14 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Jersey Shore’
Published on August 7, 2015. Updated August 27, 2015MTV’s Jersey Shore featured eight self-proclaimed guidos and guidettes who room together while living in Jersey Shore for the summer. They party, fight, fist pump, pass out, and hook up together, and that’s just the first episode. From 2009 to 2012, six seasons were created starring Mike ‘The Situation,’ Snooki, Sammi Sweetheart, Jwoww, Vinny, Ronnie, and Pauly D. Angelina left the show twice and her spot went to Snooki’s friend Deena. The show has upset many Italian-Americans as they feel it misrepresents them and portrays their community as drunken brawlers. While many hated on the show and its stars, it was still popular, if only for the “is this really on TV?” factor. Regardless, it grew and ended up filming not only in Jersey Shore, but also in Miami and Italy. Whether it was your guilty pleasure or you watched out of curiosity, check out 14 things you probably didn’t know about Jersey Shore.
14. And the Baby Takes a Bow
The internet was abuzz with claims that Jersey Shore was cancelled because the stars were demanding too much money. MTV’s executive vice president of programming Chris Linn revealed that the lives of the cast were changing and, with Snooki having a baby, “it felt like the right time to bring it to a close and end on a high note.”
Photo by Broadimage/REX13. How it all came to be
Originally Jersey Shore was going to be a competition show on VH1 that highlighted the guido lifestyle. Executive producer SallyAnn Salsano, who spent many summers at the Jersey Shore, altered the concept and a documentary style show was created. While casting, the network was searching for “candor, honesty, boldness and a very combustible, chaotic mess. You could honestly say none of these people were traditionally beautiful.”
(Photo by Andrew Marks/PictureGroup)12. The Faked Fights
While shooting their third season in Italy, Vinny Guadagnino and Pauly DelVecchio were spotted planning a fight scene at a restaurant. They decided the lighting was best under a streetlamp, and once the camera crew told them they got the shot, the brawling boys walked off.
(Photo by Andrew Marks/PictureGroup)11. The Audition Flunky
Deena Nicole Cortese auditioned for Jersey Shore when casting was underway for the first season. She was rejected, while bestie Nicole Polizzi made the cut. When Angelina Pivarnick walked away for the second time during the second season after getting into a fight with Polizzi and Michael Sorrentino, Deena was brought in to fill the spot.
Photo by Erik Pendzich/Rex / Rex Features10. The Dancer
While filming Jersey Shore, Michael Sorrentino competed in another reality series, Dancing with the Stars, in 2010. He was eliminated in the fourth week. This must have been a letdown, since Sorrentino used to be an exotic dancer and member of the group All American Male. He even made appearances at bachelorette parties.
Adam Larkey / ©ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection9. The Socks Give Her Away
During the epic fight scene between Jenni Farley (Jwoww) and Angelina Pivarnick, it is obvious the battle was done in several takes as Jwoww is wearing white socks in part of the battle, then she is barefoot, and surprise, her socks are back on by the end.
(Manny Hernandez/PictureGroup)8. The Hills
The scene where Nicole Polizzi (Snooki) gets punched went viral and other reality TV shows wanted to replicate that scene for their own ratings. Spencer Pratt on The Hills was asked by producers to punch his sister Stephanie, but he refused.
7. The Car Accident
In Italy, Snooki got her international driver’s license revoked when she crashed into another vehicle while driving. She actually hit the show’s police escort and sent the officers to the hospital. There are rumors that the whole thing was staged.
(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)6. Working 9 to 5
While cruising in Italy, the Jersey Shore gang is working at O’Vesuvio pizzeria. But there are reports that MTV rented the place and all the customers are extras who are paid with pizza.
(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)5. Access Denied
Originally, Florence’s mayor Matteo Renzi did not want anyone from the show filming in their world famous museums. In order to get access, MTV had to donate to the Florentine Cultural Fund.
(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)4. The Spoiled Surprise
Several of the Jersey Shore cast members claim to have Italian ancestry and planned on surprising their ancestors while touring Italy. No surprises were had as family members were contacted in advance to sign waivers and get permits.
(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)3. Living with Big Brother Watching
When explaining what it’s like to live with cameras everywhere and have your every move being watched, Nicole Polizzi said: “That’s why we go crazy. That’s why we fight with each other. That’s why we drink. We’re living in a house for two months with that shit. We can’t have cellphones, TV, radio or the Internet. If the president died, we’d have no idea. There’s no normalcy. It’s just like prison, with cameras.”
Photo by MediaPunch / Rex Features2. The Imposters
MTV’s Jersey Shore has inspired several other countries to create similar shows including The Valleys located in Wales, Geordie Shore set in England, Gandi Shore shot in Spain, and Acapulco Shore filmed in Mexico. All around the world, there are wannabe guidos and guidettes.
Press Association1. How Vinny Became A Guido
Vinny Guadagnino had recently graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz and was thinking about law school if he couldn’t make it as an actor. When asked how he got on the show, Guadagnino said, “A friend of mine sent me an application asking for the orangest, muscley, spiky-haired people that go down to the Jersey shore. As a joke, I sent in the application. I was anti- what they were looking for.”
Photo by MediaPunch / Rex Features
