My 2009: I ‘Shore’ Do Love ‘Jersey’

I’m a big fan of television. This being said, I tend to avoid reality television, as it generally features sand, pop music, or dancing. However, there is one show that debuted this year that has made me become a fan of reality television. I became a fan of this show and the entire genre because it showed me that I’m not that bad of a person after all.

That TV show is “Jersey Shore.”

Now, in case you don’t have the Interwebnetz (which means your buddy printed these out for you) or cable television, “Jersey Shore” is much like another show on MTV, “The Real World.” Basically, I think MTV wanted to do “The Real World: Seaside Heights,” but the only people that applied with douchebags that wear Ed Hardy and skanks that fake tan too often. So they just changed the name to “Jersey Shore” and cast those Guidos and Guidettes.

Eight people, four Guidos and four Guidettes, move into a house in Seaside Heights. They must live, work, and party together. The working part doesn’t always work out, as it cost Angelina aka Jolie her spot on the show.

Oh, that’s the other part. All but two of the cast mates have these incredible silly nicknames. Let’s see, there’s Jenni aka JWoww, Mike aka The Situation, Nicole aka Snooki aka Snickers. Paul aka Pauly D, and Sammi aka Sweetheart. Ronnie and Vinny round out the cast. No, I did not just pick two random Italian names.

I don’t know why this show has become such a hit. Maybe it’s that America loves Italian stereotypes. Maybe it’s just because these people are freakin’ nutbags. Or maybe it’s Snooki getting punched in the face by that random guy at the bar.

“Jersey Shore” sure has created a lot of controversy. Three sponsors have already pulled out of the show. The first was Domino’s Pizza, who felt the show exploits negative Italian-American stereotypes and doesn’t portray how most Italian-Americans really are. To paraphrase Pugs from Pugs & Kelly, Domino’s doesn’t make real Italian pizza. American Family Insurance and Dell also pulled their ads. The National Italian American Foundation and the Order Sons of Italy in America have also cried out against the show.

However, the one person and, more importantly, the one incident that made this show for me is Snooki. She got shwasted the first night in the house. So much so that her housemates didn’t like her. However, she won them back, basically by being herself and doing the same thing that got her roomies to hate her in the first place. Then she got punched in the face.

Back when the show was taping in August, a dude stole a drink from her and her housemates at a bar. She started yelling out him, rightfully, and he just reared back and punched her square in the face. This random guy turned out to be Brad Ferro, a PE teacher in Deer Park, New York. It was supposed to air during the December 17 episode, but the actual punch and seconds following were blacked out. You can still find the clip online, however. MTV promoted the hell out of it before deciding, “Hey, women getting hit isn’t cool.”

The season isn’t even over yet, and I can’t wait for the reunion show. I also can’t wait for next season! My only question: Can the people next year match the mess that is this season?