Cameras Will Not Roll at Schwenksville Barber Shop

There will not be a reality television show filmed in Schwenksville, at least for now, and if there ever is, it won’t be about barber John Scioli. 

, which opened four years ago, is known for its displays of various vintage and collectible items. This—along with his personality and the celebrities among his clientele—may be part of the reason that the (un-named) network sought him out and felt that he would be a good candidate for a reality TV show.

However, Scioli recently broke a network contract to have his own reality television show about his life as a barber. After much consideration, he says it was the right decision for him.

“I broke my clause and contract, and I am being pursued still by this network,” Scioli wrote recently on Facebook. “I love my life, but I refuse to have my profession made to look like a spectacle for something it is not. I do not wish to exploit my Tourette's syndrome, and I certainly do not wish to have people on my show that I am supposed to pretend to have been friends of mine for years; it is another scripted reality.”

Scioli has been a barber for more than two decades, and he is very passionate about it. The idea of the reality TV show that was going to start filming about him in September was also something he was passionate about—that is, until he realized what he was expected to do on the TV show.  

“I started watching reality TV shows, and they are garbage,” Scioli said. “I knew it wasn’t for me. They wanted me to carry products that I don’t carry. This is a barber shop, not a salon.”

He admits there may be repercussions for breaking his contract. He is still not able to discuss certain aspects of the TV show or information about it.

“I may be sued for breach of contract,” Scioli said.

He did learn something about himself during this process.

“This taught me that I don’t want to be any part of Hollywood,” Scioli said. “It made me appreciate what I have here; I don’t have a need to be in the public eye.”

Scioli just wants to work, smoke his cigarettes on the sidewalk and say hello to people.

“I value the simplistic things in life,” Scioli said. “I want to be a good father, husband and barber.”

He feels good about his decision and the life he leads in Schwenksville.

“I am rather conventional and conservative in a lot of my views both socially, fiscally and politically,” Scioli wrote on Facebook. “I act like a buffoon a lot, and am immature at times. I will probably take some flack for my decision.”

Scioli added that he may have some regrets in a few years, but he is OK with that.

“It is cool that I can say I turned down my own TV show,” Scioli said. “How many people can say that?”

Read Scioli's July 20 Facebook wall post.