MTV is once again stirring up controversy with the debut of their new show – Jersey Shore. The show, which follows a group of 20 something year old Italians as they live and work on the Garden State’s shoreline, has been criticized by some Italian American groups as being offensive and reinforcing stereotypes of Italian-Americans.
UNICO National — the “Largest Italian American Service Organization in the USA” — claims they “can’t keep up with the volume of calls ” from “outraged” Italian Americans. They added that it should be pulled from the air. The backlash doesn’t end there, as advertisers – Domino’s and American Family Insurance have requested that their ads be pulled from the show.
MTV however continues to stand by the show. “We understand that this show is not intended for every audience and depicts just one aspect of youth culture,” MTV’s spokesman told Fox News on Tuesday. “Our intention was never to stereotype, discriminate or offend.”
The cast of Jersey Shore can be seen continuously referring to themselves as “Guidos” and “Guidettes” on the show. Both terms have long been found to be offensive to Italians.
One of the cast members, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, however defends the use of the term ‘Guido.’ “The older generation doesn’t understand. These days in New York and New Jersey a ‘guido’ is a good-looking Italian male that likes to have fun and a ‘guidette’ is a good-looking Italian girl,” Mike tells EW.com.
I actually saw the premier episode of this show and was a bit surprised to see the term “Guido,” be used so frequently by the cast. Always assumed the term was offensive. Other than that, the show pretty much fell in line with all the other MTV reality shows, such as the Real World. It was pretty much the same formula – follow a group of 20 something year olds as they get drunk, and make complete asses of themselves on national television. It’s likely the show is here to stay as it premiered to rather good ratings, the premier episode was seem by a total of 1.4 million viewers.
TELL US – HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SHOW? DID YOU FIND IT TO BE OFFENSIVE?
MORE PHOTOS & BIOS OF THE CAST MEMBERS BELOW –
Angelina Pivarnick aka Jolie, 22 – Staten Island, NY
If Angelina has something on her mind, it’ll be out of her mouth before you know it. She always has something to say and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
Jenni Farley aka J-WOWW, 23 – Franklin Square, NY
When Jenni walks into a bar, the guys yell “J-WOWW!” She may have a boyfriend, but down at the Jersey Shore all bets are off. Impulsive and spontaneous, Jenni is a party girl with zero self control.
Mike Sorrentino aka The Situation, 27 – Staten Island, NY
Mike may have a sensitive side, but he has plenty of game to go with it. He knows what he wants from his summer at the Jersey Shore and is not going to let anything stop him from getting it–even his roommates.
Nicole Polizzi aka Snooki, 21 – Marlboro, NY
Nicole is looking to meet the man of her dreams. When she goes to the gym, she goes in full makeup, hoping to make a splash with all the toned men. Her height has been as much of a strength as it has been an obstacle, and it will color her summer at the Shore in a big way.
DJ Pauly D DelVecchio, 28 – Johnston, RI
Pauly D is Rhode Island’s most well known DJ and keeps a tanning bed in his house. He orders gel by the case and does his hair twice a day–once in the morning and once before hitting the town.
Ronnie Magro, 23 – Bronx, NY
Ronnie might find himself in a brawl or two, but he is a lover who just wants to have a good time. He comes into the house with one rule: Don’t fall in love at the Jersey Shore. But as the summer goes on, he finds rules are meant to be broken.
Sammi Giancola aka Sweetheart, 22 – Hazlet, NJ
Sammi has been a serial dater all her life, but she’s now single and loves every minute of it. Her friends call her a sweetheart, but when it comes to guys she is a heartbreaker.
Vinny Guadagnino, 21 – Staten Island, NY
Vinny is a self-confessed mama’s boy and natural entertainer. He knows how to get a laugh from everyone he meets. Having just turned 21, Vinny has been waiting for this summer his whole life and is ready for a wild time with no boundaries.
25 Responses to “Meet The Cast Of Jersey Shore, MTV Defends Criticism”
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It’s not that bad really. Compared to the other mtv reality shows…really? All of a sudden people are in an uproar. And frankly, all of this press will only make it more popular.
i love ittt
Its something to watch, sorta real world, but not, and the whole Guido/Guidette, they are Italians let them call themselves whatever they want. It’s showing a culture that not a lot of people are familiar with and for that, it makes it interesting
The shows a car wreck, you don’t want to watch but just have to.
Snooki getting punched just adds to the fire. Any real man would never punch a woman no matter how snotty she is.
LOVE IT! I used to visit the jersey shore seaside heights every summer!! I miss the freestyle, italian ice, pizza, phili cheese steak! It was a tradition!! jersey girl !!
