the owner, the show’s producers chose the Mason Jar to use in its episode. “They scouted out local restaurants, and they said they liked the layout of ours and asked to use it. We said sure.” He said the Jar appreciates the national recognition, and that overall, the taping was “just a really great experience.”
However, until 10 p.m. Friday, his lips are sealed as to how Mahwah residents and visitors eating at the establishment that day reacted to the situation. “Of course, I can’t divulge details about what actually happened,” he said.
But, in celebration of the episode’s initial airing Friday night, the Mason Jar will be playing it on all eight of their televisions. “We want to invite the community to come out and watch the episode with us,” Kaplin said. “It’ll be a really good time.”
CLICK HERE to watch the video preview of the episode.
Name withheld
10:05 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
My family was taped, but did not sign a release, so our clip will not be aired. We did not enjoy what the production company did. It was very upsetting to my elderly parents, my wife, my son, our foreign visitor and myself. I should have called the police to complain about the staged situation as well as the production company and the Mason Jar. This type of staged TV show should be a disgrace to the Mason Jar.
Kevin
12:17 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
I agree one day someone is going to get hurt when they approach the wrong person. Then let the law suits fly. This is a foolish show with the possibility of people getting hurt. I hope it does not happen. When people see stuff 911 lines light up and it is a waist of our tax paying dollars having officers respond to staged incidents that can become real very quickly.
Glenn Murphy
7:13 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
To me.. I say: MORE TV SHOWS should be FILMED in Mahwah! Miss the Tennis Classic that was at the CrossRoads Complex..
It(The Tennis Classic) was on ESPN!!! So I say again...
MORE VIDEO Filming in Mahwah!!
Kevin
10:21 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Filming in Mahwah is not the issue here. It is the type of filming that is. Glenn you missed the point totally.
Mercedes1
10:47 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
"Name Withheld" you really need to calm down. The Mason Jar is not to blame!!
Charlie
2:20 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
It was a staged show, who cares, the show was actors, to see how other people react and by the looks of it a lot of people are pissed off. Me personally I don’t give a crap what anybody thinks or does, you don’t like what I am saying or doing, don’t listen and just move away, don’t get involved, this is the point that is trying to be made. If it is not affecting you don’t worry about it.
Name withheld, is pretty upset, not only will he not permit to have his clip shown; he will not even use his real name on the patch. To each their own, if I was there I just would of enjoyed the show of people being so upset about a girl not eating meat, while I enjoyed my dinner and if I saw myself on tv, o well it’s not the end of the world. Like I used to tell my ex wife, when she got upset over nothing, what are you going to do when something really happens curl up in a ball and die.
Kevin
10:27 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
That's the problem its staged. I have seen this show in the past where they have an actor steal a radio off a beach blanket of another actor. There were several people who jumped into action, which is fine but what would happen if the person helping put a beating on the actor? That is what I don't like about the show. Did people who saw the actor steal the radio did they call 911? Did the police start a car to the location not knowing it was all set up? Its just not a smart show. The show they did in Mahwah is a show that people should mind their own but other shows I have seen are not safe.