(Courtesy of MTV)
Put eight tan people with huge muscles, big hair and even bigger mouths in a house together. Then add some alcohol, a beach, a lot of conflict and what do you get? MTVs new reality phenomenon: Jersey Shore.
Similar to the idea of MTV’s “The Real World,” cast members are to live in a house together, work a little and party a lot. However, Jersey Shore reflects the lifestyles of “guidos” and “guidettes.” Often a derogatory and stereotypical term for an Italian-American, guidos are characterized as: spending a lot of time gelling hair, very tan, very muscular and generally of Italian descent.
The cast, specifically chosen as stereotypical guidos and guidettes, depict life of the Jersey Shore in the town of Seaside Heights. Filmed during August 2009, cast members include: Angelina “Jolie” Pivarnick, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio, Ronnie Oritz-Magro, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola and Vinny Guadagnino.
The dramatic cast of the show have fist-pumped their way into the hearts of many, becoming a huge pop culture phenomenon. Jersey Shore-themed parties seem to be springing up all over campus lately.
The cast members spent nine episodes (with the exception of Angelina who was kicked off the show at the end of the third episode for being fired from her job) working at the Shore Store, drinking and dancing in bars and clubs until the wee hours and getting into a plethora of arguments. The conflicts ranged from battles over significant others, to testosterone-induced aggression from small, yet hilarious pranks.
Students say they have mixed feelings about the show in general.
Gus Flottman, a 20-year-old sophomore history major, said the cast and show are outlandish.
“I wish Tony Soprano was real and watched it [Jersey Shore] because those kids are just ridiculous,” Flottman said.
Nicole Box, a 26-year-old senior sociology major, agreed with Flottman but said the characters were funny in a good way.
“It’s drama, and Snooki, oh my God, she’s hilarious,” Box said. “I’m from the east coast. I dated a guy that had a shore house…it’s so true.”
Flottman, on the other hand, said he didn’t believe people actually acted like those on “Jersey Shore.”
“I think MTV fabricates everything on that show,” Flottman said.
Season one of Jersey Shore concluded on Thursday, but cast member Vinny Guadagnino said to viewers that the show will see a second season.
Vinny Mangiere, an 18-year-old freshman finance major, said Jersey Shore only represents a small population of New Jersey.
“I’m from New York, so I’ve been to the Jersey Shore,” Mangier said. “The girls did better than the guys [dressing up for our themed party]. The party was a good representation of Seaside [Heights], but the Jersey shore is big.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Nicole Zimbelman at Nicole.zimbelman@colorado.edu.
