Why do we love to hate the new MTV hit reality show, “Jersey Shore”? The answer is simple: because the stupidity and ridiculousness of the human race never fails to astound us.
What we have, in the form of “Jersey Shore,” are seven young adults, all self-proclaimed “Guidos” and “Guidettes,” put together in a house to live, work, and party in the bustling bars and boardwalks of the Jersey Shore. From ridiculous nicknames, to pink, Halloween-like corset ensembles worn out on Friday nights, to bar brawls, to gallons of makeup, to mile high hair poofs—the cast members of “Jersey Shore” are, without a doubt, a particularly unique breed of reality TV personalities.
The conversations between cast members on the show display a clear ignorance of the English language. For example, speech by “Pauly D” and the “The Situation” mostly consists of the following few pieces of dialogue: “She pretty? She got friends?” “I got girls back here almost every night, there’s not a time that I don’t have girls coming back. Girls love The Situation.” And “You got to stay fresh. Fresh haircut. Fresh outfit. Fresh tan. Just fresh.”
Arguably, the cast’s most popular activity included the constant pursuit of the opposite sex, as shown when Jenni “Jwoww” Farley and castmate Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi sought after “juiceheads” at the beach. What are juiceheads? According to the shrewd, astute words of wisdom that only Snooki can offer us, juiceheads are “hot, Italian guys, typically muscle-y, and they love to work out and look broad.”
The two girls then proceed to saunter down the strip of beach in tiny shorts, their cleavage up and ready, and their heavily done-up eyes alert and focused, in search of the nearest protruding bicep slathered in tanning oil.
In general, why are reality shows created? They are a form of awesome, though not particularly intelligent, entertainment, and they are meticulously programmed in ways that just hook us, as much as we can try to resist their pull. The cast members of “Jersey Shore” are no different; they are particularly obnoxious, completely blown up personalities who are confident in their individual lifestyle choices, and who not only expect to get parodied or made fun of, or be discriminated against, but also live for that type of publicity and 15 minutes of fame.
Can anyone ever forget that infamous episode in which a full-grown man punched “Snooki” in the face? While these people certainly come off as rather idiotic, these people know what they’re doing and know perfectly well what they’re getting into. It’s an opportunity for controversy, and they clearly live for it. So bring on the YouTube videos, the angry Italian-American nationality groups, and the college students across the country who love to hate.
At the end of the day, if the “Jersey Shore” gang is perfectly content with their lifestyle and the type of people that they are, then good for them. If you think about it, the most important thing in life is having a good heart, no matter what kind of buffoon you might look like on the outside.
The season finale was full to the brim with reminiscences of the summer days gone astray, and those spent in perfect harmony with shots of tequila and fist pumps, but most of all there was a constant repetition of a single word among all the cast mates: family.
The cast members talked about how the bond they developed over the summer was one that could never be broken, or forgotten, and how much this summer had meant to each of them.
So I suppose there is substance underneath those fake tans and sweaty, sweaty pecs. Who knew? One thing’s for certain though, I can’t wait for the next season.
Outlook Student Press > Opinion
Our Love-Hate Relationship With “Jersey Shore”
Published: Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Updated: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 14:02
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