Two sisters’ interest in music and pop culture sparked the idea for a local television show run by teens that has spread to over 43 cities in the country.
The Rich family of Boca Raton started ‘Swept Away’ TV as a way for teens to learn what their peers were saying about music, movies and video games – and it just “took off” from there.
The teen reporters have already landed on-air interviews with over 300 Grammy-award winning artists, up and coming musicians and pop idols – everyone from the Black Eyed Peas to Maroone 5.
The 30-minute show can be seen locally on BRET TV on Mondays at 8 p.m. and on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
“Teens enjoy watching other teens. We speak the same language, have been through the same things, and like similar music. We can just relate to other teens better than a 35- year-old,” said 20-year-old Amanda Rich, who started the television show with her older sister, Jamie, when she was just 16.
“My sister and I were both musicians ourselves. We were singers. And we thought it would be a good idea to have a show about music and what teens liked because we loved and enjoyed music so much,” she said.
Rich said her favorite celebrity interview so far was done recently at a Jingle Ball concert.
“I got to interview the Black Eyed Peas. There must have been over 100 photographers and reporters there but they still took the time to answer all of my questions. They were truly the nicest musicians,” she said.
The artists the girls are able to interview are a big part of the the show’s success, according to proud mom Nancy Rich.
“The teens want to see famous artists and the interviews are really funny. They’re so different from the other channels. The artists have done the most outrageous things, broken into acoustic guitar and even sang on the show because they’re comfortable talking to teens,” said Rich, who added that the show has brought her four children, Jamie, 24, Amanda, 20, Zack, 18, and Brittany, 14, closer together.
“The younger ones learn from the older ones. It’s a united kind of activity. And I, as a parent, always know what’s going on in their lives. I don’t have to ask them who they are going out with and where they are going, I already know,” she said.
The family-run show that started with a handful of teen reporters now has an all teen crew of 73 – including floor directors, sound techs and editors.
Zack Rich, who has followed in his sisters’ footsteps by becoming one of the lead interviewers, says he can’t believe how far the show has come since its first airing five years ago.
“In the beginning I didn’t think it would be so appealing to others, but then it spread to so many other stations,” said Rich. “We have a lot of younger teens on the show. And it shows that they don’t have to be on MTV or have lots of money to interview famous musicians.”
Jeff Hendler, director of Swept Away TV, says the emphasis on up and coming artists is one of the keys to the show’s success.
“It’s a different perspective. We get bands that are up and coming and then we introduce them to the teen audience,” said the 19-year-old. “It’s just a show with a bunch of ambitious and talented teens that started out in Boca Raton and made it across the country interviewing huge acts.”

Nicol Jenkins can be reached at njenkins@bocanews.com or 561- 893- 6619.