I’ve been trying to avoid writing about this in an effort to not fuel the fire but I feel as though I have no choice. Jersey Shore is taking over the world and I’m afraid….very afraid. Because someone had the brilliant idea to give these people their own show on MTV (although it should be changed to RTV since its all reality shows and because I haven’t seen an actual music video on that station since the late 1990s) these people are inescapable. Whether it’s their photos in magazines like People or US Weekly, interviews on national talk shows like The View, local news shows in Denver or trolling around Miami, these people are everywhere.
In case you’ve been living under a rock this year the people I’m referring to are Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio,Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Vinny Guadagnino and Angelina “Jolie” Pivarnick. With nicknames like that how could MTV not give them a reality show? Wow.
While all of them are known in the pop culture world a few have seemingly taken over pop culture completely. Snooki has virtually become an icon between people dressing like her for Halloween and having an entire South Park episode centered around her. (If you haven’t already, YouTube “Snooki Monster” immediately). The Situation has a book deal and is all over the place doing promotions which is shocking because I can’t believe he has time for anything in between taking his shirt off and flexing his abs. Apparently JWoww was offered a spread in Playboy but turned it down for “other opportunities.” Was she referring to her clothing line, Filthy Couture? I wonder if she was going for the “Classiest Name Ever Award” when she came up with that. My favorite Jersey Shore story was told to me today by my good friend Mo who said that the cast is banned from 90 percent of clubs on South Beach. Only two of them will allow these fools to enter which is hysterical since drinking is one of their top three daily activities other than working out and tanning.
Regardless of how annoying I think these people are the fact is that they aren’t going anywhere. They are part of the pop culture lexicon whether we like it or not. There are t-shirts and all kinds of other swag that have been made for them. They are officially a brand. And, unfortunately, America is responsible for their popularity. Why do people like watching this show? How are they so enamored by a bunch of self-proclaimed “Guidos” and “Guidettes” with horrible accents? I watched a few episodes of this show to see what all the fuss was about and it’s basically The Italian Real World. What is the big deal? I guess we’ll have some time to figure it out since they are already shooting the next season and because in a recent interview Snooki announced that they could keep doing this show for the next nine years. It’s too bad…the next generation of MTVers didn’t stand a chance.
one day a nice satellite guided bomb will drop from the sky and blow the whole damn house apart.
When the show first came out and I saw previews… I was like "WHO in GODS NAME will ever watch that???" Then once it began I kept hearing people reference it and I was like "really? People are watching it? WHY?!" On Christmas Eve last year I was flipping channels and eating chinese food like any good Jew should and I saw that it was on. I checked my surroundings to make sure no one could see me in my living room, and put it on… JUST to see what all the hype was about. That night, I sat in shock and awe through 4 episodes. I haven't been able to stop since.
Here's the thing: these morons shouldn't be idolized, and I don't think they are. I think the majority of people who watch it watch it for the same reason I do: It's like a bad car wreck, you just can't look away. Like most reality shows these days, this show is jam-packed with characters that make you say "whoa, these people REALLY exist???" Sometimes I just can't fathom that it's true, that they are real. But one thing is for sure- they make you feel SO MUCH BETTER about yourself! It's like no matter what i'm going through in my life- I am not them, and that is a good thing! And cmon, some of the antics are just hysterical. Some of the words they come up with… the subject matter they talk about… it just keeps you shaking your head going "I can't believe this is real."
I just hope the younger kids of Italian and Staten Island descent don't start to look at these people and try to mimic them because they think they're famous and cool. We don't need any more of them running around! Six is enough. I for one think it would be hilarious if they start filming them in really podunk locations. Jersey Shore season 3: Wichita Kansas. Gold mine!
Thanks for the comments!
Dingleberry: I think millions of people share your thoughts on the Jersey Shore cast!
Erica: I agree…they are like a car wreck but someone needs to call the cops and get that wreck cleaned up!