MTV’s Jersey Shore premiered less than a week ago but already has been the subject of growing controversy. Italian-American groups, like UNICO, have blasted the series for what they perceive as a negative portrayal of Italian-Americans and the use of the words “guidos” and “guidettes.” UNICO is now asking for its members to complain to MTV’s advertisers and for the network to remove the series from its schedule. EW talked to Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, one of the series’ cast members, about the controversy surrounding Jersey Shore, his new best friend Pauly D, and whether or not he’d do a second season.
On his newfound reality fame:
“I’ve only been out one night since the show aired and as soon as I walked into the bar it was pretty wild. People were like, ‘Oh my god that’s him. That’s The Situation.’ And then people asked me to take pictures and stuff like that.”
On complaints that the show negatively portrays Italian-Americans:
“This is what happens down here. It’s not a definition of the East Coast. It’s not a definition of Jersey or New York. It’s just a bunch of kids that happen to be partying and working and living together in New Jersey. Some of these people are trying to pretend like when you’re in your 20s and you’re single you don’t go out and have fun. Or you don’t go out and get a couple drinks. And when that happens you know there are gonna be a couple arguments. There are gonna be a couple fights. Life is not perfect.”
On whether the terms “guido” and “guidette” are offensive:
“No. No. If you do see the show, you see it used in a loving or a good way. 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.”
On becoming buddies with fellow castmate Pauly D:
“I had an awesome experience with shooting and with MTV. I actually met a best friend on the show, Pauly D. Me and him are like best friends. His birthday is July 5th and mine is July 4th. His name is Pauly Michael and my name is Michael Paul. There are a lot of coincidences. We speak all the time to this day. I met a lifelong friend.”
On whether he’d do another season:
“Oh, of course. If America wants something like that, I’m sure we’ll be able to give it to them.”
Photo Credit: MTV
While I did kinda like the show; it was like watching a train wreck. I love watching Big Brother and this show is kinda like that except it is a lot more graphic and the people are def more free with their sexual activities. As far as “the situation”……BUTTER FACE!!!LOL He thinks he is way better looking than he actually is. Sure his abs are def hot and awesome but his attitude and face are a total turnoff.
So true about Mike — at first I felt so bad for him that Samantha did that to him and chose Ronnie, but then I realized he’s so full of himself, calling one of the girls fat, talking about himself in the third person (ugggh) and let’s face it, he’s 27 and is an assistant at a gym. Yuck. Sam chose right.
As far as “the situation”……BUTTER FACE!!!
OMG, Steve! That is the same thing that I said when I watched it! I laughed so hard every time he lifted his shirt to show off his abs, because his face looks busted.
Too true. Has the beach muscles but very little else. Not sure why this guy was so cocky – delusions of grandeur.
At least the men are BUTTERFACES! What would you call a woman whose face, body, and outfits are twisted? THE WOMEN OF JERSEY SHORE!
It’s But Her Face…not Butter Face…as in everything looks good “But Her Face”
The show is so fun to watch. Missing the days when I was 20 something, stupid and single! I met my husband in Belmar at the Tropical Pub. Good times…
They are all “butter faces” LOL that is the best part.
Ha, not to overuse that crude term, but yeah, his face is busted. He’s got old-man cheeks and a funny knob nose.
You get the old man cheeks from using steriods.
Old man cheeks or not, he’s the best looking, hotest guy in there. Ronnie is short and plain old goofy. Sammi looks like linebacker with those thunder thighs. Ronnie and Sammi deserve each others, two dogs.
OK so….I know a few Italian guys and I often see them at the gym….should they get their own show?
By the way, who decied that the girls on Jersey Shore are good looking? They’re only good looking to the guys on the show who can’t do any better..
well i love the show its so funny the situation and pauly rock but i hate ronnie hes so fake always talking shit about mike get over the fact that same wanted hin first already!!! and sam thinks shes way to hot like um no they both look like fred flinstone her and ronnie!!!
What if we stopped labeling it as an “Italian-American” cast and just looked watched it that way. I watched the repeat due to all the hype and controversy. I can’t see how these 8 people acted any differently than any other 8 young attention hoars with buff bodies and shallow insights would act. Please, this is not to diss them, but lets be honest: They did act like shallow partying sex-hungry young people. Maybe its just their young age.
Yes .. but at least the girls they chose weren’t the ones who went into the hot tub and makeout like the girls the guys brought home. They have SOME class.
Although.. what was UP with Jen Wow’s awful yellow halter and ripped white jeans!? Wowww, so gross.
The one where her boobs were almost popping out? Disagree, she looked pretty hot.
Angelina “Jolie” is nto Italian btw.
I swear this show is sooo good like a huge train wreck. I love it!! Poor Mike he is so not cute (rockin body) but so not cute pooor thing. Ronnie has a hot body but he looks like he is fat when he doesnt have his shirt off. Sammie needs to get over herself also. Whatever, I love it and will be a fan!
yes, she is Italian American, btw.
Wikipedia, look into it .
“Guido” is not an affectionate term for a good looking guy. It’s an ethnic slur, and it is ridiculous that some people are dumb enought to perpetrate it. And I’m not one of the “older generation”. Grow up.
lighten up douche
It is a slur. And pointing that out doesn’t make you uptight.
if all parties involved think guido means “ice cream” then it isn’t a slur. In this show, they take the term as a compliment.