Like Angelina, I too used to visit Seaside every summer in the late 80’s…..looks like not alot has changed!! Brings back crazy memories of my summers at the Shore! Love this show!! I am Italian-American and I do not understand why Italians are getting offended by this show…it is entertainment..not to be taken seriously.Anyone who believes that all Italians act like this is an idiot!
I like the show. I dont really get why Angelina has such a big attitude and thinks she is above rules. The way she treated her own boss was pretty bad.
I grew up in NJ. Sadly, this show is a true representation of the many towns that dot the Jersey shore. Has anyone seen the ‘Real World’ lately? Just as trashy, if not more! That same Italian-American group also had a major problem with ‘The Sopranos’ – the greatest show ever. Maybe instead of targeting the show, they should target the parents of these kids who must be hanging their heads in shame somewhere.
I am from Jersey and i found the show a little offensive, but not really. Jersey can be like that sometimes when you go out partying. Jersey has a lot of nice parts and is not all like the Jersey Shore. I live in Sayreville and it was voted in the top one hundred places to live out of the whole country. Jersey can get mad crazy at times but its not always like this so. I am a true New Jerseyian and love the show
♥
this show is freaken awesome. i dont understand why so many people are hating on the show. if you dont like it then dont watch it. i just wanted to say i looooovvvee it!!!!!!!!! xoxoxo
What part of the bronx is Ronnie from
I hate wops.
This show was produced for pure entertainment. And it succeeded. None of the footage is any different from other reality shows. So what they refer to themselves as guedos or guedettes? You should be able to call yourself whatever you want. If you get offended because of what somebody else calls themselves… you have issues.
Use of the word guido/ guidette isn’t the problem. If anything it’s an attempt to change a word once used to insult Italian people.
The issue is how this show is portraying Italian Americans through the actions of people who aren’t really even Italian because being Italian is an identity made up of culture and genetics.
MTV is not documenting a sub culture of Italian Americans they are creating it through people who shouldn’t even have the right to call themselves guidos in the first place! LOL.
This program shows how racism against Italians isn’t a thing of the past. As a second generation Italian I know this for a fact. Just because someone doesn’t voice it doesn’t mean they don’t think it. Shows like this create an environment where this thinking is perpetuated. More importantly it has the potential to allow this type of thinking to cross the line between private thought and hate speech.
This is why so many people are freaking out about the show and advertisers are pulling out, it has the potential to create a lot of ugliness and I’m not talking about their bad hair.
Yes this is a free country and people can call themselves and think whatever they like, but that doesn’t mean it’s right and with out consequences.
I watch the show every week and find it entertaining… I see nothing wrong of the cast calling themselves Guidos and Guidettes. These terms may have been offensive in the past, but they now have new meaning as terms of endearment. If people find it offensive that the cast refers to themselves as such, they shouldn’t watch the show. This show is no “worse” than the Real World or Road Rules was… it is about the lives of 20-somethings put into a house on the Jersey Shore. They just all happen to be italian and take pride in their heratige. It doesn’t matter what your heritage, race, etc… anyone can make asses out of themselves. So Stop tearing down the cast and Jersey Shore house. It’s great for the MTV ratings, and people, like myself, really do enjoy the show!
im an italian american i dont find it offernsive, cuz frankly, im a guidette
@Spencer So sorry about the small penis. Work on the personality. It looks like it’s gonna’ take quite a bit of work but it might help.
Great show. It’s much more ‘real’ than other so-called shows…
as an Italian-American female i can say @ first i was a little offended by the whole “Guido/Guidette” label but i figured that every other ethnic grp out there has their “slang” that they call their own so now we can too! back in the day being called a “guido” was an offensive racial slur – when where why & how it has taken on this new meaning as explained by The Situation i dunno … there are organizational grps out there for EVERY ethnic grp & they all have voiced their opinion on when they have liked or disliked something
F*CK you SPENCER! you hate wops well how about this wop come kick your racist azz! it is low life pathetic scum like YOU that keep this country in the 1800’s when it comes to racisim and discrimination! get a f*ckin life & you need to watch your mouth cuz one day you will talk sh*t to the wrong person & find yourself knocked the f*ck out cold! & it just might be a WOP who does it
Well said Melissa on both posts!
thanks Dyana it would have been only 1 post but i didnt see that low lifes post til after i posted mine and well the Italian fire w/in me began to burn lol
Melissa (cool name by the way) don’t let a person that makes comments like that get under your skin. That is the reaction they are usually looking for.
Melissa, I’m glad you let that piece of $%^& Spencer have it, he’s an ignorant ass, he made my Italian blood boil, that is for sure!
I was one of the many people who hated to love this show. I couldn’t keep away but hated the fact i was so into this reality show. Its all not that bad just typical young adults having a good time. I don’t think Angelina should come back for season 2. She bailed on the first season. And the show was better off.
haha remember the “grenade” that was yelling “I’ll rock your world”. hahah!