Italian-American Group Outraged Jersey Shore Is Renewed
Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage.com
Not all Italian Americans are fist pumping over news that Jersey Shore has been renewed for a second season.
The National Italian American Foundation has issued a statement expressing "continued concerns" about the hit MTV show, specifically in the way it depicts Italian Americans. Joseph V. Del Raso, NIAF President, said the show's characters have "more in common with the adolescent residents of Animal House than with Italian Americans."
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Citing the cast's "outrageous behavior" that is "laden with promiscuity, debauchery, and violence," he called the show "a disgrace." He continued, "Television personality Joy Behar perceptively remarked, 'It makes it hard for young Italian Americans to be taken seriously in the work force.' This concern is even more salient in places around the country where there are few Italian Americans."
Del Raso signed off by saying, "Italian Americans, the Garden State and the Jersey Shore deserve better."
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But Jersey Shore stars claim they aren't trying to depict anyone in a negative light.
"We represent ourselves," Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino said on the Today show Monday. "We're not saying we're a definition of Jersey, or a definition of New York, or a definition of Italians. I just happen to be Italian. I happen to have some spiky hair and a six-pack, and I am proud to have that. And if you don't like me, I don't care. I still got 5 million viewers Thursday nights at 10 p.m."
People need to quit making a big deal out of nothing, he added.
"I would like to find somebody in their 40s or 50s that didn't go out, and go to a bar and have some drinks -- and if you're single, look for a guy or a girl," he said. "I would like to find that one person that said they didn't do that. It just so happens that there's a camera behind us watching our every move. This is not a secret that young people go out and have fun."
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The second season is expected to film "in a couple weeks," Sorrentino said.
The Hamptons and Delaware Shore have been rumored spots. Jenni "JWoww" Farley wouldn't confirm, but said, "It'll be somewhere warm."
Added Paul "Pauly D" Delvecchio, "We're excited about that." As for reports that the cast will go from $200 an episode to $10,000 for season two. Farley said "generally speaking," that's true.
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Added Sorrentino, "We don't wanna speak about numbers, nothing like that. But we believe that we're all pretty much the same and our show is a hit. We believe that we deserve the same amount."
Around 4.8 million viewers watched the Jan. 21 finale, making it the highest rated show in MTV history.
Tell Us What You Think
39a jessica i am from north jersey we shoulda been in that show right.
they is al mike is a bicth we r black barrio ya heard
Let's do a show called "The Black Ghetto" or the "Mexican Barrio." Not a problem, right? certainly wouldn't be an attempt to portray African Americans or Mexican Americans in a negative light.
The Italian American groups hate the show because the kids in Jersey Shore act so much like African Americans.
I am from North Jersey & I once lived & breathed the Jersey Shore. It's funny several years ago when I was doing that same dance haha and living it up, we always thought it would make a great show. Now I get to watch and relive it a little!!! I am now most def. no longer a guidette but still a little Italian girl from Jerz. You grow out of it and think back on it as a good time! We don't stay that way forever! So to the cast of Jersey Shore...Enjoy!!!!
OMG people its not that serious! Don't give yourselves a heart attack. I heart the Jersey Shore.
love love love these group! they make me happy coz they're so down to earth and are REAL people. not like some snobs from the hills!
She is gross and she is fat. The show stinks. I am Italian also so my opinion has nothing to do with nationality. Her hair is nasty and so is she.
Again why are they important.
I have watched this show and I grew up in an Italian American neighborhood. I do not find this show offensive at all. The National Italian American Foundation needs to spend time on bigger issues.
Snooki is NOT fat and ugly..she is FINE
Five million people think this show is awesome and we want to see more of it. They deserve 10K and more...look at what other reality stars are making (the hills kids get 100,000 per episode). If you hate them so much, you need to look inside of yourself and see what you're projecting onto them because, really, what they do, say or get paid has nothing to do with your life. Your tax money is not paying them.
Any moron who thinks "all" Italians are like 8 kids from Statan Island/New Jersey and The Bronx are bigger idiots than they blame these kids for being.
The comments here are so sad! These are kids having fun and we want to watch them. If YOU don't like it, don't watch it. How many shows do you watch that actually bring value to your life? People watch "cops" and "American Idol Auditions" and all kinds of shows that aren't of any value. You're not better than anyone else, in fact, those of you trashing these kids are worse...you're bigots. You know that if a camera crew were on you 24-7, there would be reason to judge you, too.
i dont think that all italian americans behave in such a way, i mean this is just a tv show, i love the show, and for all the people that talk about about the show , they are probably pissed because they just act like this on regular basis and cant have there on show, so what if snookie is big that dont matter if u dont like her dont look at her.
"The Hamptons and Delaware Shore have been rumored spots" Good luck, Hamptons and Delaware Shore. I feel for you. Why not keep it in NJ and humiliate Belmar this time around? --Posted from the side of Barnegat Bay.
Well, I'm not Italian, but I'm offended that these obnoxious, no-talent scumbags get another 15 minutes of fame. MTV should be called LTV--for Loser Television.
They're all so gross! and yes to Col.
I'm from NJ and this is a true depiction of many of the kids from my High School. It's not saying all Italian Americans are like that so chill out.
Can we PLEASE get a So-Flo Show?!?! I mean hello you should see all the guidos and chongas(or guidettes) down in Orlando, Miami,Tampa, etc. They are just as hysterical and ridiculous as the Jersey people.It would make for some amazing TV!!