It’s not a slur. Lighten up.
I would assume it’s much like black people using the N word. Using it among yourselves takes it’s power away.
Guido is not the same thing as the ‘n’ word at all. First of all, Italians are an ethnic group, not a race, that came here on their own and were never prejudiced against to the point where they were enslaved and there was a war over them and to this day there is significant race and bias against them. It’s a very very different situation. Of the offensive words I can think of for Italians, ‘guido’ is the least offensive. I’m Italian and have visited the Jersey shore many many times, and it’s full of trash who act EXACTLY like the people on this show. It’s the trashy aspect of the stereotype that’s portrayed here. It’s not reality, and THAT’S what is offensive.
How would you know how that term is used in NY and New Jersey?
Where your from it may be a slur but that’s not what the guy said. He didn’t make a point that just older people wouldn’t understand, he mentions NY and NJ because some or many people outside of those states wouldn’t understand either.
Like nigga is not an ethnic slur on The Love of Flava….please.
I am African-American. In our community, the term “N**** (When used amongst ourselves} is used to describe MEN. When it’s used by any other racial groups…then the the term N**** becomes an ethnic slur. Our generation has given that term POWER, (used in a more positive way) and we are the ONLY ones who have exclusive rights to use it. No other ethnicity does! So I can understand Mike The Situation’s explanation of the term ‘Guido.’ BTW. I am from New York City.
Just for your information… your “powerful word” that you have “exclusive rights” to, Nigga, when used 20 times in one sentence as verb, noun, adjective, nonsense, …etc, actually makes you look completely unintelligent and for lack of a better word… a N*****. I’ve met and currently know many educated and intelligent black people that feel the exact same way. Unfortunately for the black community, your apparent ever so powerful word, Nigga, has actually been marked as a term that only the unintelligent african americans use, aka N*****’s.
To Non-Guido, Non Black…
Uuuuhm. There are many educated African-Americans who do use the term. I am ONE of them. Amongst ourselves, certain forms of ebonics are also used. It is NEVER used in the workplace or in the presence of people of different races. Maybe this is why you seem confused. Please do not speak for ALL OF US.(Laughs). We have enough demagogues like the Jacksons and Sharptons, unfortunately, to speak for the rest of us. If I was susceptible to every stereotype minorities portrayed on TV …then I wouldn’t live. Life is TOO short to whine and complain all the time. So forgive me, if I am not crying to Rev. Al Sharpton! As a non-African-American person, it’s easy for you to sit back and critique. Try being a Black woman every day of YOUR life! As a Post-Integrated generation, we opted to give the term power…and guess what? You still can’t use it!
yes nigra i can use that word,
Nigger!!! Nigger!!! Nigger!!!
I love the show. Do I think it represents every Italian-American? Of course not! It’s simply entertainment! I am an African-American Woman, and I watched “Flavor of Love.” Did I find these women tacky? YES! Did Boots, or New York represent ALL Black women…of course not! There are many Black women who carrry themselves with way more more class! It’s just a reality show, lighten up!
if italians are saying guido to each other they dont consider it a problem people dont seem to get that its like the “n” word nobody else on the planet thinks its right they all think its offensive but when black ppl say it to each other its alright. give me a break, this whole country is way too soft.
you are an incoherent mess dude…
I used to hang out in seaside too when I was 15. for their age they should be in belmar but go fist pumping away on your barry bonds work out progrm
Agreed, they should be at Jenks at their age.
Jenks! I used to go there when I was in college and would visit my friend who lived in Brick. Love that place!
Oh my gosh, thank you Tim Stack. Love that you did this interview. After the show is done, I would looove a complete (non-video, so I can read it quickly!) interview with each houseguest; burning questions answered.
Not sure why I’m so intrigued by this show and their culture, but I am.
“The Situation” reminds me of “The Situation Room”…with Wolf Blitzer….yuck :X
“Guido” and “Guidette” are ethnic slurs, like someone said above. Italians and non-Italians alike say it to mean that you are trying to be cool, fake Italians, not the brightest tool in the shed, etc. I would know, I’m Italian.
I watched twenty minutes of this show…boy, was it bad. And The Situation (really? do you really think you are cool?) has no common sense and is full of himself.
Wow…
this show really pisses me off. all of these disgusting people living in one house constantly talking about how hot they are when ther really not at all.
Everything you mentioned is why this show is so incredibly watchable. Can’t get enough.
The girls are sluts and the guys are a bunch of meat heats
i really like mike i think he is a sweet guy and i don’t understand how sammi jumps from one guy to another, and i love paulyD i’m liking that cadillac tatoo it’s hot.
They shouldn’t have shunned you that first night Snooki.
You are an idiot.
Now that’s THE SITUATION!
UNICO needs to chill out. The kids of Jersey Shore no more represent all Italian Americans than the guys from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy represented all gay men.
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Fantastic grammar, mate.
“Me and him are like best friends”
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Fantastic grammar, mate.
Really? You keyed in your information to leave that comment?
Should I leave one now about how you f’ed up your first post?
OMFG he f’ed up his first post, how can he ever live with himself . thanks for pointing that out Nancy.
douche bag.
So basically, just aim a camera on a bunch of morons, et voila… stardom!