Jersey Shore: Bad for Guidos?

December 9, 2009 12:00 pm     Posted in Entertainment  Brittany - University of Richmond g+ page

Beefy.

MTV is really getting their ass handed to them after the controversial premiere of the new reality series “Jersey Shore.” Not only has Dominos pulled out as an advertiser for the show, but MTV has also apparently received death threats from unhappy viewers.


By Brittany

Seriously?

Italian-Americans have their leopard panties in a twist because this show is giving their heritage a bad name. But since when do eight guidos represent an entire culture? Their hair gelling, giant poofing, fake boobing ways may be an embarrassment to themselves and their families, but has that ever stopped the rest of us from rubbernecking a train wreck such as this? I mean, isn’t that was every MTV show is about?

As a (seasonal) Jersey shore native, I couldn’t be more thrilled with the show. My house is less than 20 minutes away from Seaside Heights, and, to be honest, it’s a pretty good portrayal of the people you’ll see walking on the boardwalk. And while I don’t classify myself as a guidette, I still get my kicks from being super tan and having a perpetual French manicure. So is CollegeCandy.com going to get death threats now?

Honestly, I bet the people threatening MTV to shut “Jersey Shore” down are the people who secretly love it the most and are frightened by their unnatural attraction to the trashy paradise that is the Shore (and Jager Bombs). How many of us over-quoted lines from  “My New Haircut” when that hit the web? Let’s just look at this as another opportunity to channel our inner guido.

People take themselves too seriously. Let these self-proclaimed guidos and guidettes do what they do best – tan, work out and booze – in peace. We’re all having a good laugh watching them do it. And THAT is The Situation.

What do you think? Is this show bad news or really good TV?

19 Comments on "Jersey Shore: Bad for Guidos?"

  1. Lauren - University says:
    Wed, 9th Dec 20098:28 am 

    I don't think this show represents ALL italians and I dont think most people expect it to. People need to stop taking everything so seriously and enjoy it for the entertainment value. Because it is REALLY entertaining.

  2. JenniferUofR says:
    Wed, 9th Dec 200910:04 am 

    I agree, this is one aspect of Italian-American culture, one tiny fragment. How do you think the Irish like being seen as drunken wife beaters, but we are not all up in arms when shows depict us as such, its entertainment. Lauren spot on, it's a show to laugh at people who take themselves too seriously. Besides, if they are proud to be who they are how is this any worse than the bratty Sweet 16 show?

  3. Lenny says:
    Wed, 9th Dec 200911:07 am 

    I agree, and it's not like MTV is mocking them secretly. The cast members all proudly call themselves guidos and guidettes, and know that people make fun of them for the way they dress and act. I hope people can realize that these 8 people do not represent the entire Italian-American culture, because that is ridiculous.

  4. Sara C - Fordham says:
    Wed, 9th Dec 20096:35 pm 

    I am 100% Italian-American and I certainly do not look or act at all like the people featured on Jersey Shore. However, I don't take offense because:

    1) The show is called Jersey Shore, not "True Life: I'm Italian-American." Their primary identifying feature is living down the shore. They're supposed to typify people from that area.

    2) There are some truths–small truths–to their actions. Cliche as it sounds, food is the number one unifying feature in Italian culture.

    3) It's funny. Seriously, if you sign up to be on an MTV show, you're asking/agreeing to portray a slightly altered version of reality.

    All that being said, I do believe there needs to be an increase of positive/diverse Italian role models. I'm Italian-American myself, and I can't think of many popular figures or cultural contributions outside of mafia or guido caricatures.

  5. Brian says:
    Fri, 11th Dec 20096:24 am 

    I personally love the show. I too live about 20 minutes away from Seaside Heights, and I'm glad this show is on the air. It shows the rest of the country what we have to deal with every summer around here: Greased up, over compensating nut cases. It's why I don't go to Seaside at all from May through October.

    That said, I don't see why the Italian-American groups are upset at all. Every group has some bad / atypical members in it. The people on the show say they are "proud to be guidos". If the Italian-American groups should be upset at anyone, it should be the people IN the show, not the people making the show. And it's not like MTV is making this up…this show is 100% real…I live it (regretfully) every summer!

  6. mollination says:
    Tue, 15th Dec 200911:38 am 

    UGH! I want to watch this show so bad! I don't have cable and it's killing me! I saw the punch though. It went viral.

  7. mtr says:
    Thu, 17th Dec 20094:34 pm 

    I honestly like watching this show…. it's kinda my guilty pleasure…. and I have never even once thought "Wow, do all Italian-Americans act this way?" The show is just presenting a group of people (in this case, "guidos/guidettes") living and working together, just like on The Real World. It's simply an entertaining show, and for the people who really think that this show is so bad for cultural images, lighten up. It's a show on MTV, which doesn't really make it all that important… just sit back and laugh.

  8. Lola says:
    Mon, 21st Dec 200912:42 am 

    you can watch the show on mtv.com.

  9. nick says:
    Sun, 17th Jan 20105:00 pm 

    ok lets get this straight, im not from italy but both ,my parnts and there families were born in southern italy, real italians dont act like that at all, it is funny dont get me wrong. However no italians wear edhardy gell there hear that way or go fake tanning..i could give a shit less if i was italian or not but i know more then any of u that that is not how they act. if a real itlian person saw that they would fucken have a heart attack. expecialy an older italian. they would think that thaT IS a typical american trying to act like italians. plus the only real italian on the shore is viiny but even he is a typical wannabe…..they dont even speak the language…..the show is jilarious but its corny…cuz i know foir a fact from being the son of tw0 parnets born in italy and thta being there firstg language that is not waht being italian is about and i know im right…

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    http://bit.ly/cF4Qxa

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